Latest UKWA News:

The first event of the Craftinsure National Circuit and Travellers Series 2019 is the Wayfarer Inland Championships which will be held at Datchet Water Sailing Club on 6/7 April. The Notice of Race can be downloaded from here.

The schedule is to have three races back to back on Saturday and three more on Sunday. The event is being held jointly with the Flying Fifteen Southern Area Championships.

As housekeeping notes, the plan for a social will be to retire to a local pub after racing on Saturday for an early supper. Normally there is no camping at the Queen Mother Reservoir because they need to employ a security guard. However, if there is enough interest, camping may be viable. If you would like to camp on site please contact the Datchet Wayfarer Fleet Class Captain, Derek Lambert by email at [del1961@hotmail.com] or by phone on 07986 648625.

Ralph Roberts, our WIC representative, wishes to draw to your attention that there are still a few places remaining – please go to https://www.wayfarer.dk/sailing for further details of this unique opportunity to sail an area of coastline the like of which would never be experienced in the UK. There are also more details on a flier (pdf), linked here.

A truly fabulous family week, with sailing. For further details see the event flier linked here.

Brancaster, N. Norfolk, February 2019

February 2019 will surely go down in the record books as providing some of the warmest winter days ever. The traditional Norfolk winter sail really didn’t live up to its name this year as 27 crew and 13 boats enjoyed fabulous spring-like weather sailing from Brancaster Staithe in North Norfolk.

Saturday began misty with a very light breeze that filled in as the morning progressed, whilst Sunday saw the fleet largely motoring in brilliant warm sunshine. Tides just off springs allowed the boats to explore the creeks through to Burnham Overy harbour, with a snack stop on the end of Scolt Head Island.

The usual great welcome and the facilities at Deepdale Farm’s bunkhouse made the gathering possible with this years record numbers.

-Matt Sharman

A minor amendment has been issued to the Notice of Race document for the National Circuit and Travellers’ Series 2019, which now includes paragraphs 14 and 15 (rights, copyright, data protection). The updated document can be found here.

Greta Plowman, in ‘Sea Urchin’ (W1981)

“My wonderful grandmother Greta Plowman will turn 100 this May!

Back in the 1970’s she and my grandfather Piers built and then sailed their wooden Wayfarer ‘Sea Urchin’ (W1981) along the canals of England, the coast of Britain and as their confidence grew, the Friesian and Baltic coasts.

I grew up hearing stories about being quarantined in Gdynia harbour during the Solidarity strike; of Sea Urchin being stoved-in by a large cruiser in a tiny Dutch harbour; hitching a ride back to England on a Polish freighter; and of nearly sinking in Jack Sound, off Skomer, when wind against tide created ferocious overfalls! They were contemporaries and friends of the Dyes but mostly favoured a gentler style of cruising!  ...read more

More foolishness recently from would-be scammers in response to our classified ads, regrettably. Advertisers, please ignore any approaches from someone using the email address [email protected] – any contact would probably be counter-productive.

– Web Team

The RYA has recently released a promotional video which you can access via this link. The show itself is of course on the 2nd/3rd March at Alexandra Palace, London.

UKWA members will be aware that our AGM is to be held on Saturday 2nd March at the same venue, at 4pm. More details via the top menu, AGM button.

An amended version of the Notice of Race for the Craftinsure National Circuit and Travellers’ Series 2019 has been published and is available on the website. There is no change to the events but simply an addition to the supporters of the end of season prize draw. P & B have come onboard and will be donating a couple of great prizes (a holdall and a mast bag have been discussed). ...read more

Please note that there are only four places remaining at this year’s Cruising Conference (as of Tuesday 5th). We’ll start a waiting list once the last few places are taken, but obviously it’s best to book now rather than take a chance…

Members planning to attend this summer’s Internationals in Ireland may be interested to know that the booking section on the Greystones Sailing Club website (linked here) is now live.

Entry forms can be downloaded from here on the UKWA site by following this link (opens in new tab). ...read more

We can now confirm dates for this year’s Family Gathering at Ullswater. They are the 4th to the 10th August. This is slightly earlier than usual, preceding Ullswater Yacht Club’s Family Week so that those who wish to stay on longer can do so. We will be sending out booking forms just as soon as we have amended pricing. As per last year, tents can stay on the UYC site, whilst camper vans will be able to use the facilities at Cross Dormont, over the road from the club with its spectacular views over the lake.

To help improve communication this year, we have set up a public Facebook page to keep everyone up to date. Please do follow us and share our page, linked here.

We would also like to use the FB page to share videos and pictures from the Gathering and helpful tips for new sailors. If you have anything from previous years we would love to display them. ...read more

A link to a video showing the use of twin spinnaker poles and guys on a Wayfarer has recently been added to the Racing Videos section of the website.

The page currently lists 8 videos, all relevant to Wayfarer sailing.

In anticipation of our 61st Annual General Meeting, the 2018 minutes, 2019 agenda, Treasurer’s Report, nominees’ CVs, voting slips and UKWA subscription renewal forms are all now available (via the ‘AGM’ button on the main menu).

The AGM itself is to be held during the RYA Dinghy Show, Room Palm Court 5, Alexandra Palace, London, on Saturday 2 March, doors open: 15.30 hrs, meeting begins: 16.00 hrs. Please do join us on the day, especially if you are attending the Dinghy Show. If you are a member and would like a hard copy posted to you (or if you know of such a person), please send an A4 large letter SAE to: Sarah Burgess, UKWA, PO Box 10687, Colchester, CO5 8XJ

Please note that the date of the Watermouth Bay/Lundy rally has been changed – it will now take place on the weekend of 6/7/8 September. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Recently there was yet a further round of unwelcome activity in response to classified ads on our website. It was Andree Attwenger, again – ignore him!

Also, if you have been contacted by someone with the email address [email protected] please do not reply – he is not a genuine buyer.

Please note that the page with details of this year’s International Rally has recently been tweaked – to reflect the current level of demand vs. the number of places available. (There is very limited space on this rally!)

Come and join us at our 61st Annual General Meeting held during the RYA Dinghy Show, Room Palm Court 5, Alexandra Palace, London, on Saturday 2 March.

Doors open: 15.30 hrs Meeting begins: 16.00 hrs.

Full agenda and other details have now been published. ...read more

Details and application forms for the 2019 UKWA Cruising Conference are now available here.

It’s a popular event – get your application in early!