This year’s event attracted well over 30 boats and, just like all families, welcomed a host of new members and a few prodigal sons alike. The sailing ranged from relaxed to rigorous and the craft were kept in a seaworthy condition through the attentions of Matt Sharman and Ralph Roberts, who attended at the start of the event to ensure no one was left high and dry. Chief Privateer Brian White did a fantastic job of matching sailors to conditions and locations, ensuring everyone had a wonderful time on the water and no-one visited Davey Jones’s Locker. A special mention goes to Adam Jenkins (12) for sailing with the fleet to Aira Force single-handed in a Topper, with the Wayfarer mothership providing the transport back and demonstrating perfectly the character of the Gathering.

This year welcomed the return of ‘The Band’, who provided a live musical backdrop to the relaxed evening atmosphere in the Ullswater Yacht Club Clubhouse. Julie Foreman’s quiz night was made even more popular with the awarding of prizes donated by Hartley Boats for the winners. Beer-O’Clock followed the traditional format but Dougie and Hannah Young made it noticeably more popular with the addition of an event shelter!

As ever, the final night’s festivities concluded with ‘Wayfarers Got Talent!’ hosted by Peter Bones who, along with Liz Bones coordinated the social events and donated the world’s hardest Ullswater jigsaw puzzle to the club as a thank you for their unerring support. Sailing was celebrated through music, dance, song, poetry and prose during an occasion that once again went well beyond expectations.

A big thank you to all who contributed, see you next year!”

-Mark Foreman

Racing started after a short delay on Saturday with three races back to back on a classic triangle/sausage course. The pattern for the weekend’s racing was set early on with Len Jones and Jamie Lea taking an early lead followed by Andrew and Tom Wilson. Racing behind these two was close with several place changes before Derek Lambert and Oliver Gore Lawrenson got the nod for third.

The second race of the day was again led from the start by Jones/Lea, although positions at the windward mark were close with Lambert/Lawrenson and the Wilsons close behind. Jones/Lea led from start to finish with the Wilsons finishing second and the Tim and Jacqueline Townsend just pipping Lambert/Lawrenson for third.

By the time the third race started the wind had increased and there was sporadic rain and claps of thunder. This time Jones/Lea and the Wilsons exchanged positions a few times during the race before Jones/Lea pulled clear to take their third win of the day. The Townsends finished third in this race too, a comfortable distance in front of the pack.

Sunday dawned with the promise of more wind than the previous day. There was more wind, true, but not as much as forecast, and the fleet generally coped well with the slightly tougher conditions. Although Jones/Lea had dominated the first day’s results, they could still theoretically be beaten if the Wilsons won all of Sunday’s races. Andrew and Tom did their very best to beat the odds by enjoying a very close fourth race with Jones/Lea; the lead changed hands several times and at the finish it was the Wilsons who took their first win of the weekend. Tony Cooper and Neil Hume got their best result of the weekend holding off the Townsends to claim third place. After a distinctly average (for them) first day this also saw a resurgence of form from Nigel and Michael O’Donnell until they had a brief inversion just after the second gybe mark while lying fifth.

The fifth race was also a humdinger. The Townsends were OCS (and took nearly two minutes to extricate themselves and return to the start!). However, at the front, it was Jones/Lea and the Wilsons going at it hammer and tongs, once again exchanging the lead several times. In the closing stages of the race the Wilsons held a slim lead but they were unable to hold off the series leaders who took a narrow win and, with it, the Championship. Lambert/Lawrenson took third in this race and went into the final race with one foot on the third step of the podium.

With the runners up spot guaranteed the Wilsons exchanged positions for the final race of the event. Rumour has it that Jones/Lea also intended to swap positions in the boat but abandoned the project after an adverse risk assessment! The race began with a general recall, but got away cleanly at the second time of asking. Jones/Lea took an early lead and led throughout. The Wilsons proved it’s all about the team (not just the helm) by taking the runners up spot from the Townsends. The O’Donnells planed across the finish line in fourth place for their best result of the weekend as the wind started to build inexorably.

Overall Jones/Lea dominated the weekend’s racing, winning five of the races, although often only after tussles with the Wilsons who secured a comfortable second place. The Townsends’ third place in the final race was enough to see them step onto the podium at the end.

This was the sixth event of the Craftinsure National Circuit and Travellers Series for the UK Wayfarer Class and the results mean that the Wilsons continue to lead although Jones/Lea have closed the gap to 0.5 points, with just two events to go. Bill Whitney and Lisa Whitney/John Shelton lie in third place but the Townsends move up to fourth overall.

Datchet Water SC put on a good event, with excellent race management and lots of assistance on the shore from students of Brunel University who helped launch and recover the boats. Club Commodore, Mike Becket, presented the prizes. Thanks to all of them, and also to Neil Hume who provided much of the material for this report.

(To see this report including the table of results please visit the Racing Results page) 

After a good night of singing and dancing, Sunday dawned bright with no wind, the AP was up for about an hour when thankfully a light breeze arrived. The Race Committee did well to get 3 races under way in quick succession. Conditions were a bit tricky with positions on the beat changing with massive wind shifts. The leaders went up the middle, putting in a lot of work, roll-tacking on every shift to maximise momentum and directional advantage, this tactic paying off handsomely when they finished the 3 races at the front of the pack to give them a clean sweep in all 5 races and the Championship honours.

Podium positions after 5 races and 1 drop:

1st W11152 Monica Schaefer & Neil Mc Sherry – Scottish Championship Trophy
2nd W6117 Bob & Margaret Sparkes – First Scottish Boat Trophy
3rd W7588 Dawn Crowe & Jackie Maldrum

This is the 6th event, in the Series of 8, this year with the last two events at Upper Thames SC and Bough Beech SC to follow in October and November.

A very warm welcome will be found at these events and we hope you wish to make the most of these remaining events. As well as The Hartley Boats Trophy, awarded to the winner of the National Circuit Series and the Wayfarer Traveller’s Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Travellers’ Trophy Series – Don’t forget the new Traveller Prize Draw!

A draw of sponsors’ prizes shall be made at the last National Circuit Series event of the year. Each boat which has competed in two or more events will be eligible to win a prize. Each boat which has competed in two events shall have one ticket bearing its sail number included in the draw. Each boat which has competed in three events shall have two tickets included in the draw. Each boat which has competed in four events shall have three tickets and so on. A boat may win only one prize.

If a boat wins a prize but is not represented at the draw its owner shall be responsible for any cost of the delivery of the prize.

Datchet Water Sailing Club
Queen Mother Reservoir, Horton Road, Slough, SL3 9NT

 1.0     RULES

1.1     The event will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing, this Notice of Race (except as any of these are changed by the Sailing Instructions), the Rules of the Class Association and the Sailing Instructions. If there is a conflict between this Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions then the Sailing Instructions will prevail. The organising authority is Datchet Water Sailing Club.

1.2     Competitors should note that Datchet Water Sailing Club implements the RYA Racing Charter and that they will be required to undertake to sail in compliance with the Charter, which can be found at the front of the RYA rule book (Racing Rules of Sailing 2017-2020), or at www.rya.org.uk/racing/charter and can be found posted in the clubhouse.

1.3     Rubbish shall not be put overboard, however it may be put in support or patrol boats.

1.4     Competitors shall give way to patrol boats and race management craft carrying out their duties at all times.

1.5     The rules and regulations of Datchet Water Sailing Club shall be followed and will be available on the wall in the club house.

2.0     Spare 

3.0     ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

3.1     Boats competing for UKWA prizes must be entered by members or associate members of the UKWA or any equivalent National Class Wayfarer Association (NCWA).

3.2     All helms or crews under the age of 18 are required to present a signed Entry/Parent/Guardian Declaration at registration.

4.0     ENTRY FEE

The entry fees will be as follows

– £30 for visitors entering via the Club Website (www.dwsc.co.uk) before 23.59 hrs on 5^th September 2017

– £40 for visitors entering after 6^th September 2017

– £20 for DWSC members entering via the Club Website before 23.59 hrs on 5^th September 2017

– £30 for DWSC members entering after 6^th September 2017

An additional UKWA levy of £3 per boat will be payable with the entry fees.

 

5.0     PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

5.1     Registration will be from 0900 hours on Saturday.

5.2     Up to 6 races are scheduled, of which one must be completed to constitute a series. On Saturday three races are planned back to back.  On Sunday three races are planned to be sailed back to back.

5.3     The warning signal for the first race on Saturday will not be before 12.55 hrs.

6.0     SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

These will be available at registration and may be available online at www.dwsc.co.uk and the Class Association websites.

7.0     VENUE

Races will be sailed on the Queen Mother Reservoir, Horton Road, Horton, Slough Berkshire SL3 9NT

8.0     PROTESTS

The Exoneration Penalty and the Advisory Hearing and RYA Arbitration of the RYA Rules Disputes Procedures will be available.

9.0     SCORING

9.1     Standard RYA Appendix A.

9.2     The following discards will apply:

If 2 or less races are sailed, no discard with apply

If 3 or 4 races are sailed, 1 discard will be apply

If 5 or more races are sailed, 2 discards will apply.

10.0   SUPPORT BOATS

Except when requested by or agreed with the race committee, coaches and supporters may not communicate with competitors’ afloat, tow competitors to or from the race area, or enter the race area.

11.0   BERTHING

Boats shall be kept in their assigned spaces as described in the briefing.

12.0   RADIO COMMUNICATION

A boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction includes mobile telephones.

13.0   RIGHTS TO USE NAMES AND LIKENESSES

Competitors automatically grant to the organizing authority without payment the right in perpetuity to make, use and show any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped or filmed television of or relating to the event.

14.0   SAFETY REGULATIONS

All competitors shall wear a personal flotation device at all times when afloat, except briefly when changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment.  Wet suits and dry suits are not considered personal flotation devices. 

15.0 RISK STATEMENT

Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone”.

Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

• They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
• They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
• They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
• Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
• The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
• The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances. 

16.0 INSURANCE

Each boat is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £2 million. 

• MEMBERSHIP AND LIABILITY
  • All visiting competitors will be deemed temporary members of Datchet Water Sailing Club during the event and as such shall abide by all the Club’s rules and bye-laws.
  • Members of the Club, their guests and visitors may use the Club premises and other facilities of the Club entirely at their own risk and implicitly accept that: the Club will not accept any liability for any damage to or loss of property belonging to members, their guests or visitors to the Club; the Club will not accept any liability for personal injury arising out of use of the Club premises or any other facilities of the Club, or out of participating in any race organised by the Club, whether sustained by members, their guests or visitors or caused by the said members, guests or visitors, whether or not such damage or injury could have been attributed to, or was occasioned by the neglect, default or negligence of any of the officers, committees or servants of the Club.
  • Before inviting any guests or visitors onto the premises or to participate in events organised by the Club, members will draw attention to this rule. 

18.0 LOCAL RULES (derived from the Bye-laws and club rules of Datchet Water Sailing Club) http://www.dwsc.co.uk/aboutus/club-by-laws/

18.1     Buoyancy: Each boat shall be fully equipped with sufficient buoyancy to enable it to float and to support its crew if capsized or holed. Personal flotation devices shall be worn by all crew members at all time whilst afloat, on the pontoons or near the water’s edge.

18.2     Protective clothing: Between 1st November and 30th April, full body wetsuits or dry-suits shall be worn by all competitors at all time whilst afloat. These do not constitute a personal flotation device.

18.3     Keeping Clear: Boats shall keep clear of all motor vessels that are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. When a boat finds herself unable to keep clear of such a vessel she may use propulsion, such as paddling or rocking, provided she does not gain a significant advantage in the race (rule 42.3(h)).

18.4     Parking: You may park boats and trailers on the gravel of the south side of the clubhouse keeping the south launching slipway clear for our keel boats on Sundays. All cars will be asked to park down on the lower level unless instructed otherwise by DWSC Officials.

18.5     Invasive Species: In accordance with Environment Agency guidelines and to prevent the spread of invasive species, DWSC is adhering to the CHECK CLEAN DRY principle. Please make sure your boat has been clean and dry for 2 days prior to your arrival and is washed and dried before returning to other venues.

NB: Dogs (with the exception of guide dogs) are not permitted on the club’s land.

 19.0 ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING

Camping and camper vans will be available onsite for Friday and Saturday Night by prior arrangement (please visit our website regarding hotels and accommodation near by the club www.dwsc.co.uk ). Catering will be available through the club galley including an evening meal on the Saturday and after racing on Sunday.

www.dwsc.co.uk         sailing@dwsc.co.uk                 01753 683872

Queen Mother Reservoir, Horton Road, Horton, Slough, Berkshire  SL3 9NT

Andrew and Tom Wilson (11093) and Len Jones and Jamie Lea (11067) exchanged wins in races 4 and 5, but it looked like the 8th place suffered in one of the races on Saturday was going to hurt the Jones/Lea combination.

On to race 6 and capsizes aplenty in the gusty force 4-5 and ebb tide. One of the teams inspecting the bottom of the boat inevitably was Jones/Lea who pushed just too hard at the last windward mark. This was the curtain falling on their title challenge and an order for yet another Windex has been placed (bulk order).

Through the carnage, Andrew and Tom sailed serenely on and won their fourth race of the weekend to seal the title of Eastern Champions.

Overall positions (top three) as follows:
1st Andrew and Tom Wilson (11093)
2nd Len Jones and Jamie Lea (11067)
3rd Bill and Lisa Whitney (10688).

Full report and photos to follow on Y&Y soon (including details of the hysterical quiz night).

– Tim Townsend