Yeoman Open and Downriver to Thurne at Horning Sailing Club
by Holly Hancock 15 Jun 2009 08:27 UTC
13-14 June 2009
Reedlings during the Downriver Race to Thurne © Holly Hancock
The weekend of 13/14th June proved a busy one at Horning Sailing Club, who were hosting two Open Events. On both days there was the Yeoman Open taking place on Black Horse Broad, then on Sunday there was a Downriver Race to Thurne. Sunshine and strong breezes on both days meant that good racing was experienced by all.
The Yeoman Open saw nine competitors taking part, the racing dominated largely by HSC member James Buntin sailing Blue Ripple, winning four of the five races to take the Ha’Penny Breeze Trophy.
With gustier winds on Sunday, swinging round to Northerly, the conditions meant that the breeze was across the Broad, making course setting a difficult task, although it was perhaps in these conditions that the closest racing was seen, much dependent on the wind shifts, the lead changing several times in the second race from James Buntin to second and third placed overall Paul Clarke sailing Two C Sons, and Toby Fields helming Tanskey.
Meanwhile there was more excitement on the Downriver Race to Thurne, with over twenty boats taking part. Particularly interesting was the largest fleet of the day, the Cruiser class, where one suffered a snapped mast near Thurne Mouth, another closely inspected the bank nearby, and several more took the wrong course - only discovering this when the rest of the fleet returned some time later! In the Allcomers ‘A’ Class for much of the downriver leg the Bure was filled with Rebels and Reedlings in a line all the way across, which must have been a daunting sight for any oncoming boats (and competitors)!
Even after a couple of hours racing, in many fleets there was rarely more than 5 minutes separating the finishers, and close racing seen all round. Increasing winds throughout the day meant that the return leg was even faster, Pip Roney sailing River Cruiser Vixen to win his class in a time of under one hour!