CLUB racing was cancelled at Beccles Amateur Sailing Club, so that the Junior Fleet could take part in the Broadland Youth Regatta at Oulton Broad which was hosted by Waveney and Oulton Broad YC.

CLUB racing was cancelled at Beccles Amateur Sailing Club, so that the Junior Fleet could take part in the Broadland Youth Regatta at Oulton Broad which was hosted by Waveney and Oulton Broad YC.

The Broadland Youth Regatta now in its 15th year is open to any one under 19 years old within the Broads area. Over 60 dinghies took part in five different classes.

The Beccles team was represented by 11 dinghies making the short journey down the A146. For a number of them it was going to be their first experience of sailing away from Beccles.

In the Fast Handicap races Beccles boats finished first with Ryan Langston at the helm while fourth was Chris Abbott only a couple of points behind, both sailing Lasers.

Matthew Deller and Joe Backenbury sailed well to finish a few places back in their Enterprise.

In the Optimist Fleet Hugh Braidwood came third, winning one race and was unlucky not to win overall.

In the same class Hugh's sister Gwynne sailed extremely well despite her inexperience, while 12-year-old Katie Roll persisted despite her inexperience (having only started sailing in May) which won her the Lady Mayhew Trophy, which claimed her the loudest cheer of the day at the prize giving.

Beccles had five boats in the Topper Fleet which was a very competitive fleet, Ollie Baylis, Milo Phillips and Rob Gilchrist sailed extremely well to finish in the top half of the fleet, while Saskia Baylis and young Lachlan Bunter racing the club Topper for only the second time can be very pleased with their performances, scoring valuable points for the club.

Norfolk Broads YC won the Team Trophy the Centenary Salver, with last year's winners Hickling Broad second, Beccles Amateur Sailing Club had their best ever result to come third much to the pleasure of the large number of members watching, ahead of Waveney and Oulton Broad, with Horning fifth.

Richard Deller, Commodore of BASC, reflected afterwards: “This has been a truly brilliant day, everyone has performed so well, with a couple of tremendous performances, I am so proud of them all. They are a wonderful group of children to work with, with the average age of just 14, they are always so cheerful.

“A big thank you must go to the instructors and assistants who have put so much hard work in during the year.”