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Volunteers award

Neville and Val Khambatta from Norwich were amongst the 57 people who were recognised at the RYA Volunteer Awards on Friday (16 November). 

The Awards were presented by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, President of the RYA, in recognition of boating’s most dedicated volunteers.

At the ceremony, held at One Great George Street, Westminster, London, Neville and Val received their RYA Outstanding Contribution Awards in recognition of their commitment to the Norfolk Punt Club.

Both Neville and Val have been active on the Broads sailing scene for the past 25 years, particularly at their home club, the Norfolk Punt Club. Over this time they have actively supported the training of adults and young people in both sailing and powerboating. Val has been on the Norfolk Punt Club committee for 14 years and was Commodore in 2005. As Training School Principal she organises the annual Junior week, runs first aid training and advises the committee on health and safety standards. Neville was Commodore in 2013, has taught sailing at the club for as long as members can remember, and plays a major role in looking after the club’s boats. Most recently, they initiated ‘Social Saturdays’, offering sailing and social opportunities to both members and non-members. As a direct result, the Punt Club has gained new members, some of whom are now taking an active role in the club. As well as being mainstays of the club, they also support local sailing charities – Val has been a Trustee of the Nancy Oldfield Trust since 2008, and Neville has been a Trustee of Hunters Yard since 1994.

They said of the day: “When the RYA puts on a show it really knows how to do it! The awards ceremony in London is most impressive and to tell the truth we had not fully understood the honour given us by the Norfolk Punt Club until we began to read the citations of other recipients, very humbling. It was a memorable day made even more so the following evening back home in Norfolk when the Punt Club AGM made us both Honorary Life Members. Honestly, we are still a bit stunned by it all. Two ex-pat Londoners who just love sailing and love the Broads! Thank you Norfolk……. the Punt Club and the RYA.”

RYA Director of Sport Development, Alistair Dickson commented: “The RYA Volunteer Awards, sometimes known as the MBE’s of our sport, recognise the outstanding contributions made by volunteers nationwide.

“Today has been a fantastic opportunity to say thank you to the people that go above and beyond, giving that little bit extra to ensure others can enjoy the sport we all love. Volunteers really are the lifeblood of boating and it’s an honour to reward their efforts and give something back.”

History of the Norfolk Punt

 A HISTORY OF THE NORFOLK PUNT

The history of the Norfolk Punt is complex but is well described in Jamie Campbell’s book “A celebration of Norfolk Punts 1926 to 2006”.  Jamie has very kindly given the Norfolk Punt Club a licence to reproduce his book on the Club’s Website together with a formidable archive of photographs.  The text and the photographs are presented in full on this site.

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The text and photographs may be reproduced only for personal and strictly non-commercial purposes.  For reproduction for other purposes, please contact Jamie Campbell whose contact details appear in the Club Handbook.

Please note that the books may take some time to load – so please be patient.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Appendix

30 June 1st July Punt Open

The BBC weather website is trying to redefine the word breezy. If there’s any air movement at all it is classified as breezy. The Norfolk Punt Open took place the weekend in conditions that were breezy, but in the old fashioned sense, in that there was a stiff wind that was very gusty. The racing on Saturday and Sunday morning was challenging but these conditions didn’t upset the fleet and with brilliant sunshine and an air of excitement the crews handled conditions in true Punt style. Some wet and some dry finishers enjoyed some thrilling sailing and although numbers were down on previous years the standard was as  high as ever.

Our visitor from Ullswater Colin Murray won in Whooper with Punt Club Commodore Andrew Wilton a close second and Matthew Scott in Woodpecker in third place

On Sunday afternoon the Norfolk Punt Club raced in challenging winds made up for by a cloudless sky. Two wins by Driver father and son in the YBOD Grizzled Skipper were the outstanding performances of the day.
Series 1 Allcomers B
1. James Driver, YBOD Grizzled Skipper
2. Simon Goodman, YBOD Mazarine Blue
3. Andrew Wilton, punt Merlin

Series 2 Allcomers B
1. Andrew Wilton, punt Merlin
2. Simon Jenner, Yarmouth Pimpernel
3. Martin Mills, Wayfarer Exclaim

YBODs
1. James Driver, Grizzled Skipper
2. Simon Goodman, Mazarine Blue

Broadland Youth Regatta – Report & Photos

Photographs of the NSBA Broadland Youth Regatta – 1st September 2018 held at the Norfolk Punt Club.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rssupport/albums/72157670811940767

25th Broadland Youth Regatta at Norfolk Punt Club, 1st September 2018

65 youth and junior sailors in 58 boats from six Broadland Clubs took part in the 25th Broadland Youth Regatta on Barton Broad, hosted on behalf of the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association by the Norfolk Punt Club. All for races were sailed in a moderate southerly breeze. Top honours in the fleet racing went to Toby Pearce in the fast handicap start, sailing a Laser Radial for Horning, George Madin in the slow handicap start sailing his RS Tera Pro for WOBYC, Felix Cripps in the Topper Class sailing for WOBYC and Joshua Means in the Optimist Class sailing for Horning.

The interclub competition for the Centenary Salver was contested by six Clubs, and by the narrowest of margins Waveney and Oulton Broad Yacht Club, were triumphant, with NBYC second and Horning Sailing Club third, Beccles Amateur Sailing Club fourth, Hickling Broad Sailing Club fifth and Norfolk Punt Club sixth.

Largest fleet was the Topper fleet, with 23 competitors. The slow handicap fleet included 5 Splashes, two laser 4.7s, one RS Feva XL and one Rs Tera Pro.   The fast handicap provided additional excitement with ten Lasers of which four were the radial variety, two Norfolk Punts (one symmetrical rigged, hard Chine, and one asymmetric rigged Morrison type, a 470, a Laser 2, an Enterprise and a Fireball.   Ten Optimists took part.

The Whelpton Cup for the most successful double-handed boat was won by Alex Knights crewed by Alice Palutitoif in their RS Feva XL.

The Lady Meyhew Trophy for endeavour, applying the greatest effort in a spirit of sport determination and fun without necessarily achieving a winning position was awarded to Zoe Barnes from the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club in her Optimist dinghy on only her sixth day of sailing and first experience of racing.

NPC gave a big “thank you” to Jeckells The Sailmakers, Cox’s Boatyard, Jarrolds, Barton Turf Activity Centre and Norfolk Marine for sponsoring the event plus the radios kindly supplied by A&L Audio.

Brian Wilkins, on behalf of the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association, thanked the Norfolk Punt Club, Commodore Andrew Wilton and his dedicated team of volunteers, led by Liz Chettleburgh, who co-ordinated the event.

Georgina Povell, International sailor who started competed at previous Broadland Youth Regattas, sent a message of encouragement to this year’s competitors from her training base in Weymouth, which was read out at the prizegiving.

Report and Results from the Norfolk Punt Club Open Regatta 2018

Norfolk Punt Club Regatta – Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August 2018

If you hold an event over a Bank Holiday weekend you should be prepared for the good, the bad and the ugly when thinking of the weather. This was certainly true this year as those competitors who entered the various series experienced all three. Saturday mornings racing took place in what was described as good sailing winds, with keel boats increasing the number of crew to help where needed, but the 10.00 races set off into a steady westerly wind with the usually jockeying for position on the start line. The Norfolk Punts relish the stronger breeze, and enjoyed some excellent competitive action. Barton Broad is possibly the best venue on the Broads for fast, open racing and that was certainly true for the Keel boats. A strong junior fleet of Lasers, Fevas and toppers sailed on a course north of the island.

The 11.00 starts were still in a westerly breeze and once again the Punts led off in a closely contested finish –with crews getting damp. For the YBOD fleet the start line saw the inevitable “eagerness” to be first end in these boats returning to start cleanly. But a good skipper can usually make up for this and slower starters were left behind. The Allcomers race saw the Dragon showing her beautiful lines alongside Brown Boats and Yarmouths.

At 12.20 the Cruiser fleet ,split into the normal two section start, set off in fine style. This race always attracts the attention of the holiday makers on their motorboats, as a fantastic spectacle to watch from a distance, or as a rabbit in the headlights as dozens of large and heavy boats bear down on the unsuspecting, making them scatter. The shepherding of the safety boats is always appreciated by the visitors.

After lunch, supplemented by tea and the inevitable cake , the regatta continued with more competitors joining in and making racing more competitive and the tea hut busier. Junior Allcomers kicked off the afternoon series and was keenly contested and well sailed by all, including the Oppies. Punts were once again flying in the increasing wind and the keel boats always make a great show as they run down the Broad goose winging to the top mark. The cruiser races seem to coincide with the holiday makers leaving Stalham for the start of their holiday and more shepherding duty for the safety boats ensures everyone gets through the broad safely. The wind had increased slightly but undeterred Punts , keel boats, juniors and Cruisers battled it out until 6.00pm when many headed for a change of clothes and the Hog Roast at Barton Turf.

Sunday 26th.

Overnight the bad and the Ugly arrived in the form of a strong gusting wind and driving rain causing a few entrants to reconsider their position and withdraw. Punts were flying at times, with a distinct absence of spinnakers and some keel boats found the marker posts grabbing main sheets, but the safety boats were on the scene in case they were needed. Undeterred the full programme was maintained and credit must be given to the competitors who sailed the afternoon, in stinging rain and wind, force 5 and gusting. Special mention for the Junior fleet of dinghies who had excellent racing in the strong winds and the safety boat crews who escorted the fleet. A much depleted audience stayed for the presentations at the end of a very wet and windy day.

For a list of the trophy winners click here Table of trophy winners

For a full list of the results by race click here 2018-1Regatta Series Overalls 2018

2019 Calendar

The 2019 Norfolk Punt Club calendar features photographs of member’s boats sailing, club activities, local wildlife and some of the features which make Barton Broad so special: ideal for your kitchen or office wall, or send to friends and family in far off places.

The calendar costs £7 and all profits will go to Club funds. 

Postage and packing will cost an extra £2 for a single calendar (This is actual cost with no profit to the club).  If you would like more sent by post, then please contact the Hon Sec.

A initial print order has been given and we anticipate that the calendars will be available both at Club events from mid-September, the Athene Cup and AGM and from the Hon Sec in Barton Turf.  A further print run will be made later to meet demand.

The calendar was displayed at the Regatta where it received much praise.

Order yours now by contacting the Hon Secretary at secretary@puntclub.co.uk. 

No payment please at the moment.

 

Norfolk Punt Championships 18th & 19th August

Norfolk Punt Club sailing report for Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August 2018

Norfolk Punt Championships 2018
Twenty-one Punt’s turned up to the Norfolk Punt Club on Barton Broad for the Punt Championships 2018. As the Norfolk Punt is a “development class” a variety of shapes and sizes are designed within certain limits and unfortunately two boats sails didn’t measure up, although Michael McNamara (local sail maker) came to the rescue to one of them.
Saturday 18th August
With the wind in the WSW the Officer of the Day managed to get three good beats into the course. Everyone was very well-behaved on the start line, with Simon Clayton, in Decoy crossing the start line first and getting to the first mark ahead of the fleet. It was great to see a traditional Punt leading the way. Colin Murray and Whooper soon got passed Decoy and showed the fleet how to sail the course, beating the first hardchine, James Jarvey in Harnser, by only 7 seconds on handicap.

The second race saw the start going from the starting raft to get a longer beat. A close start with eight boats on the line, going at speed. There was a lot of shouting at the first Mark when Andrew Wilton in Merlin got stuck on the bouy and everyone had to go round them. The race saw Whooper, Harnser and Merlin all fighting for line honours with Whooper, again coming out top.

The third race, again from the starting raft, saw James Mason in White Eagle (in his first punt championship) go for port flyer, tacking at the last second and getting across the line 1st. He ended up fourth at the first mark, finishing the race with the spectacular capsize, right in front of the officers box, much to everybody’s great amusement.

At the end of the day, Colin Murray was lying first having won all three races in Whooper, with James Jarvey second in Harnser, and Richard Whiteford in Comet and Simon Clayton in Decoy sharing third.
Sunday 19th August
On Sunday morning the fleet awoke to white horses on the Broad, and a strong gusting wind which thankfully calmed down before the start of the first race of the day and the fourth out of the series of five races over the two days. Andrew Wilton in Merlin got the first mark in the lead, with Colin Murray in Whooper very close behind. Jane Pye in Snow Goose capsized and managed to break her pole, but carried on and finished the race. James Jarvey sailed an excellent race and managed to beat Colin Murray by 9 seconds on handicap.

The fifth and last race, started with the wind beginning to build again. Matthew Scott in Woodpecker capsized just before the start. During the race Peter Callum in Barnicle Goose managed to lose their main halyard at the end of the first round, James Jarvey did exactly the same thing at the end of the second round. The OOD decided that as it was their last race they could do the fourth round, which resulted in the wind squalling and only 14 boats finishing. Richard Whitefoot in Comet, capsized just before the last mark whilst he was in second and ended up eighth overall.

Trophy Results.
Cuckoo Cup for first under 18 helm or crew Sam Briggs. Merlin.
Progress Challenge Cup (overall winner) Colin Murray Whooper
Hardchime Trophy James Jarvey Harnser
Broads Haven Trophy for Traditional Punts Simon Clayton Decoy

Bottles.(race winner – one prize only)
1st race Colin Murray Whooper.
2nd race. James Jarvey Harnser.
3rd race. Richard Whitefoot. Comet.
4th race. Simon Clayton Decoy.
5th race Jane Pye Snow Goose .

Punt championship.

1st Colin Murray Whooper
2nd. James Jarvey. Harnser
3rd. Simon Clayton Decoy.

The excellent turnout for the championships and the strong winds made for a superb two days for all competitors and for the many spectators on the pontoons or on the craft moored to watch the racing. Thanks to Kath Mason and her team for a brilliantly organised weekend.