Squib Broadland Regatta 2026 at Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

First start during the Squib Broadland Regatta 2026 © Bob Girling

With a forecast of gusting over 30 knots, there was a fear that this year's Broadland Regatta might see people giving up as in previous years. But, the actual winds were mainly 15-20, with occasional gusts to 25.

The first day, with three races, saw a north westerly - giving a long beat into North Bay (always a shifty place!). Off the start line, Flame (Richard Smith and Graham Reeve) chased Lady Penelope (Malcom Hutchings and Portia) out from the pin end, Flame tacked first on to port and cleared the fleet and were away. The rest of the fleet were side-by-side on starboard, with Croc (Chris and Gill Jordan) on the right hand side controlling who could tack when. Croc held 2nd place for a lap, before Brimstone (Bryan and Jenny Riley) slipped through at the end of the beat. Which left a ding-dong battle for Croc with Lady Penelope - the first of 3 4th's on the day for Lady Penelope.

Downwind leg during the Squib Broadland Regatta 2026 - photo © Bob Girling

The second race saw Brimstone break away into the lead, closely chased all the way by Flame. While Squffy (Veronica and Ben Falat) sorted out the down-wind legs to take 3rd place. Croc, having rounded the first mark in 2nd place found that a spinnaker wrap was a rapid way of approaching the rear of the fleet.

The first beat of the third race saw the wind piping up to "proper honking" with 30+ gusts. Flame sorted out the strong winds to lead around the first mark, with Guy Fawkes (Phil Aspinall and Dave Shepard) squeezing around the mark inside Croc (who then had to do a turn to start their approach to the rear of the fleet) and Brimstone. The wind calmed down slightly for the rest of the race, and the shifts were enough to cause many ups and downs! Up: Maverick (Marc Moncrieff and Kerr Sinclair) got 2 shifts right to jump 3 or 4 places on the final beat into 3rd place. Down: a spinnaker halyard wrap around the top of the jib saw Gill doing a foredeck dance on Croc.

Past the clubhouse during the Squib Broadland Regatta 2026 - photo © Bob Girling

The second day saw the wind shift to the south west, allowing a start down at the eastern end of the Broad. Croc and Squffy at the starboard end, and Flame and Lady Penelope at the port end - although it was Croc getting the final starboard lift into the mark who led down the first run. Brimstone slipped ahead at the end of the 2nd lap, and Lady Penelope fought their way into 2nd on the 3rd lap. Flame chased the leaders, but had to settle for 3rd.

Which meant it was all to play for in the final race: And a superb hour long race consisting of 2 accurate beats (despite being 25 degrees different - the fun of racing on the Broad!) and 2 runs per lap, in 15-18 winds. With the wind swinging to the west, the start line was very accurate and provided very close quarter tacking up past the club house. Flame was the first to break free, although the fleet was still very bunched down the first run, so some tricky manoeuvring was needed to grab inside at the leeward mark. Lady Penelope was chasing on the 2nd lap, until Brimstone slipped through on the beat. The OOD recording the results at the end of each lap said nothing happened on the last 2 laps... but on the water it was totally different! Brimstone closed right up to Flame, so there was some tight covering up wind and anxious moments down wind. Croc and Squffy changed places 4 or 5 times, with Squffy leading at the finish. Maverick was closely following Firebird (Simon Marfleet and Stef Oosthuysen) - only to get their rudder caught up on a trailing mooring rope. And Guy Fawkes ran aground - although they did say they caught some brambles with their rudder as they tacked, so they were VERY close to the bank!

Flame wins the Squib Broadland Regatta 2026 - photo © Bob Girling

The final results saw Croc win the mid-fleet prize, Lady Penelope as the first visitor in 3rd, with Flame and Brimstone tying on points, and Flame winning on count back.

A superb weekends racing, with great courses set by the Commodore of RN&SYC Richard Fryer assisted by the WOBYC Sailing Secretary Kyle Beamish.

Overall Results: