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For the under-23s, the 13-mile Half Marathon is a shorter option, although challenging nevertheless.

Local sailor Graeme Oliver won the Medway Marathon crewing for Andy Peake in an International 14 back in 2016. “It was 12-18kts of breeze, absolute sailing heaven, flat water, loads of corners with a big emphasis on crew work and reading the changing conditions as you go in and out of the creeks.” The year after that Peake won in a Musto Skiff, but the following year was dominated by Wayfarers taking the top four places.

“The race is run by a great club and literally any class can win, the course tests every part of the angles of sail which doesn’t give a huge advantage to any particular boat, it’s also a great tactical challenge as the tide plays a big part in getting the best out of the course. Once you’ve tried it you’ll come back every year!”

The Medway Marathon is a very recent addition to the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series which has been extended from last winter through to the final event which is the rescheduled Tiger Trophy, due to take place at Rutland Water on the final weekend of August.

To enter the Medway Marathon (or the Half Marathon if you’re under-23) and compete in an event that’s very different to your average open meeting, go here: sailjuiceseries.com

Events in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2020/21:

• Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water SC, 6-7 December 2020
• Grafham Belle, Grafham Water SC, 29-30 May 2021
• Medway Marathon, Medway YC, 19 June 2021
• Bala Long Distance, Bala SC, 10-11 July 2021
• Tiger Trophy, Rutland Water SC, 28-29 August 2021

54th Medway Marathon – photo © Richard Janulewicz / www.sharkbait.org.uk

For those of you familiar with the club you will know that the Maybush Inn is at the entrance to the club and because it is very popular at the moment if you would like to eat there on the Friday evening I would recommend that you book a table to avoid disappointment.

It is important that if you intend to stay at the club you let be know before hand using the entry form so that I can insure you have the security codes to get into the club car park and the club facilities.

It would be fantastic to see as many of you as possible to help us celebrate or 100th year of the sailing club.

Photo c/o Alexis Smith

Best regards to you all

Mark (Johnston)

Wayfarer Western Championship at Arun © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

In the event, the drive from East Kent to Littlehampton was wet and windy but by the time we arrived at the Club the wind was dropping even if the air was still more than damp. The Club decided to proceed with the open meeting as a one day event, sailing four races back-to-back. The weather put paid to a full attendance of boats and only seven hardy teams, from seven different clubs, signed on. The fleet was strong, however, including two of the top three boats from the International Championships in 2019.

To be fair, rigging the boat was a tad chilly. The welcome we received from the Club was warm enough, however. Rigging and struggling into rarely used sailing kit was followed by a socially distanced briefing and then off we toddled to take part in the four races off the West Sussex coast.

Wayfarer Western Championship at Arun © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

The wind was broadly westerly in direction. It shifted as much as 15 degrees either side of a mean which meant that the race team had to reset the course between each race, but they did that as quickly as they could so hanging around between races was kept to a minimum. The wind strength varied between 5 and 20+ knots during the day but typically was 10 to 15 knots. We had rain, we had icy rain, and we had a sky which ranged in colour from grey to leaden. I don’t remember seeing any sun and the water didn’t sparkle. The conditions were a challenge as they changed all the time. At the windward mark in one race the wind was so soft the boats were hardly moving. On the other hand, at times we were able to have a blasting three sail reach, planing across the waves.

With a small fleet, general recalls were never going to happen. In fact there was only one overenthusiastic dunderhead who was OCS in any of the races; but that is all right, I enjoy peeling off back to the start line and playing catch up.

Wayfarer Western Championship at Arun © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

In each race, the fleet effectively split itself in two parts. Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend and Andrew and Tom Wilson were generally at the front while the rest of the fleet raced as a separate group, a respectful distance behind the leaders. David Roberts and Mike Bryant and the Townsends did manage to keep up with the leading pair from time to time but were unable to sustain the same pace as the leaders for a whole race.

Michael and Simon won races 1 and 2 with the Wilsons runners up in each. In race 3, the Wilsons led at the first windward mark and maintained their lead throughout setting up a winner takes all final race. In the event, Michael and Simon led at the first mark of race 4 and maintained their lead until Andrew and Tom capsized at the final gybe mark, thereby securing the win they needed to take the event overall.

Wayfarer Western Championship at Arun © Richard Craig / www.SailPics.co.uk

David and Mike pipped the Townsends for third place overall. Locals, Paul Hughes and Mark Nicholls, finished fifth on count back from John Goudie and Sam Boniface. The fleet was propped up by Nigel and Belinda O’Donnell who capsized during race 2 and retired with dignity to the bar.

Apart from those who towed their boats to Littlehampton behind their country cottages and planned to stay overnight, the rest of us went home after the prize-giving and fish and chip supper. Many thanks to David Robinson and all at Arun YC for putting on the event in difficult circumstances. Thanks also to Paisley Thompson and her team for setting good courses and running the racing so efficiently. Congratulations to Michael and Simon for becoming the Wayfarer Western Area Champions once again.

In the end, it wasn’t champagne sailing as I remember it, but it was racing, close racing at that, and it was good to be back.

-Tim Townsend

Results:

1st, Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend, 10648 (RBSC) 3pts
2nd, Andrew and Tom Wilson, 11093 (DWSC) 5pts
3rd, David Roberts and Mike Bryant, 10673 (BBSC) 9pts
4th, Tim and Jacqueline Townsend, 11012 (MYC) 11pts
5th, Paul Hughes and Mark Nicholls, 11129 (AYC) 15pts
6th, John Goudie and Sam Boniface, 11118 (WSC) 15pts
7th, Nigel and Belinda O’Donnell, 11282 (SSC) 22pts

For the first time ever there is a start for cruisers racing out in the bay under national handicaps. The inter-club team trophy is keenly fought with the top 5 boats selected from each of the harbour clubs and several visiting clubs.

Off the water, the regatta has become well known for its social events. This year promises a steel band and beach barbecue, beer and skittles at the beautiful old mill-house at Emsworth Slipper SC, a pub quiz at Mengeham Rythe SC, and the perennial Hayling Island Sailing Club disco.

Entries are limited to 425 boats, with online entries opening on 1st May.

In anticipation, we have a full sailing calendar: please see our Diary (above) for details.

The usual range of cruising rallies around the UK is enhanced with a couple of new events and venues, the National Circuit Series of racing events have the highlight of the National and European Championships held at Medway YC, the wonderful Family Festival will be at Rutland Water and an International Rally in Brittany.

In the meantime, our popular, annual spring cruising conference has been held virtually this year; details are also here on our website. A super start to the new season!

Between events, members will continue to receive our full colour magazine, Wayfarer News, our monthly e-newsletters, and can access the extensive cruising report library, the archive of past editions of our magazine and post on the Members Forum.

Members can also hire the UKWA’s boat tents for cruising.

The committee are of course, delighted to answer any queries you may have about sailing or maintaining your Wayfarer: please do not hesitate to ask.

The front of the fleet will be very competitive with multi-class champions in the fleet. Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend, the current, UK National, European and International Wayfarer Champions will head up the entry list. However, this is an event for all Wayfarer sailors, whatever their racing expertise or experience, and there will be prizes for silver and bronze fleet sailors as well as the perpetual trophies for race winners.

2016 Wayfarer Nationals at Medway © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

This year, there will be a new trophy presented at the UK National Championships by the Hodshon family who own the Round Britain record-breaking Wayfarer, Nipegegi. This trophy will be awarded to the crew of the best placed boat with a sail number below 10506. Nipegegi, which has won the UK National Championships several times over the years, will be back in full race trim this summer and competing at the Championships. Her crew will be hoping to be the first winner of this new trophy.

Entry to the Championships is already open. More information can be found on the event page on the Medway YC website .

The Wayfarer is the classic all round sailing dinghy from the pen of Ian Proctor. Thousands of sailors have learned to sail in a Wayfarer and it was for many years the dinghy of choice for sailing schools. The boat is cruised by enthusiasts around Europe and North America. However, in its latest form the Wayfarer has a contemporary Phil Morrison designed interior and fit-out and lends itself to being raced competitively in a wide range of conditions.

-Tim Townsend