Wayfarer Internationals

A record one hundred and eleven Wayfarers showed for these championships, which are held every three years and cycle between the USA, Canada, and the UK, the last event being held in 2007 in Denmark. This year's event is being held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and incorporates the UK National Championships. The class has seen a huge surge in interest following the launch two years ago of the Wayfarer Mark IV. This brings the classic design bang up to date in terms of performance and features. Forty-five of these Hartley-produced boats are attending; some helms having moved over from
their classic 'woodies' and the rest of the Mark IVs bringing new blood to the fleet. Sunday was Practice Race day which also incorporated practice starts and boat tuning sessions. This was held in Weymouth Bay in glorious force four sunny conditions with waves to match.

The first and second races were held in spectacular sunny conditions with good visibility and a light south-easterly breeze between six and eight knots. With lengthy line starts, gate starts not having been a tradition with the fleet so far, there were some doubts about getting everyone cleanly away; but on Monday at least, the fleet was well disciplined. A previous champion Stu Rix and Mike Claxton (Cannes YC) in their new Mark IV W10705, showed their intentions by getting the perfect pin end start to a windward/leeward race, crossing the fleet on port tack and going on to win from Martin Collen and Tom Preston (Upper Thames SC) in their venerable fifty year old W88 'Pieces of Eight', with Roger Challis and Mark Johnston third in W9174 'Just Add`Water' from Waldringfield SC. The second race was a three-lap Olympic triangular course held in the dying breeze with Simon Potts and Christian Sutherland first in W10738 'Stab in the Dark' (Royal Lymington YC), Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend second in W10648 'The Poacher' (Norfolk Broads YC) with the Collen team third.

With fog around on the Tuesday, the practical decision was made to hold Race Three in Portland Harbour. Signs of indiscipline ensued and the black flag was quickly brought out. Current champion Peter Sigetty-Boje from Denmark made the perfect start to a windward-leeward course from the committee boat end of the line. However, the fleet split on the run and those taking the Portland Bill side spuriously found more wind pressure from the light south-westerly breeze, the effect holding on the subsequent beat. This enabled Stu Rix to grab the lead again from W7110 Tim Rush and Robin Hobson (Shoreham SC) second, with John Goudie and Suzanne Hall (Wilsonian SC) finishing third. Race Four was postponed until Wednesday in the hope of picking up more wind and better visibility. At this point, Rix holds the advantage, but Collen, Rush and McNamara are threatening to make this a close- fought contest.