Norfolk Punt Championships 2024 at the Norfolk Punt Club: A Premier Event in Traditional Boating and Racing
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Norfolk Punt Championships 2024 at the Norfolk Punt Club
17-18 August 2024
On the 17th and 18th of August, crews gathered from across the country for the premier event in inland sailing: the Norfolk Punt Championships 2024, hosted by the Norfolk Punt Club on Barton Broad.
The Norfolk punt is a restricted development class with a rich history, evolving over 100 years from the sail-assisted clinker shooting punts of the late 19th century to the modern high-performance raceboats seen today. This history was represented on the water by vessels ranging from the 1918-built ‘Prawn’ to the 2023-completed ‘Wahoo’. To accommodate variations in design and age, the boats compete on a handicap basis, ensuring fair and competitive racing.
Competitors towed or sailed out from Barton Turf staithe to the race area and Punt Club’s floating clubhouse in the middle of Barton Broad. They encountered conditions reminiscent of Marseille in early August: patchy winds coming from various directions, but thankfully plenty of sunshine.
Race officer Kath Mason briefed the fleet, establishing a course for the first race starting off the clubhouse. The course allowed for strategic options regarding navigation around the island while managing spinnaker deployments. The fleet got off to a clean start, with the faster Morrison design ‘Blackbird’ (Andrew and Robert Friend) leading the pack, closely followed by ‘Razorbill’ (Richard Parker and Robert Snelling) and hard chine designs led by ‘Snow Goose’ (Jane Pye and Karen Armitage). ‘Blackbird’ leveraged its large blue masthead kite to navigate down the broad but found itself in a wind hole soon after rounding the Neatished mark.
As rain and wind patterns fluctuated throughout the race, ‘Blackbird’ ultimately crossed the finish line first, but after handicaps were applied, ‘Snow Goose’ took the top position, followed by ‘Goldeneye’ (Brian Wilkins and Kate Dulieu) in second and ‘Prawn’ (Bill and Alison Glover) in third.
In the second race, the race committee adapted to the conditions by changing the course to include a committee boat start at the southern end of the broad. Despite the wind calming down just minutes before the start, ‘Decoy’ executed a perfect pin-end start, sailing away into clear air as the rest of the fleet floundered. ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Greylag’ (Edward Clifford and Alex Stanley) managed to break from the pack to secure second and third on the water, though the final standings shifted once handicaps were applied. The race concluded with ‘Snow Goose’, ‘Wahoo’ (Simon Lomas Clarke and Robert Daniels), and ‘Cormorant’ (Bart Sawyer and Eliza Boulton) finishing closely together.
By race three, the fleet had begun to adjust to the challenging conditions with stronger gusts offering twin-string teams opportunities to gain a lead. The dynamic duo on ‘Flamingo’ (Johnnie Rudd and Wulfie) made an impact with impressive speed down the broad. ‘Blackbird’ finished first on the water again, but on corrected time, ‘Decoy’ took the victory, with ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Snow Goose’ securing second and third, respectively.
After three challenging races, the fleet concluded day one and gathered for socializing at Barton Staithe. Sunday morning brought hopes of stronger breezes, and RO Kath Mason set an even more complex course with many tactical turns. ‘Swallow 2’ (Emma and William Daniels) demonstrated impeccable timing, taking an early lead in race four, which featured intense competition around the course.
After navigating various pinches and challenges, ‘Blackbird’ took the top position again, followed by ‘Swallow 2’, ‘Decoy’, and ‘Woodpecker’ (Matthew and Freddie Scott). Post-handicap adjustments saw ‘Decoy’ winning the race, with ‘Swallow 2’ in second and ‘Blackbird’ in third.
The final race saw conditions revert to their earlier unpredictable state. ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Greylag’ quickly broke away from the pack, maintaining their lead until the finish, with ‘Greylag’ ultimately taking first on corrected time, followed closely by ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Swallow 2’.
After five intense races, ‘Decoy’ triumphed with three first-place finishes, claiming the title of Norfolk Punt Champions 2024. ‘Blackbird’ secured second place, with ‘Swallow 2’ following in third. Additional awards included the hard chine salver for ‘Snow Goose’, the Cuckoo Cup for the first under-18 crew member awarded to ‘Greylag’, the Broadshaven Cup for traditional boats won by ‘Decoy’, and the Progress Cup for fastest over the water, awarded to ‘Blackbird’.
Overall, the weekend was marked by exciting racing and a diverse range of boats participating. The next event for the punt class will be the NBYC open meeting at Wroxham Broad, followed by the end-of-season Athene Cup downriver race.
Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.