Fine sunshine and a good westerly breeze greeted Beccles Amateur Sailing Club competitors throughout the weekend as series racing continued on Saturday as well as the Norfolk OD Open on Sunday.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Commodore Shirley Roll with Norfolk Open winners Glen and George Curtis. Photo: KAREN LANGSTONCommodore Shirley Roll with Norfolk Open winners Glen and George Curtis. Photo: KAREN LANGSTON (Image: Archant)

The pursuit race had 16 start with the force four gusting five providing good racing conditions. A good fast effort by James How in his Topper gave him a well deserved third after 30 minutes and was only caught by the relentless pace of the faster Norfolks of Kelsey and Curtis.

A brief lull meant the mixed handicap Coronation Cup fleet got away without any incidents. Jonathan Blankley with Casper Baylis in the RS200 kept good pace with the faster Kestrel to collect second ahead of Tim Revell and Glen and George Curtis in Penelope Jane took the win after handicap calculations were applied.

Only two enterprises were out for the Kerrich Cup and after three laps Simon Strode with Buster Aspinal took the bell ahead of Stuart Halliday and Julie Walker.

The Bacchante Trophy, a warm-up for the Norfolk Open, had Rory Kelsey with Max McKenna in ‘Tankard’ ahead until Curtis took full advantage of gust to get the inside line through the brambles and collect another win. Meanwhile the mixed Will Judge fleet kept close and only three seconds separated Blankley in the RS200 from Mark Langston in his Lightning.

Sunday’s Norfolk Open attracted just one visitor from Norwich which joined seven Beccles boats for some lively and close competitive racing. Team Curtis in ‘Penelope Jane’ nailed the first win, in a slightly lighter westerly wind, well ahead of the rest off a good start while the second race had Kelsey, in ‘Tankard’, out in front as Curtis battled with Kevin Edwards in ‘Minnie’. The short beat up to one combined with excellent pointing skills played well for Edwards, catching Curtis on starboard up to one to hold him to third.

After lunch the final race got under way with the main contenders on four points apiece. Curtis had the best start and although Kelsey remained worrying close throughout Curtis gave no opportunity to let them pass, taking a second win and collecting the Norfolk Open 2015 silverware. Winners and runner-ups were presented with their trophies by BASC Commodore Shirley Roll, having thanked her support team for their efforts in putting on a successful and enjoyable competition.