North West Norfolk Week Days 1 & 2 at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club
by Jack Gore 11 Aug 17:10 NZST
9-16 August 2025
Allcomers: day 1
It was an evening sail for those who began Norfolk Week yesterday at Snettisham beach. The fleet were met with relatively strong winds and a staple Snettisham chop which made both races challenging.
Race 1 was the windier of the two, with a triangle course set out by the RO. After a busy start, the allcomers fleet got away, chasing the National 12s who had set off three minutes prior. It didn't take long for the RS700s of Tom Playford, Colin Dacey, and Ian Nolan to catch up to the 12s, who were promptly dispatched by lap two. Close racing ensued for the following three laps, with tactical beats and exciting downwind legs where we surfed past one another, jostling for position.
Race 2 saw the wind fall slightly, but full hiking was still required for most of the course. Wanting to one-up the N12s, the allcomer fleet chose to push the line so much the RO was forced to install not just one but two general recalls. However, they eventually got away in the slightly lighter conditions. The sun set behind the clouds just as the final finishers crossed the line, and it was a beautiful end to a good day's sailing, and a great opener to what will be the final Norfolk Week in its current format. It was those RS700s who caught the N12s in each race respectively who finished first on handicap with Tom Playford winning overall.
Allcomers: day 2
The Norfolk Week fleet uncovered boats bleary-eyed for day two as most competitors arrived before seven o'clock to set off for racing at seven-thirty. There was a distinct lack of wind this time, but the swell from the previous day's windier conditions meant, once again, the aim of the game was to simply keep the boat moving. The fleet got away after the N12's start once again, and it was not the 700s this time but the Albatross no8254 Tim Coleman and Jo Sankey who led the fleet to the windward mark. Such was the lack of wind that one lap was sufficient time for a full race, and the fleet lined up again, hoping to find the right shifts for race two.
It turned out the first race would be child's play in comparison to the start of the second race. The wind shifts were so extreme that Streaker 1954 of Tim Harris was second boat of either the N12s or allcomers to the windward mark, beating all but one National 12 to the mark. We even saw some boats use their spinnaker on the upwind leg, which summed up the topsy-turvy conditions. The fleet then tacked on the leeward leg of the sausage course towards the finish line, where we were incredibly optimistically sent for a second lap. As a result, much of the fleet were timed out and awarded DNCs as they were unable to finish within the twenty minute limit as set out in the SIs. In these unpredictable conditions, it was the Albatross of Tim Coleman and Jo Sankey who were victorious, with Nicholas Welbourn rounding up second place.
The fleet has a lie-in tomorrow as we head to Ouse Amateur SC, with the race beginning at 13:30. See you there!