Twinning has never been part of the Water Wag agenda; however, in 2025, the Water Wags were twinned with the Norfolk one-design dinghy on Wroxham Broad, Norfolk. A group of ten Water Wags travelled to Norfolk Broads Yacht Club at Wroxham to compete in the NOD annual championships over 13-14 September. Very generously, the class provided the visitors with the use of four boats: No. 15 'Wee Simby', No. 48 'Dickie', No. 50 Dodman and No. 78 'Jimmy'. The Norfolk boats are of similar size to Water Wags, being 14 feet long, 130sq.ft sail area and have a 65lb. centreboard with a PY of 1243. They do not use a spinnaker, just a whisker pole for the jib.
To facilitate the visitors, a practice race was held on Saturday morning in a predominantly southerly wind. It was in this race that the visitors discovered then winds on Wroxham Broad can be both gusty and very shifty. The wind strength varied from 12 knots to 22 knots in the gusts. However, the boats are relatively beamy and stable, so nobody took water over the gunwhale. However, tacking through 135 degrees is definitely a novelty to the Water Wags, who are more familiar with the relatively stable winds of Dun Laoghaire harbour.
Mandy Chambers in B50 'Dodman'
Despite Vincent Delany and David Williams in 'Jimmy' starting at the opposite end of the long start line from the majority of the competitors, their lead was short-lived, due to a wind shift on the reaching leg, which caused them to have to tack to reach the gybe mark.
However, he finished 3rd out of 16 competitors after five laps of the Broad. The best result of the weekend.
Championship race one was won by Sam Woodcock's 'Kelpie', race two by Ian Tims 'Cockle'.
On Saturday evening, the visitors were treated to dinner by the Norfolk dinghy owners from Norwich Frostbite Sailing Club, Beccles Amateur Sailing Club and Norfolk Broads Yacht Club.
On Sunday, the wind proved to be lighter, between six and ten knots with occasional stronger gusts. The race officer decided to lay a course with all marks to be left to starboard. 'Kelpie' won the first race, Geoff Evans's 'Wild Duck' took the second race and 'Cockle' the third.
These results were such that the championship was won by Ian Tims in 'Cockle' on six points, with Sam Woodstock in 'Kelpie' second on 7 points, and Richard Kinder in 'Otter' in third.
Previous winners in 2021 were Kevin Edwards in 'Minnie', and Mike Collins in 'Periwinkle' in 2023.
General view of Norfolk Broads Yacht Club and B54 coot, B46 Ariel, B 53 Twinkle and B87 Egret
