Norfolk Punt Athene Cup at the Norfolk Punt Club
by Andrew Friend 9 Oct 12:46 UTC
5 October 2024
Boundary calls, moving marks, over 100 years of innovation and incremental development, marginal gains and custom sail wardrobes, are not limited to fleets of 2 or 6 in Barcelona at this time of year, eight Norfolk Punts met last Saturday for the traditional end of season Athene Cup river race!
Starting at the confluence of the rivers Thurne and Bure deep in the Norfolk Broads the race follows a responsive 3 leg course set by the race committee adjustable in length and location to allow for a 2 hour race. The direction was set by race officer Val Kambatta - upwind to Acle, back downwind then take the left hand river towards the ruins of St Bennetts Abby, pass a mark to port then follow the river back towards Potter Heigham before returning back to the finish at Thurne Mouth.
Meeting the wind limits the race was 'live' (new trickle-down America's Cup terminology...) at midday with the 8 strong fleet squeezing across the start-line against a racing current. The fleet had clearly all got their time on distance correct as the start-line (the width of the river - approx 3 boat-lengths) made shorter by the even better timing of a passing holiday cruiser, was filled to capacity with very little water remaining as the seven 22ft and one 20ft boats made their way upwind towards the first mark.
The opening stages of the race provided some of the most exciting and tactical close quarter racing of the season, with the hard 'boundaries' (riverbanks) and close ducking, lee bowing and clean tacking of all boats demonstrating the seamanship and skill of all involved. Jane Pye and Karen Armitage in the Hard-chine design 'Snow Goose' managed to open up an early lead, closely followed by the hard-chine 'Wild Goose' sailed by Charlie Stewart and Tom Chandler and the custom build 'Wahoo' (Andrew and Robert Friend) before the first turning buoy at Acle. Rounding this essentially windward mark and heading downwind was an opportunity for the fleet to set their spinnakers, however sailing on the rivers this can provide big wins, but also (due to the hard ' boundaries') can also result it big losses! Wild Goose capitalised on the caution (or perhaps sense) being shown on 'Snow Goose' setting an early precedent and making the most of the opportunities to set the larger sails.
Further down the fleet reigning class champions Simon and Rachel Clayton sailing the traditional boat 'Decoy' made light work of sailing past the team in 'Wahoo' (who having not yet fitted their spinnaker were now enjoying a leisurely cruise downwind unable to optimise the fully battened rig for 2 sail downwind performance). Meanwhile the Hard-chine 'Redwing' (Rupert Reddington and Kate Delieu) and Morrison design 'Cormorant' (Bart Sawyer and Eliza Boulton) were doing battle with their specially fitted for the race symmetric spinnakers, with crews commenting that it had been 'many' years since having to deal with a pole and so many strings as opposed to the standard bowsprit set kite usually used! By the time the fleet made it to St Bennets 'Wild Goose' and 'Snow Goose' were fighting for the lead, followed by 'Decoy' and the chasing pack of 'Wahoo', 'Redwing' and 'Cormorant', with 'White Eagle' (Jack Holland and Gavin Smith) and 'Rainbow Trout' (Terry Vincent and Harry Levenridge) not far behind.
'Redwing' and 'Cormorant' were able to make the most of the wider stretches of river, power up and sail clear of 'Wahoo' who whilst very fast upwind were unable to match the downwind speed of their longer peers. Coming to the final mark 'Wild Goose' had taken care of the front of the fleet from 'Snow Goose' in second, with decoy safely third around the buoy. Further down 'White Eagle' had reigned in 'Wahoo', leading them back towards the finish.
By the end of the race 'Wild Goose' was first home, and subsequent winner of the 'Blackbird Trophy' for fastest passage, followed by 'Snow Goose', and 'Decoy'. After handicaps had been applied Simon and Rachel Clayton in 'Decoy' were awarded the overall win ahead of the two hard chines Wild and Snow Goose.
The fleet look forward to a winter of tinkering by the 'shore crews' as plans are afoot for new spinnakers, surgeries to boats to fit poles, chutes and self tacking jibs in advance of next season!
Overall Results:
1 - Decoy - Simon and Rachel Clayton
2 - Wild Goose - Charlie Stewart and Tom Chandler
3 - Snow Goose - Jane Pye and Karen Armitage
4 - Redwing - Rupert Reddington and Kate Delieu
5 - Cormorant - Bart Sawyer and Eliza Boulton
6 - Wahoo - Andrew and Robert Friend
7 - White Eagle - Jack Holland and Gavin Smith
8 - Rainbow Trout - Terry Vincent and Harry Levenridge