Arriving at the Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club early on Friday, the crew of Wandering Rose decided the best way to spend the morning was to go for a two hour jolly around Oulton Broad.  Sailing conditions were perfect and much enjoyment was had by all.  It was only later that they discovered they had distracted the Pilates class in the clubhouse, who had all been pressed up against the window, watching.

Eventually, boats began to arrive, with some interesting manoeuvres being undertaken to ensure head-to-wind moorings in the rising gale.  Bow on to the pontoon was popular.  Julia arrived with the beer and promptly at 5.30 the bar opened.  Many people enjoyed the sunshine on the balcony and took advantage of the DIY gas barbecue.  Others brought in takeaways and some ate on board.

A lengthy briefing at 8pm followed, covering both the racing and the lock transits, which meant a lot of information to take in.  Many diligently took notes, before being released back to the bar to continue enjoying their evening.

It blew overnight and continued to blow in the morning, which sadly meant most of the fleet were disinclined to race.  However, Evergreen, Glory, Pippinjack and Stella Genesta all put reefs in and headed out to have a go.  The OOD, Veronica Falat, wisely decided to keep it to a simple course of up to a top mark, then back to one at the bottom, with two laps being sailed for each of the two back-to-back races.

Evergreen won the first of these (and therefore the Crystal Ball) with Stella in second, Glory third and Pippinjack suffering the ignominy of their mainsail slowly sliding down the gaff, leading inexorably to their retirement.  However, undaunted, they were back on the water for the second race, for which they were rewarded with a second place, despite getting a little too friendly with the distance mark on the start line.  Evergreen declined to sail the second race, leaving Stella to take the hours, with Glory again in third.

After lunch, it was the excitement of the lock passage, which all happened very swiftly due to the water on both sides being almost level.  All five groups were through in under an hour and soon tied up in the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club marina, dressing overall.  With some west in the wind, it was a good deal calmer here than at Oulton and the many colourful flags flying made a fine sight.  Some took advantage of the bar, but soon it was time to dress in our finery ready for the evening's entertainment.  Michelle easily stole the show with her amazing frock, in which she looked stunning.

The evening began with a Prosecco and canape reception, as our host magician, Edd Crafer began circulating.  He was soon enthralling and amazing the assembled with some very clever trickery; performing both sleight of hand and mind-reading.  All too soon, he was calling for silence and introducing Commodore Bill Clark, who presented free commemorative tumblers to all boats that had come through to Lowestoft, plus the prize anniversary decanter to Mike and Kerry Burwood, who had won the morning's racing with Stella Genesta's first and second places.  They were probably somewhat shell-shocked to be there, having not planned to attend, but being persuaded an hour earlier, by telephone, to drop everything, dress up and come to collect their prize.

They were probably not as surprised as the chef though who, as his staff were plating up the first course, was treated to the Vice Commodore appearing in the kitchen, asking if two extra meals could be served.  Having (somehow!) achieved an affirmative, there was then a mad dash around the dining room by him, Margaret and the staff, as the place settings were quickly reorganised to fit in the Burwoods!  All was done and calm by the time Edd ushered in the diners and then invited Anthony Knights to say Grace.

As the delicious food was served and eaten, Edd continued to circulate, doing seemingly impossible things with a pen, various notes of the realm, playing cards and a fork - not all at once.  The single-prize raffle was drawn, with Liz Duffield winning the voucher for two free meals at our annual dinner in February and then Edd treated the whole room to twenty minutes of his magic, making cards appear and disappear, a rope knot and unknot, halve itself and then rejoin before also indulging in a spot of mind reading and some very clever trickery with numbers and a calculator.  Anthony didn't quite manage to escape with Edd's wallet, Martin won £5; Ruth won a bottle of Prosecco in a quick game and David Radley failed to figure-out any of it, despite his best efforts.  Oh, and table 4 also discovered that Steve can snap open a fan, unlike all the ladies, apart from Jan Knights, who demonstrated the art initially.

The evening wound down with desserts and coffee before the hardy ones hit the bar again.

The morning dawned calmly, with the strong wind of the day before having completely died down.  Things were less calm at 9.20, when it was revealed that the timing of the harbour bridge lift was not as expected and there was a mad dash to exit the marina and get through the harbour at 9.30.  Things didn't quite go to plan at the lock either, with Retribution failing to be let into the earlier lock openings in order to be able to get to Somerleyton to finish our downriver race.  Instead, she was last through but, due to the light winds, happily only missed three finishing boats, who had all taken their own times.  Not quite what the careful plan was, but it worked.

Ruby Rose and Marigold did get to the start line, though and all boats were away before noon, despite the very long delays at the lock.  The weather favoured the later starters, with the light easterly picking up a little as the morning wore on.  Then, the twist in the tail, as it almost instantly picked up into a very fresh breeze from completely the opposite direction.  And it began to rain.  Almost inevitably, with a downwind race, Farthing won comfortably, with the late-starting Morning Calm in second and Wandering Rose - the last boat to start - in third.  Glory came fourth: their worst result so far this year.

The Duke's Head probably didn't know what had hit them as the YSC took over their entire bar, in almost an instant, with it being standing room only and some even demonstrating how they could sit cross-legged on the floor.  Bill presented the trophies: the Ray Perryman being returned to Farthing, Stella Genesta a popular winner of the Sparklet Trophy for overall and Evergreen going home with the Vixen Trophy for fastest "slow boat."

Many went home at this point; some stayed in the pub until it stopped raining and the crews of Marigold and Vixen just stayed; eating an early supper, luring the Burtons in at 8pm as they passed on their way home from Oulton by car and then splashing back down the track to the boats and bed when the pub shut at 9, through the giant right-across-the-path puddles.

A memorable weekend, which garnered much praise from all attending.  Next year will be 150 years since the original YSC was formed.  Now, how on earth to celebrate that?