In Horning On The River Between 27th July And 2nd August 2024?

[TheQ]

Yep it's that time again Horning regatta, a little bigger since it's founding in 1903..

First I'll give you some rough timings if you wish to avoid the racing, which at its peak could have up to 80 sailing boats in a mile and a half of river, most likely that would be around, 14:00.

Saturday, the racing doesn't start till 14:00 on Black Horse Broad, but boats will start drifting up there from 13:00. Shouldn't cause too much problems, they'll probably return between about 16:00 and 17:00. If you wish to watch, please drop your mud weight round the edges of the broad, the east, Hoveton end or west, Horning end are most commonly used.

Sunday, racing from around 11:00 to 16:00, they'll sail up in the hour before and after again shouldn't cause to much problems. Watching as above. There is then a motorboat handling just outside the clubhouse on the river at 17:00, again shouldn't be to much problem.

 

Monday to Friday. Viewing is only possible from the Swan green, unless you've got a chalet on the river.

On the river between the Swan Corner, and Dydlers mill, should the wind be right, there's an outside chance of the big sailing cruisers racing up to Woodcutters dyke ( the end of the straight upriver from the mill).

Each race should last about an hour, boats will venture on the water from about 15 minutes before each race.

First race series start 09:25,  3 or 4 starts at 5 minute intervals. , NOTE, this series includes absolute beginners, many  below the age of 10, please be very careful if you are going through.

Second series, about 10:30, all the other open boats come out to play, 6 starts at 5 minute intervals. It gets crowded on the river.

There's a short gap in sailing boat traffic between  about 12:00 ish and 12:45  when the big sailing cruisers race 2, 3 or 4 starts depending on how many enter. The cruiser races are designed to last 2 hours.

The third race series starts 13:45, 4 starts

4th race series starts 15:15, 6 starts,

The big sailing cruisers then sail again at 16:15.

The final pair of starts is 17:00 and 17:05, limited competitors as you have to qualify to compete. They are also short races , about half an hour each.

 

Next post how to get through by boat.

 

[TheQ]

Ok it's very crowded waters, both us sailing and the school summer holiday traffic.

So hopefully, this is some helpful advice, .

Note, everyone makes errors especially the young children in the first race series, always be prepared to stop.

Please keep right, that means within 6 ft of the bank, our boats have 3ft of Keel hanging below our boats, we sail right up to the banks.

Any further out than 6ft and you'll end up with sailing boats both sides of you.

If you keep to the banks, our boats will turn away from you and treat you as the bank, they will however get VERY close, please don't weave around.

If there is a gap between motor boats, some of our boats are likely to sail up to the bank, you may have to slow down. Though they are told to avoid you, some have a version of avoiding that is closer than a non sailer would understand.

If following boats and you wish to overtake, wait till a boat tacks away from the bank, and pass between the bank and the back of the sailing boat, then up to the next boat and repeat.

If sailing boats are approaching, keep it slow, keep right and let them go around you. They are told not to force you out into the river.

The start line,

All races start going up river from the clubhouse at 5 minutes between starts. Note, we use radio clock, the timings are at the 5 minute intervals of the clock so 09:25  not at 09:26.

The boats will be crossing and re crossing the river waiting for their start.

If going up river, slow, try to time your going through following a start, they will spread out as they go up river, hopefully giving you a chance to pass if the wind is slight.

Going down river, again try to slow and wait for a start, please keep right, let them go around you, then go forward as they clear.

You may hear our tannoy asking you to come forward and keep right going through.. 

 

Our boats are much more fragile than motorboat, we have no intention of hitting anyone.

But,  if you do have a problem, contact the club as soon as possible, with time and day, note the boats sail number and symbol if it has one. Also if possible its name and broads registration number. 

All boats carry their own insurance, the club will try to put both parties in contact with each other.

Please, as once happened, don't contact us a month later and say it was a white boat with white sails (on that occasion they also said the day it happened, which was a day we weren't sailing!!!)

 

Any questions, please ask....

 

[MargeandParge]

I am gonna run and hide after this comment The Q. How I wish The B.A got as much pleasure running the navigation as you do when enjoying and using it.. Keep up the momentum for all that enjoy The Broads. 

Kindest Regards Marge and Parge 

[eddybear]

I have never managed unfortunately to be at the boat show at Horning Basically by Boat no mooring, by car no parking, so basically on that day I just stay clear.

[Jbx5]

There’s always plenty car parking arranged at Bewilderwood for Horning boat show.

[TheQ]

The countdown continues just 18 days to go...

[TheQ]

Ok folks this is your final message pre the regatta, as tomorrow, I'll be at the radar museum all day, followed by the model Railway club in the evening.

The current forecast is light winds from the weekend only picking up towards the end of the week, so that means we'll likely be in your way even more.

The tides are close to neaps which makes  life easier, with low tide at around 12:00 on the Saturday, progressing through to 18:30 by Friday.

So add or take away roughly 3 hours from that, so that will be the most likely time the sailing  boats will want to stick to the river bank if sailing against the tide...

 

Just relax ang watch us go by...

 

[LizG]

Slowly.....

[TheQ]

Very

[NorfolkNog]

 

[NorfolkNog]

 

[TheQ]

Yes regatta week went very well , thanks to all who avoided us, sorry for the delays, there just wasn't much wind at times.. just keeping the boats moving was hard work.

[dom]

Horning Sailing Club has always been one of the best for encouraging kids into trying sailing (see 3:00 onwards in the above!) but they're another channel with hardly any subscribers, so will struggle to get views. Maybe give them a like and subscribe to help and to encourage them to provide more content if you can?

[TheQ]

The weeks report in yachts and yachting magazine.

https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/277944/Horning-Sailing-Clubs-Open-Regatta-Week-2024?source=email&fbclid=IwY2xjawEdZHhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRjoiOhyRboeMILjL3H9EcAJ-BUmLhVgk6qX3pYYAlFCiw_YWeJnux8fxw_aem_gzDRC3b9ZTNjUjC7390XXg