Naburn Paddle 11th June 2022

5 boats were greeted with an unusually good wind at Naburn, a fresh south westerly coming up straight through the narrows, meaning that the whole river was potentially available for racing. In their wisdom, however, the race officers decided to set a short course completely within sight of the clubhouse, all the better for the spectators! This resulted in multiple laps, from the Willow mark to Yacht Services.

Race 1 started at a particularly blowy time, but the fleet coped very well with N2545 just reaching the Willow mark in the lead, followed closely by N3502. On the run up to Yacht Services N3209 caught up well and there followed a long battle for second place. N3209 finally won that, but in the process allowing N2545 to consolidate the lead and take the first race.

After a break for lunch, the second race started in similarly windy conditions, with everyone very keen on the start line. In the resulting confusion, N2545 mistimed the start and started prematurely, having to return. N3283 made the best of it and led the fleet round the first lap. There was much changing of places during the race, with N3502 leading after lap 2. N2545 led after lap 4, but N3209 came through strongly on the last leg to take the finishing gun.

The wind still blowing, the third race followed the pattern of the first, with N2545 establishing a lead shortly after the start, followed by a battle between N3502 & N3209. N3209 again won the battle for second and was closing on N2545 when the finish gun sounded. N2545 therefore took the Naburn Paddle overall meeting, the Jubilee Cup for the first race and the Transom Trophy for the first vintage boat.