For those arriving by water, the Turkey Race adventures started the day before, as Team Rosie came through Yarmouth, Marigold left St Olaves, Egret left Burgh Castle and Vixen left Reedham.  The Roses were just slightly too far ahead to discover that everyone else stopped at Coldham Hall (as usual) for extremely good rum-enhanced hot chocolates and lunch.  The indulgence perhaps went on for one pint too many as, travelling upriver to Surlingham afterwards, the ice was forming in front of their eyes on cabin tops and decks.  Happily, Lisa had bought enough salt for the entire fleet to de-ice their decks.

By now, Flight's crew had also arrived and somehow everyone found themselves back in the pub....  Some returned to eat on board; others took advantage of the pub menu.  Tiredness set in early though and no-one lasted beyond 9.30 before retiring to bed - some with the benefit of heated boats; others without.  Modwena turned up about 2am.....

Friday had started off gloriously sunny, but the day of the race was resolutely grey and gloomy.  And icy.  And, after a while, foggy.  This is possibly the first Turkey Race to have been run in freezing fog....  However, there was enough wind for six of the yachts to sail upriver against the last of the ebb and round the top mark before enjoying a moderately pleasant sail back.  The lower mark, outside the pub, proved tricky for everyone though and impossible for Vixen, who fell into her own personal wind hole, lost the tide as it turned against her and ended up repeatedly trying to head for the pub.  Somehow, she eventually made the mark, but not before Modwena had caught her.  Vixen's crew went home with the Pakso Trophy for last place, having been well and truly stuffed.

Meanwhile, just 42 seconds separated the first three boats on corrected time, with Morning Calm taking the pheasants for third place.  The skipper informed his wife of this with some trepidation, having been told not to come home without the turkey.  Winning the ducks for the second year running was Flight, just eight seconds too slow to take the trophy and the turkey, which went to Steve Burton on Alice Rose.

Over thirty members enjoyed an excellent meal after the race and laughed and groaned their way through the "Christmas cracker jokes" which were the subject of this year's competition.  Jean's was judged to be the best by an unbiased member of the pub's staff.  Terry, as always, delighted in running the raffle, with Sophie Heath winning the hamper for the second time in three years - no doubt welcome consolation for the long and cold journeys required to attend this event.  Most people were more interested in her cat, though - can any other Broads sailing club boast two nautical cats among its membership?  Chips seemed completely unfazed by everything, including dogs, a small child, sailing in general and Christmas cracker snaps.

Once the raffle was over, most people left, but the hardy few (with only cold boats to go to) stayed and yarned away the evening, which passed very pleasantly, with a good amount of humour and amusement; winding up with the traditional cheese and port.  And so another year drew to a close.

As a footnote: Flight, Marigold and Vixen derigged and motored downriver on Sunday in very wet and unpleasant conditions.  The crew of the latter two yachts retired as quickly as they could to a hotel in Lowestoft for hot showers and warm, dry clothing.  Suitably revived, they took a taxi to the Blackfriars Tavern in Great Yarmouth, where John and Rachael royally entertained them with the pianola and a range of "interesting" drinks.  Great fun was had by all.