Horning Sailing Club Autumn Passage Race

 

Horning Sailing Club's Autumn Passage Race made a welcome return for its second year on Saturday 19th October 2024.

This year, it attracted a great number of 50 entrants and saw 46 starters on the day, enjoying the best of Autumn sailing on the Broads, in a lively breeze. Dubbed as the "Three Rivers Race without the bridges" - the race saw competitors starting from Horning Waterworks, sail down the River Bure to a turning buoy past Upton Dyke, before heading in the direction of Womack on the River Thurne, turning just beyond Thurne Mill, before returning to Horning, finishing at Woods Dyke Boatyard. Despite the damp conditions, the weather was better than forecast, and racing itself was relatively uneventful, albeit close.

With approximately half the fleet made up of river cruisers, who also started first - these were the fleet to watch, with the newer cruisers, Stellar and Lyra, helmed by Tim Frary and Paul Carrington crossing the line first after two hours and twenty minutes racing, an impressive sight finishing just 6 seconds apart! On corrected time, these dropped to 4th and 5th position respectively. First dinghy to finish, and first overall on corrected time was Charlie Stewart sailing Norfolk Punt Wildgoose, crewed by Tom Chandler.

Second overall, for the second successive year, and first Cruiser was Ladybird, helmed by Nick Spanton, and third was another Norfolk Punt, Snowgoose, helmed by Jane Pye. Completing the first top ten finishers was Ben Adams helming Yeoman Panope (also first keelboat) in 6th, Yare & Bure Dingy Skipper helmed by Marty Thompson in 7th, River Cruiser Vagabond sailed by Mike Colling in 8th, 9th was Jack Barnham helming Yare & Bure Peacock, whilst in 10th was River Cruiser Sabrina 2 sailed by John Holmes (last year's winner).

First junior was Hamish Harmer sailing Enterprise Custard Cream, coming in 17th.

Overall, 44 competitors finished the race, the last two retiring due to being timed out on the 6-hour time limit. On returning to the Clubhouse, a roast dinner was well appreciated and enjoyed by the competitors - and the event has become a firm fixture in the Broads Calendar.