Following the efforts of many UKWA members to recruit others through word of mouth, the award for the most success has been given to our webmaster , Bob Harland, proving that electronic communication is now more powerful than the combined efforts of our members!
The work involved to set up and maintain the website has occupied Bob for several years and he continues to make changes to ensure that the Wayfarer Association site is one of the most interesting in the business. Many of our readers will have read Bob’s fascinating article about converting Septimus Fry from racing to cruising mode proving that he does manage to escape from the website occasionally to enjoy cruising around the country. So whilst the website is an important source of new members, we still need to back this up through word of mouth in your local clubs to get the message across. We have a great Wayfarer community which has been created by UKWA – let’s all work to continue our success and get more owners joining up!
Shoreham SC Wayfarer “Southerns” Championships – 27th/28th June - Report
The Wayfarer “Southerns” Championships at Shoreham SC started at 2 pm on the first race day the 27th June. The venue was shared with the Fireballs all weekend. Although there was very little wind inland and amidst very hot and humid conditions, as we drove south to get to Shoreham that morning we noticed a fresh and cooling breeze and realized that the sea breeze had kicked in along the coast. Although it was pleasantly warm in the dinghy park with a light breeze, the race officer had warned of force 3 to 4 out to sea with the possibility of 5 later. ........
Castle Cove Wayfarer “Westerns” Championships – 13th/14th June
Written by Michael McKechnie
Sunday, 14 June 2009
The Wayfarer “Westerns” Championships at Castle Cove SC got off to a decidedly murky start because as dawn broke on Saturday 13th June there was fog and / or low cloud and no wind! The Castle Cove Weymouth meeting was being shared with no less than five other classes; there were Wayfarers, Scorpions, Lasers, Contenders and Phantoms. The Club had arranged two committee boats and two course areas. Wayfarers shared course two with Scorpions on day one, and shared course one with Scorpions on day two. Ashore it was crowded with cars, boats and trailers everywhere!
On day one, the Saturday, the wind filled in at about midday and Wayfarers sailed over to course two which was in the harbour and unfortunately in a slight windshadow from Parkstone Bill. As a result the light westerly had a habit of popping south for about 15 minutes and then reverting. This caused a few hiccoughs on the Committee boat and as a result race one got off to a late start after an early abandonment and only two of the three planned races on Saturday were raced. Race 1 was in a light force 1 to 2 and Martin Collen quickly mastered the light conditions to take a deserved win, from Graham and Robin Barker in second place and Mike McNamara in third. For race 2, there was even less wind and Martin Collen again slipped into the lead, showing the rest of us how to sail the light airs. He took another race win, from Mike McNamara in second and this time Gordon and Emma Harris in third.
The wind forecast for Sunday was not good with more very light winds promised but, in the event, a sea breeze from the west filled in at about midday. Wayfarers and Scorpions, sharing course 1, had been brought inshore in the harbour this time and away from Parkstone Bill. As a result three very good and quick races were completed in a force 2 to 3. For the last race there were even some occasional planing conditions! With the sun blazing down it was an absolutely perfect day. Race 3, the first race on Sunday, was dominated by Mike McNamara but chased hard by the Barkers, in Doubloons. Race 4 once again saw Mike McNamara at the front but this time pressed by Liam McGrath in his Hartley Wayfarer (10507). And finally Race 5 found Mike McNamara at the front again but chased, in second place, by Mike McKechnie and Graham Ireland in Dangeld Five (10510). Overall, the Championships was dominated by Martin Collen and Terry Curtis on day one and by Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend on day two, with several others getting an occasional bite of the cherry. Certainly the racing on day two, in the beautifull sunny sea breeze conditions, was very close with little distance separating the first five boats in each race. Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend won the Champiosnhips, with Martin Collen and Terry Curtis second and Graham and Robin Barker third, Mike McKechnie and Graham Ireland 4th and Gordon and Emma Harris 5th. Full Results are below. Thanks must go to Castle Cove SC and particularly Nick Browning the Castle Cove SC Wayfarer Class Captain for organizing a good weekend’s racing.
With a forecast of sun and light winds, I was really looking forward to exploring the waterways of the North Norfolk Broads in our wayfarer - after a stressful time at work what better therapy could there be? This would be my first Wayfarer rally and with very happy memories of a childhood family holiday in 1974, I couldn’t wait….
Mike Playle had planned our itinerary immaculately, with a detailed plan emailed out beforehand, which contained both practical information and tempting titbits of background information and even personal anecdotes. Dave and I had managed to get our hands on a copy of Hamilton's Navigations guide to the Broads and this additionally whetted our appetites, in addition to furnishing us with useful charts.
Friday dawned clear and sunny and, having taken the day off work to pack up, we were ready to depart with 'Cockle' in tow by lunchtime. Dave had spent the previous few days checking her over, tweaking the rigging and assembling our gear. We arrived about 4pm to the parish staithe at Hickling Broad at the same time as Kirsty and Howard with Howard's boat 'Smee Too'. We were the first of a total of 13 boats partaking in this cruise. It wasn't long before Mike and Helen Playle arrived with their boat 'Wuffa ' and suddenly wayfarers and their crews seemed to be arriving from all directions, accompanied by reunions of old friends and introductions to new ones. The helpful Mr Nudd also arrived to welcome us (and take some launch money) and introduce us to the very broad (pardon the pun!) local dialect. We used the 2 neat slipways to launch the boats and moor in suitable spaces down one of several dykes off the main broad.
Tents up and baggage stowed, we converged on the cosy and congenial Greyhound Inn, a short walk into the village. The pub right on the Broad, the Pleasure Boat Inn, had unfortunately become one of the credit crunch adverse statistics - depressing in such an amazing spot. Dave and Gavin Eadie were able to renew their acquaintance from a previous years Suffolk rally over pints of excellent Adnams and tasty sausage casserole, meanwhile Anne and I got to know each other for the first time.
Cockle tucked up for the night at Hickling Staithe
Grafham Water Wayfarer “Inlands” Championships 30th/31st May 2009
Written by Michael McKechnie
Monday, 01 June 2009
The Wayfarer “Inlands” Championships took place on the glorious sunny weekend of the 30th/31st May at Grafham Water SC. It was a combined Open Meeting event with the Laser Masters. The Lasers turned out in force but sadly we could only muster some 13 Wayfarers in the event, including one home fleet boat. The low turnout was inexplicable because it was an almost perfect weekend from the point of view of wind, sun and warmth! There were three races back-to-back each day Saturday/Sunday so, with a total of 6 races over the weekend crews were well-exercised particularly as the wind strength increased to near force 6 for the final race on Sunday.
The first race on Saturday started at approximately midday in a light force 2 to 3 from the east-north-east. The course was quite a compact triangle, sausage, triangle which resulted in some tangling with the lasers on the way around! The wind varied in strength with patchy gusts working their way down the middle of the course and this resulted in some quite dramatic shifts which caught out the unwary. Mike McNamara was soon in the lead and managed to pull out quite a gap over second placed Martin Collen. Gordon Harris was caught out early on with some unlucky choices of windshifts but managed to work his way back up to third by the finish. For the second race, the wind dropped a fraction, the course was lengthened to avoid tangles with the Lasers, and Martin Collen was first to the windward mark closely followed by Mike McKechnie, Gordon Harris, Brian Lamb and Mike McNamara. This remained more or less the order to the finish. For the third and final race of the Saturday Richard Stone and Mike McKechnie were quick off the start-line and got to the first windward mark in that order, closely followed by the Barkers and Martin Collen.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny once again and, despite the forecast predicting similar wind conditions to the Saturday, the direction changed to the north-east and increased in strength to approximately force 3 for the fourth race. Mike McKechnie got a clear start off the middle of the line, went left up the first leg, picked some lucky shifts and was first to the windward mark closely followed by Brian Lamb, with Mike McNamara and Martin Collen in pursuit. Brian Lamb overtook Mike McKechnie on the first off-wind leg and that remained the order to the finish. The wind gradually increased for the final two races (races 5 and 6) and there was still great emphasis on predicting and picking the windshifts on the beat, which is where the places were being won and lost. Gordon Harris won race 5 and Mike McNamara, enjoying some glorious planing reaches in the force 6 gusts, won race 6 with Gordon Harris second. Looking at the results it can be seen that there were no less than five different race winners over the weekend which showed how difficult it was to predict and master the shifty wind conditions. In the end Mike McNamara once again won the Inlands Championships overall. It was a glorious Open Meeting, hosted beautifully by Grafham Water SC, with some very competitive close racing. It was just sad about the low Wayfarer turnout.
Wayfarer Cruising Practical Training Course – 18/19 April 2009
Written by Nicky Quick
Sunday, 31 May 2009
The course was held at Hollowell Sailing Club near Northampton on a dry, sunny but chilly weekend. I’ve owned my Wayfarer for two seasons now and have got to know my boat quite well, but I knew that I would benefit from some more training. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to train in a Wayfarer with instructors who have so much experience with this class of dinghy. The whole weekend was very useful and I was pleased to discover that although the course hadn’t been held for a few years, I was lucky enough to get a place on it this year ......
Waldringfield Sailing Club Open Meeting May 9th – 10th 2009
Written by Michael McKechnie
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
The first of the National Circuit Series
Conditions throughout the weekend could not have been better. Saturday’s breezes gave some exciting planing conditions, and Sunday’s gentler airs made for some very interesting and tactical races. The sun shone, the tide was in and the River Deben was looking its very best.
Seventeen boats took part and were set some well thought out courses and perfect start lines by Race Officer Mike Oldroyd. Three races were held on the Saturday and another two on Sunday. To show how competitive the event was, there were four different winners of the five races. After Saturday’s three races Colin and Martin Johnson led overnight without winning one of them. Neil Collingridge and Anne Spalding won the first race and the Peter Strauss Memorial Trophy, Mike and Rani Pert won the Second race and the Aldeburgh Yacht Club Trophy, and the third race was won by another Waldringfield boat helmed by John Haile crewed by Paul Johnson who collected the Stone Sailing Club Trophy.
An excellent dinner in the evening had an Eastern theme with Mike and Jenny Tuckwood serving some of their haute cuisine to a very appreciative clientelle.
Sunday’s first race was dominated by Mike and Rani Pert who took an early lead never to be headed. The final race was lead from an early stage by Gordon Harris and Simon Howlett who quickly established a substantial lead over the rest of the fleet who were busily engaged in some hard-fought duels in the shifty winds.
The final results were close and went to count-back as Mike and Rani, and Gordon and Simon both had 12 points after the discard, but it was the Perts who emerged overall winners of the Adnams Trophy because they had won one more race.
It was a superb weekend’s sailing and it was a pity that so few visitors took advantage of sailing in such lovely conditions. As a matter of interest the first six boats were all from the home club, and of those the first four boats were woodies – one of them 45 years old. The first Hartley was sailed by UKWA Sailing Secretary Mike McKechnie and crewed by Graham Ireland who finished 7th after having a well deserved 3rd in the first race. Brian Lamb and Tony Hunt showed impressive speed in their shiny new Hartley in the first two races and registered a 2nd and 3rd but were let down by a broken centreboard in race 3 and dropped to 10th overall. It was good to see former UKWA Chairman Liz Feibusch out in her new Hartley, but a prior engagement on the Saturday meant that she could only sail on Sunday.
1st 8844 Mike and Rani Pert 8844 12pts
2nd 968 Gordon Harris and Simon Howlett 12pts
3rd 8599 Colin and Martin Johnson 15pts
4th 8646 Neil Collingridge and Anne Spalding 17pts
5th 9962 John Haile and Paul Johnson 20pts
6th 9644 Neil Fletcher and Chas Edwards 21pts
The UK Wayfarer Association is actively seeking new members as interest in the new Mk IV grows around the country. Extra copies of the UKWA Membership Application form were distributed with the Spring 2009 edition of Wayfarer News, and are also available on this website.
All existing members are asked to give them to people at their clubs or whom they know have an interest in Wayfarers, get them to fill in the form, sign it as “Recommended by……..” and send it to Sarah Burgess the UKWA Secretary.
The person recommending the most new members before June 30th 2009 will receive a free embroidered gold rugby shirt as modeled here.
Dry Buoyancy Testing
Written by john mellor
Thursday, 09 April 2009
If you own a self draining boat such as the MK II SD, Wayfarer World or MK IV then you will have to conduct a dry buoyancy test. The procedure is illustrated on the Parkstone Wayfarer web site.
The illustration above is of testing equipment as shown on the Parkstone Wayfarer web site.
Following the decision by Firth Insurance to relinquish administration of the Wayfarer insurance scheme after running it very successfully for the past five years, Craftinsure.com has agreed to continue the scheme on very similar terms with effect from 1st April 2009.
Craftinsure is the UK’s leading on line boat insurer, established in 2001. Whilst designed to provide a quick and easy way to insure boats over the internet, there is also a help line (0845 2607 888) providing access to a team of specialist staff, most of whom are also keen sailors.
The company already has well established links with a number of other dinghy classes including Topper for whom they have provided the official ITCA scheme for several years. As all Craftinsure policies are underwritten by Navigators & General, the new arrangement also maintains UKWA’s long association with N&G.
Craftinsure will be contacting members currently insured through the scheme between 3 and 4 weeks before their policy falls due for renewal to advise renewal terms and set up a new policy assuming cover is still required. The process should only take a couple of minutes over the telephone, and there will be no paper work involved. Members will need to be able to provide an email address (either their own or a close relative or friend) in order to obtain the full benefit of the UKWA scheme terms.
Policies will start to be transferred to the new scheme as they fall due for renewal from 1st April 2009. Any enquiries relating to policies before they renew should still be referred to Firth Insurance Services.
Key features of the UKWA Insurance Scheme with Craftinsure:
Highly competitive premiums
‘New of old’ cover on parts, including sails and covers up to 3 years old.
Underwritten by Navigators & General, part of Zurich Insurance plc.
Extensions available for Wayfarers to be left on moorings (subject to details).
Cover available for Wayfarers kept outside the UK or Ireland
£3,000,000 Third Party cover (or €3,000,000 if based in Ireland).
Contributions to UKWA funds for each Wayfarer insured with Craftinsure.
24 hour Claims Helpline, with facility to track claim progress on line.
Instant quotations and cover available on line, or by calling 0845 2607 888.
So if you are not already insured through the UKWA insurance scheme, try calling Craftinsure when your policy comes up for renewal!
The 2009 UKWA Open National Championships will be sailed on the 8-15th August 2009 (registration on the 8th August) under the burgee of Restronguet SC as part of Falmouth Week.
A UKWA Supplementary Notice of Race is now available here ,
and Provisional Entry Form here .
There is no restriction on the number of entries, but competitors are advised to book their accommodation in Falmouth as soon as possible.
Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 April 2009 )
National Circuit Series Final Results
Written by Steve Collins
Saturday, 22 November 2008
The National Circuit series was entered by 51 different helms and crews, of whom 12 qualified by competing in three or more open meetings. Winners of the sparkling newHartley Laminates Trophy were Roger Challis and Mark Johnston from WaldringfieldSC who came from behind to beat Colin May from Parkstone YC when Colin was unable to attend the final event. Gordon Harris from WaldringfieldSC was third.
Richard and Mark Hartley, from Carsington Sailing Club sailing their brand new Mark 4 Wayfarer 10568 are the new Wayfarer National Champions. The 50th Anniversary Wayfarer National Championships, sponsored by Navigators and General and Hartley Laminates, were sailed under the burgee of Parkstone Yacht Club as part of Poole Week.
The final race in the series on Friday 28th August was cancelled due to lack of wind, so the overall results from the prevous day were carried forward to confirm Richard and Mark Hartley as national champions. Martin Collen and Tom Preston from Upper Thames SC were second, and Colin May and Sarah Wallis from Parkstone YC were third.
Other special category trophy winners were:
Duncannon Trophy (first helm and crew with combined age of 100 years plus)
10201 Final Gambol, Brian Lamb and Tony Hunt, Wilsonian SC
Carrick Trophy (double generation)
10510, Danegeld Four, Michael and Mark McKechnie, Shoreham SC
Wansfell Trophy (lady helm)
6330, Karena, Jackie Dobson and Terry Bennett, Parkstone YC
Pert Platter (husband and wife)
404 Sink the Pink, Liam and Sue McGrath, Starcross YC
Report on National Circuit Series at Warsash SC (Southern Areas)
Written by Steve Collins
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Wayfarer 50th Anniversary National Circuit Series at Warsash SC
Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend in W8868 ‘Cordon Rouge’ sailed immaculately at Warsash SC to win the second open in the Wayfarer National Circuit Series on the 15th and 16th June. They were chased hard by Colin May and Sarah in W9068 ‘Watery Moments’ and Graham and Robin Barker in W8888 ‘Doubloons’.
Copies of the DVD are available from Roy Burnham for £5 each.
It is useful for people who would like to use it at local club events or winding down after a cruise. It sells the Training, Cruising, Racing aspects very well.
