Green Wyvern Yachting Club
Racing has always been part of the Green Wyvern scene. During a cruise, an afternoon might be set aside for a Mates" race in the four Moons, or the skippers might draw for yachts. In more recent years, however, racing has become a serious activity. Boats bought or built to race ,with taller masts, bigger sails, longer bowsprits; have become the order of the day.
The Round the Island and The Cecil Howard Memorial are races organised by the Club and open to all river cruisers. Gordon reports on the 1993 Round the Island race.
The tenth race was a wow! Despite a light field of twelve there was a good crowd of sailors and the like, supping and sailing, from eight on Friday till nearly midnight on Saturday. Even the weather played ball. From the command centre it looked like a good party: it was generally felt that if you weren’t satisfied and happy, you should try lounging about at Marbella.
The actual organisation went like a dream. So many people chipped in: Robin, Tony, Brian, Philip, Roger, Cameron, to name but six . . . all did what was expected: well, nearly all. There were one or two who thought the Race went on for ever. You can never win them all, can you? But most got it right and we had a good result.
Everybody was delighted when the overall winner turned out to be Norman in Valkyrie. He couldn’t believe it and neither could anyone else, but it was true. The other results are published below but this one we shall cherish. Long may it remain green in our memory.
The pub was excellent in all ways. I have suggested that the Broads Authority hold their AGM at 'The Bell' and invite Broads so-called inn keepers to see how to do it. Everybody was delighted and so, I think, were our hosts. We even broke more than even financially. Next year we shall organise a grand raffle starting at the Rigging Party. Promises of prizes can be sent now.
That’s it for now. Next year we need more outside yachts. If you have the chance, urge people to enter. The date we trust will be as usual, the Saturday before Oulton Week, August 1994.
Trophy winners:
Green Wyvern Trophy - Nyanza 3 hrs 28.50 corrected
Somerleyton Jubilee Cup ~Godwit 3 hrs 19.20 corrected
Round the Island Trophy ~Valkyrie 3 hrs 06.14 corrected
Commodore’s Trophy ~ Shruff 3 hrs 59.58 elapsed
for the fastest yacht over the water
EGW 1993