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As predicted, a titanic tussle began to develop at the front of the fleet between the front-runners from last season (McNamara/Townsend and Wilson/Wilson). The Wilsons just edged day one with two bullets to McNamara’s one, winning races 2 and 3 and only narrowly being pipped in race 1 by the downwind cunning and guile of McNamara and Townsend. At the end of day 1, Lamb/Pygall were the “best of the rest” with a consistent score line of three 3s just ahead of a very congested midfield pack that John Goudie/Sam Boniface led ahead of the Dynamic O’Donnells.

Wayfarer Inlands – 2nd overall, Tom (l) and Andrew Wilson © Anthony Cooper

The second day dawned with little change in wind direction but a decrease in strength which inevitably would provide even greater emphasis on a good first beat and position round the windward mark. The Race team moved away from the P course and adopted standard windward leeward courses for the duration of the day. An early start of 1015 to ensure an early finish was immediately put off track as the star-studded Flying Fifteen fleet that were sharing the open repeatedly transgressed under first Blue Peter and then U flag until the race officer gave up and allowed the Wayfarers to start first. Despite the delay, the Wilsons sailed an immaculate race 4 to lead from start to finish with McNamara/Townsend well behind, taking control of the open meeting with three bullets in the first four races. Lamb/Pygall continued their string of 3rds to lead the chasing pack and the consistent John Goudie came 4th.

With the formidable boat speed being demonstrated by the Wilsons, McNamara/Townsend had it all to do to retain the Inlands. Race 5 proved critical. A familiar battle up the beats and down the runs between McNamara/Townsend and the Wilsons culminated in an epic battle royale down the final run where a gybing battle ended with McNamara squeezing Wilson practically into Heathrow Terminal 3 before gybing back and then rounding the final mark half a boat length ahead. This was a masterclass of downwind tactical sailing. Behind these two, Lamb/Pygall were awestruck spectators and took their familiar position of 3rd with Goudie/Boniface 4th once again.

The final race saw McNamara/Townsend needing to win to take the Inlands and after a somewhat chaotic light wind start, the duo cut through the pack with unrivalled boat speed and emerged clear ahead of Lamb/Pygall with the Wilsons buried on the right-hand side of the beat. Rounding the windward mark a couple of boat lengths ahead, McNamara/Townsend sailed off into the distance largely unchallenged. The Wilsons cut through the field and challenged Lamb/Pygall but up the final windward leg McNamara loose covered Lamb/Pygall who in turn were covering the Wilsons. In the end, McNamara cruised through to take the bullet and seal the Inlands by virtue of winning the last race having tied with the Wilsons on points. A remarkable achievement. Other worthy mentions over the course of the weekend outside of the podium include John Goudie who put together his most consistent regatta for a number of years to come 4th overall and Wanderer National Champion and Inland Champion Adam Wickenden in 5th.

A great event hosted by Datchet as usual with very efficient race management in testing conditions, particularly on the Sunday. The Wayfarer circuit now moves onto West Oxfordshire at the end of the month for a different variety of pond sailing before some estuary sailing on the Medway in May, and a trip to Shoreham in June.

(Report by Sam Pygall. A version including the table of results is on the Racing Results page)

As predicted, there is a titanic tussle at the front between the big two from last season (McNamara and Wilson) with Wilson just coming out on top for the day with two bullets to McNamara’s one, winning races 2 and 3 and only narrowly being pipped in race 1 by the downwind cunning of McNamara.

Lamb/Pygall best of the rest with a consistent score line of three 3s just ahead of a very congested midfield pack that John Goudie leads ahead of the O’Donnells.

Lighter winds from the same direction forecast tomorrow with an early start (1015).

-Saturday evening report by Sam Pygall

• At or near the front of the pack will surely be Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend from Rollesby Broad SC. Unbeaten in a Wayfarer in 2018, they are the current UK National, European and Inland champions, and will be using the NCS events as practice for the International Championships in Ireland later in the year. They look likely contenders for Best in Show.
• Close on their tails will be the whippet that is Andrew Wilson (with son Tom) from the host club, Datchet SC. Runners up at the Inland Championships in 2018, Andrew and Tom went on to win the Southern, Eastern and Western Area Championships.
• Back in the boat after fully recovering from hip surgery in 2018 (think Andy Murray but a little bit older) will be Len Jones and Pete Mitchell from Medway YC. Len and Pete were runners up in the UK National Championships and the Danish National Championships last year and will be a force to be reckoned with. They are the perfect combination of an old dog with new tricks.
• Bill Whitney and John Shelton from Shoreham SC should not be discounted. Always on or close to the podium in 2018 they finished third in the NCS and doubtless will parade well in the Arena again this year.
• Crossbreeds worth an each way bet include Brian Lamb and Sam Pygall from Wilsonian SC (third overall in the NCS), Guy Marks and Mel Titmuss from Bough Beech SC from Bough Beech SC (former National Champion and on the podium at a couple of events in 2018), John Clementson and crew (recent winner of the Bough Beech SC Icicle, multiple Graduate and Mirror Champion) and Steve Blake sailing the Hartley Boats works boat.
• Scruffts with an outside chance might include Tony Cooper, Derek Lambert or Scott Hamilton from the host club, the O’Donnells or Mike Weighill (most improved helm in 2018) with Carl Martin (most long suffering crew in 2018) from Swarkestone SC, or the Townsends or the Lees from Medway YC, all of whom have potential to do well in individual races although stringing together a consistent series might be beyond them.

Like the beginning of every football or Formula 1 season all teams start with zero points and equal chances of success. It will only be as the season develops we will see which Wayfarer team will be the Lewis Hamilton and which will be the Huddersfield Town (with apologies to The Terriers who this year, sadly, have not been top dogs).

60th Anniversary Wayfarer Nationals at Castle Cove – photo © Richard White

There is a packed programme of events throughout the year from class racing at family race weeks, through one and two day open meetings to area championships. The highlight of the season will be the International Championships which will be held at Greystones SC, Co. Wicklow, Ireland from 20-26 July. This event will also count as the Class UK National Championships and the Irish Championships. In addition to the UK and Irish teams, competitors are expected to enter from Holland, Denmark, South Africa, Canada and USA.

The UKWA is delighted to receive continued sponsorship from Craftinsure. Mark Lee, the Company’s Managing Director, is a keen and regular Wayfarer racer himself. The eight event National Circuit and Travellers Series will take in a variety of fresh and salt water venues starting at Datchet Water SC, then West Oxfordshire SC, Medway YC, Shoreham SC, the National Championships at Greystones SC, Arun YC, Swarkestone SC and Bough Beech SC.

The finale at Bough Beech will see the presentation of the National Circuit and Travellers Series trophies but also the prize draw. We’re very lucky to have support from Craftinsure, Hartley Boats, McNamara Sails, Allen Brothers and Pinnell & Bax all of whom have pledged some fantastic prizes such as sails, padded mast covers and a year’s free insurance for your Wayfarer. In order to be eligible for the prize draw, a boat has to compete in at least two of the NCS and Travellers Series events. The more events a boat competes at the greater its chances of winning.

For more details, keep checking this website and see the 2019 Racing Calendar, linked here.

The ONE Bassenthwaite Lake Sailing Week – photo © Peter Mackin

Article by Tim Townsend (also published on yachtsandyachting.com)

Greta may have aged since those adventures but this has not dimmed her sense of fun and adventure. In her 99th year she has just tried indoor climbing for the very first time. Sea Urchin (W1981), who incidentally is celebrating her 60th birthday this year, is still going strong too and is being sailed by the third and fourth generation of Plowmans.

I am looking for any Wayfarer Association members who may have known Greta as we are hoping to bring together friends from her past and we would very much like to recognise and incorporate her sailing achievements into her 100th birthday celebrations in May.

If anyone remembers her fondly and would like to attend please do get in touch [[email protected]]. Equally if you have anyone has any photos of her, Piers, or ‘Sea Urchin’ I would be hugely grateful if you would be willingly to share these.”

-Fay Kenworthy (Greta’s granddaughter)

Many thanks to P& B who join our other supporters of the prize draw, CraftInsure, McNamara Sails, Hartley Boats and Allen Brothers. Remember, in order to have a chance of winning a prize you need to have competed in at least two of the National Circuit and Travellers’ Series events. If you compete in two events, your sail number will go in the hat; if you compete in three events, your sail number will go in the hat twice (increasing your chances of winning a prize) and so on.

Please support the Craftinsure National Circuit and Travellers’ Series in 2019; the racing is competitive and is held at terrific sailing venues, often with brilliant socials; and at the end of the season you could win a new genoa, or a year’s boat insurance, or some other great prizes.

As usual, full details will be available here on the UKWA website as they become available. (The green/blue Internationals logo near the top of the front page will remain linked to the UKWA event page throughout the lead-up to this summer’s championship).

More details by emailing Monica Schaefer [[email protected]] or Tim Townsend [[email protected]]

The aim of the Gathering is to promote family sailing and get people of all ages onto the water. Sailing with us can be a springboard onto more adventurous sailing in less sheltered water, or simply an opportunity for fellowship in an outstandingly beautiful location with the wind (and perhaps a little rain) in your face.

Everything is optional, value for money is exceptional!

Please contact Mark and Julie at [[email protected]] for more information and to make your booking. See also our informative Flyer, linked here.