With forecast F6 (Gusting 8) coming in across the North Sea, and Rollesby being only 3-miles from the coast, this was always going to be a tough day ! Depleted entries .... can’t blame the wise stay-at-homes. Up River contingent go for a BIG breakfast ‘Mega-Bap’.

Start line laid 300m to leeward of Club with a spotter row-boat, but signals made from shore are expected to carry down to the start area. A couple of confused boats arrive late; no matter, ‘cos staying upright is order-of-the-day; Do Not sit out .... else a certain dip to windward will follow; Vicious Lulls! Perch on side-decks, rig maximum upright, eased kickers; keep pumping the mainsheet to stay upright; just try to keep footing, not pointing. Don’t capsize (wishful thinking).

Sprightly Wayling leads away and the challenging pack play merry-go-round of place-changes. With so many capsizes, fleet separates to extent that retirements cause confusion and Falat under-estimates the number of rounds. Favell charging hard misses his finish and has to relinquish a place in returning.

Nice cup-a-tea, then out for more dizziness ......

Sullivan puts in a cracking start and 1^st beat, but swimming around the top-mark does nothing for boatspeed; House has one last go at sitting out, and suffers the consequences; Falat takes over lead but also seems to think there’s extra points available for diving performance. Eco-electric boats (very slow!) take to the water for bird-watching, but birdsong is swamped by Marcus Ingram’s version of Up-the-River! Favell steadily chips away and takes a deserved win; his pre-thought tacktick:- leave burgee ashore as otherwise you’re likely to plant it in the bed of the Broad.

Verdict so far is “Total Madness!”; anyway, lets see what’s for lunch ? Races 3-and-4 due back-to-back, but only 6 boats left .....

Falat leads at 1st mark, then suffers a mass-overtake by 4-boats abreast; regains the lead, as does everyone at some point, but he is forced to gybe by a Club-race Wayfarer, which probably scored maximum amusement points, but left him dredging his masthead. Steady House puts in a consistent ‘upright’ but no-one can match Favell for speed. Hmmm so far the result appears very open between Favell (2-wins), House (3-2nds) Wayling, and Falat, with all depending on capsize-ability.

Race-4 sees Favell really enjoying those 1st places; he cracks off the start to leeward and within a short space manages to cross the fleet. Meanwhile House and Falat lock together firstly hull-to-hull, then centreboard-to-shroud (eh? Yes !). Wayling loses his kicker, and then there’s only 3-finishers.

General verdict = “The toughest day’s sailing ever”. This was Favell’s first ever Open Win but so emphatic that it underlines his potent for difficult, strong conditions. Rollesby Club made the very best of the difficult conditions both on and off the water with a very pleasant spectator arena for early retirees.