Given the mist and 1mph winds forecast for Saturday, there was some trepidation amongst the sailors planning to take part in Horning Sailing Club's Autumn Passage Race, now in its third year. Despite this, some 47 boats arrived in Horning from across the Broads, hoping for better conditions.
Billed as the Three Rivers Race without the bridges, the original plan was to sail towards Womack and up towards Acle before returning to Horning. The morning of the race saw the water like a millpond and not a breath of wind in the air; however, just as the briefing began, a very gentle breeze started to pick up and the decision was made that racing would go ahead but would start at St Benet's Abbey, with the turning buoys just beyond Thurne Windmill and Upton Dyke.
The race entrants were dominated by river cruisers, with 22 taking part. Surprisingly, there were only three dinghies - two Norfolk Punts and a Wayfarer, the remainder keelboats, including strong fleets of Yeoman (8), Rebels (6) and Reedlings (4) - the latter two boats designed for the Broads.
It proved not to be a day for the faster craft, and the race was won by one of the three dinghies - Wayfarer "Selkie" helmed by Jeremy Evans.
Second was Jack Barnham in Yare & Bure Peacock, and Kevin Edwards (Rebel Maid) third. Fourth was River Cruiser Vacuna (on handicap the slowest river cruiser participating) helmed by Simon Bryan. Waveney "Snakeshead" sailed by Alex New was fifth, whilst 21 seconds on handicap separated the next four finishers. Sixth was Peter Brown in Rebel Rothay, whilst Stuart Bailey in Reedling Jaws was seventh. Coming in eighth and first Yeoman was Steve Middleditch in Scorpio, whilst Robert Hancock in Reedling Siskin was 9th. Completing the top ten was Peter Goshawk in River Cruiser "Grayling."
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