Aldeburgh Yacht Club were delighted to host their annual Open Meeting with 4 visitors and 10 local boats out of the burgeoning home fleet of 16 racing fifteens.

Our first course was a passage race round the cans taking us down river in a south westerly Force 3 in full sun. Start time was 30 minutes before high tide and those choosing the east bank benefited, putting Justin and Amanda Waples followed by Duncan Matthew crewed by John Chalker out front. Adam and Clare Oliver made third place choosing the same bank.

Our second course was hard fought. Waples/Waples took first, followed by Matthew/Chalker and visitor John Hanson crewed by Philip Snowden. We headed slightly further down river for a classic windward-leeward in stronger breeze after a shift to the south-east. The committee boat was moored alongside a major eddy, causing huge excitement at the start. Waples/Waples won again, with Matthew/Chalker second and Chris and Emma Sparks third.

Day two opened, as expected with a drift but this time up river to the stunning upper reaches of the Alde. The first race could have been anyone’s with a very patchy wind. That should not take it away from Stephen Fulford crewed by Archie McEwen for their first, with Matthew/Chalker second and Waples/Waples third. The sea breeze set in, providing excellent conditions for a tight windward leeward won by Waples/Waples again after a recall.

The final race was a passage back to the club line with the whole fleet nicely bunched and plenty of energy in the tank to compete up to the line. Matthew/Chalker prevailed over the Sparks, with Fulford/McEwen third.

Overall it was Waples/Waples, then Matthew/Chalker then Fulford/McEwen. We benefit at Aldeburgh from excellent and ambitious professional management, boatmen and caterers, all of whom accomplished themselves with a big welcome for our visitors.

We must also thank Robert Mulcahy – our returning race officer – for his patience and for holding his nerve as we waited for the sea breeze on Sunday.

The Aldeburgh fleet is building, with a number of young faces now regularly racing. We will welcome visitors again to our 2025 event once dates have been set.

For full results: https://www.aldeburghyc.org.uk/2024_results

Report by Adam Oliver