Wayfarer Western Area Championship © Moya Weighill

West Oxfordshire Sailing Club, just south of Witney, will host the second event in the 2018 UK Wayfarer Association National Circuit and Travellers Series, sponsored by Craftinsure, this weekend. ...read more

Mike McNamara & Simon Townsend receiving the W Inland Championship Trophy from Mervyn Wright, DWSC Vice Commodore © Derek Lambert

A good fleet of 19 boats met up at Datchet Water Sailing Club over the weekend of 7/8 April for the UK Wayfarer Inland Championship 2018, which was also the first event of the Craftinsure National Circuit and Travellers Series.

The wind on Saturday was 10-15 knots from the south which gave very close racing with places changing regularly throughout all the races. Wind gusts were sufficient to cause the occasional broach and a solitary capsize by one competitor. ...read more

The NoR and SIs for Upper Thames Sailing Club’s Bourne End Week/Splashaway Trophy in late May have now been published at https://www.utsc.org.uk/ (link goes to home page).

“The Splashaway trophy will be competed over three days – Sat, Sun, and Monday (26th, 27th, 28th May). There will be six races, with five to count. Camping available on Sin City at very reasonable rates. Catering laid on from Friday night onwards.

“The Sunday night cocktail party cannot be missed, especially if you are a gin drinker!”

More details as we get them on the event’s own page here on the UKWA website.

Craftinsure Wayfarer 2017 Finale at Bough Beech © Martyn Smith

The prosecco was drunk and the cake was eaten at the Wayfarer Class 60th Birthday party at the RYA Dinghy Show at the beginning of March. That was just the start of the year’s celebrations. The party continues with the Craftinsure National Circuit and Travellers Series 2018 which begins with the Inland Championships at Datchet Water SC on 7/8 April, the first of eight events covering among other things, various area championships, the 2018 National Championships, racing at a variety of salt and fresh water venues and culminating at the Bough Beech Finale in November. ...read more

Tidal Training & Rally, Calshot Activities Centre, Hampshire – 14/15th April.

John Norman and his loyal team have put together a complete programme of tidal training activities for the Saturday, followed by a Rally on the Sunday; an ideal opportunity to put the previous day’s learning into practice! ...read more

Full details and a booking form can be viewed and/or downloaded here, and John can be contacted by e-mail at [[email protected]]

Entries are still invited for the 2018 Wayfarer National Championship at Castle Cove SC. The early-bird discount has finished, but full price entries will be accepted until late May (£80).

The generous offer subsidised by Hartley Boats for those who paid a deposit at last year’s Nationals at Arun is of course still valid. Receipt of the remaining £15 would be appreciated if you have not already paid 🙂 ...read more

To continue to receive the benefits of membership – such as the monthly eNewsletter, our full-colour Wayfarer News and a warm invitation to join in our sailing events; a variety of training weekends, an extensive programme of cruises and rallies or racing: taking part in the National Circuit Series – or a combination of all three, please be sure to renew your subscription – due at the beginning of April. ...read more

Action from US Midwinters

Your racing secretary, Tim, has kindly assembled an assortment of videos to educate, entertain and inform your racing (and more general sailing) in what we all hope will be a long and successful 60th anniversary sailing season.

These are listed on a brand new page located under the ‘Racing’ menu item on the main menu bar at the top of each page here on our UKWA website.

(If you are aware of any especially suitable additions that we could make to this list then please get in touch with Tim or the web team).

The adjacent image links to a poster for the Southern Area Championships (and CraftInsure National Circuit and Travellers’ Series event #6) to be held at Medway Yacht Club, 8th – 9th September.

UPDATE – The Notice of Race and Notice to Competitors documents have now been published, and are available for view and/or download by following the respective preceding links.

Remember this?

(Posted Thursday 15th Mar, 09:00)

“Dear All

“I have had to juggle three main factors in my decision here. The first is the risk of snowfall with certainty of high winds on Sunday, the second the certainty of a grey weekend with strong winds and temperature maxima of 1 degree, and lastly waterlogged ground and a flood alert on the River Trent with further rain forecast for the next 2 days. To put the cherry on the top of this the river level data for that stretch of the Trent has not been updated since last night (and it usually is). We have also been unable to find an alternative venue nearby at this short notice....read more

“60th anniversary celebration of our Wayfarer on the Hartley Boats stand at the RYA Dinghy Show.

“Roger Proctor, son of the late Ian Proctor, whose centenary was also being celebrated, popped the cork, and I had the honour of cutting the cake, beautifully crafted in the shape of 60, with perfect ‘W’s all over, by the wonderful Sarah Burgess, our UKWA Secretary and her son.

“As I cut the cake I made a traditional wish – and it’s no secret that I hope the Wayfarer will continue to provide happy family sailing, amazing cruising adventures, training for all beginners, and high-powered racing, for the next 60 years. Thank you Ian Proctor for designing the most versatile dinghy ever. Long Live the Wayfarer!”

– Liz Feibusch (W11000)

Can anyone please lend us a boat tent for the Broads Cruise in early May? All three Association tents are already booked out and there are a couple of further requests that we cannot fulfil, as things stand. Please get in touch by e-mailing [ten[email protected]] – thank you!

The Notice of Race has now been published for the Wayfarer Inland Championships and opening event of the CraftInsure National Circuit and Travellers’ Series (“NCS #1”) at Datchet Water SC on the weekend of 7th/8th April 2018.

The NoR is available to download here. Datchet Water Sailing Club looks forward to welcoming visitors, and it is anticipated that a social event for competitors will be held on the Saturday evening.

Keep an eye out in the next week or so for full details of the Wayfarer Eastern Area Championships (also the fifth in the CraftInsure National Circuit and Travellers’ Series events).

(This thumbnail image links to Waldringfield SC’s .pdf poster for the weekend).

“The weekend of 24th/25th February saw 8 hardy (foolhardy?) boatloads of Wayfarer sailors brave the icy blasts from the east for some sailing at Brancaster on the North Norfolk coast. All survived to tell the tale and in fact enjoyed the brilliant sunshine and superb sailing.

“Accommodation for the weekend was the ‘bunkhouse’ at Burnham Deepdale, where hearty meals and celebratory drinks were consumed amid tales of tides, shallow water and waves.

“Winds of 20 knots and gusting showed how efficient reefing systems and a seaworthy boat really came into their own.” – Matt Sharman W773 (organiser)

“Seven boats managed to sail today. Wind was ESE F5 gusting F6 occasionally, bright sunshine and jolly cold!!” – Matt Sharman

Ralph Roberts (UKWA’s WIC Rep) has made available further details of this September’s International Rally on the Norfolk Broads, with a poster that can be downloaded (or viewed) here.

Separately there are now also full details of the proposed itinerary, as well as a detailed breakdown of the costs of various types of accommodation and a description of what is included in the price. This is all accessed via the ‘Cruising’ section of the menu, also linked here.

Ralph has arranged a fantastic array of enticing activities, visits and events – do take a look at what is on offer!

We will be guests on Hartley Boats stand during the Show and, as you can see elsewhere on our website, our AGM will be held on Saturday afternoon.  We very much look forward to meeting you and seeing you there in our 60th Anniversary year.

To purchase tickets, there are various advance purchase discount options for RYA affiliated clubs and RYA individual members.

http://www.rya.org.uk/programmes/dinghy-show/Pages/ticket-sales-information.aspx

You do not need a show ticket in order to attend the AGM, which is upstairs in Palm Court 5, separate to the Show.

Photo © Museum of the Broads

Organiser Mike Playle has released further details of the annual Norfolk Broads Cruise, to be held over the first May Bank Holiday weekend (and, optionally, for several days afterwards).

For more details and to read or download Mike’s information document, please follow this link.

The agenda, minutes (2017) and associated paperwork relating to the 2018 UKWA AGM (3rd March) are now available for download from the website under the ‘AGM’ menu item linked here.

Come and join us at our 60th Annual General Meeting, to be held during the RYA Dinghy Sailing Show, Alexandra Palace, London on Saturday 3 March 2018.

AGM Programme: doors open: 15.30 hrs, meeting begins: 16.00 hrs.

Full agenda and other details have now been published on the website and are in the process of being emailed.

To ensure receipt, please ensure that the Secretary has your correct email address – E-mail: [email protected]

Any member proposing a resolution for consideration at the AGM shall submit it to the Secretary 45 days prior to the AGM, and shall give full written particulars and the reason for it. (This deadline has now passed)....read more

Election for the 2018 UKWA Officers and Management Committee members will take place during our AGM. ...read more

Boris has now made available the booking information and forms for this year’s Cruising Conference to be held on March 16th – 18th at Notts County SC. Please see the CC2018 page (via either the “Training” or “Cruising” sub-menus) for details and for the download links (login required).

Details of the 2018 race programme are now available, comprising the race calendar and Notice of Race documents, links here:-

2018 Racing Calendar

National Circuit & Travellers’ Trophy Series NoR

It is with great shock and sadness that I learned today of the very premature passing of one of Wayfarers’ & NEDWA’s great stalwarts: Ton Jaspers.

Sadly Ton passed away on December 9th after a very short illness. Ton will be sadly missed by his long time best friend and loving wife Conny (Steennis) and their daughter Anne Lotte and so many other family and friends. I believe he will forever be remembered by so many in the wider Wayfarer family as a very passionate man, a technically astute man and a big bear of a man who loved sailing and Wayfaring in particular.

Ton was particularly generous in spirit and practicality, lending not just his knowledge and expertise to others but also welcoming visitors and lending his lovely boat W10445 Swiebertje to many who travelled to the Netherlands from abroad to participate in international events held there.

Ton Jaspers our fellow Wayfarer sailor and friend may you rest in peace.

With much respect and kind regard,
Monica Schaefer – W11152 Lakka

Thierry has now made available further information about this very interesting-sounding rally, including a detailed programme of events and a list of local overnight accommodation during the week.

There will be information about the rally in the next Wayfarer News, and there’s already a description of the event linked from the diary pages here on the website, including Thierry’s contact details.