Since some smelly motorboats will be racing all over Lowestoft on the 26th, there has been a change of plan, and the fleet are welcome at Gorleston. See link for full details.

Please pass the word around at your club, in case there is anyone who doesnt read this website (good golly I hope not, surely?!).

Continue the discussion below about party venue and time....

What will be the format of the Gorleston event?  Will this be a one race event, or best of three?  Will the RN&SYC trophy be presented?

Does start time of 13.00 still apply?

Gorleston still one big race for the Newcombe Cup, starting at 1pm.

Thanks.

More details now available

Gorleston. I have happy memories of the successful Championship we held at Gorleston in 1961. I was the class representive on the organising committee and was concerned about the strength of the tides but my hero, ex-champion Les Brain, who was PRO ran a great series of races. The hospitality provided by the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston S.C. was memorable and legends were born during the week.

Let's hear the legends then!

One legend that was not borne was the Proctor mk 14 despite Mike Astley, David Peachy, John Oakley,and Stuart Jardine showing up in the first six regularly (Talent will out.) (Interogate www.timesonline.co.uk - archives - Search Merlin Rocket - 1-30 June 1961.) It was my first year in the class and I was doing "O" levels so we did not go. I do remember Robin Fowler in Splinters rising from his sick bed to win a race and a story  about John Harris and Ned Sparrow getting "lost" between bar and hotel!
It is a super place to race both sides of the most Easterly Point. (Where the sewers meet the sea and the sun first strikes the UK every day.)
In 1962 the "Newcombe Cup" became my first Silver Tiller Race win. I remember it takes a lot of "drink"!
Enjoy it; you that go; its a wonderful part of the world if difficult to get to.

Some time ago my brother John posted the story of Colin Stokes carrying a short but heavy Ned Sparrow up the cliff path at Gorleston. Mags, I've been trying to find John's account in 'the old stuff' but it probably doesn't go back far enough. I didn't see it happen but I can say it was a valiant feat! 

The prizegiving at Gorleston in 1961 was a splendid occasion with a superb ballroom dancing display by the world champions. One of the young Turks attempted to join the dancers, three times Champion John Oakley who enjoyed dancing stepped in front of him and threatened pain if he continued. He didn't!

The story is in the 'Births Marriages and Deaths' section of the library:

"My story about dear old Ned goes back to the Gorlestone 1961 Championships. A few of us were staying with Ned in a local hotel, which had about 50 steep steps leading up to the front door. One night a group of us which included Derek King, Tony Davis, George Slack, myself and Ned, arrived back late at the hotel after many beers. Ned stated that he was in no fit state to climb the steps and challenged any one of us that they could not carry his 17 stone up the steps.A couple of us made feeble attempts, then Colin Stokes, not the largest of men, grabbed Ned and slung him over his shoulder in a "firemans lift" and proceeded up the steps to the hotel front door. Later Ned presented Colin with an engraved tankard in recognition of this impressive effort."
John Harris

And how did it go?

Sorry I couldn't be at the events, but a copy of the ST results for the Gorleston/Waveny days would be very useful for my ST calculations.

Thank you.