Regatta’s royal visitor

The Norfolk Punt Club had lots to celebrate last month – as well as hosting the Broadland Youth Regatta and marking its 100th anniversary, it had a royal visitor.

The Princess Royal went aboard in her role as president of the Royal Yachting Association, and enjoyed a tour of the club and met some of the young sailors who came from across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Club commodore Alastair Drew said: “The draw of a royal visitor, the event coming the weekend after another major event at Barton (the three-day Barton Regatta) and good weather conditions meant that an over 25-year high of 134 sailors in 108 boats descended on Barton Staithe to register, launch and sail out to the club’s unique floating pontoons in the middle of Barton Broad.”

Four races were held either side of an extended lunch with the princess, who was also given a tour of Cox’s Boatyard and met representatives from the Broads Authority, the Royal Yachting Association, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Nancy Oldfield Trust.

The Nancy Oldfield Trust adapts boats to allow people of all abilities to enjoy sailing and it took the princess out to the pontoons to take a closer look.

She met youngsters from all eight competing clubs and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit.

She also started the third race of the day.

“The racing all day was exciting, with a keen wind in the warm and sunny conditions keeping the sailors concentrating,” said Alastair.

The race winners were Henry Drew and Finn Elson (representing Norfolk Punt Club), Jensen Jakob (Snowflakes Sailing Club), Devon Bulldeath (Snowflakes Sailing Club) and Henrietta Highfield (Rollesby Broad Sailing Club). The overall club trophy was awarded to Waveney and Oulton Broad Yacht Club.

The regatta is run by the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association and is hosted by a different Broadland sailing club each year.