by Sam Pygall 11 May 06:50 BST22-23 April 2023
The Wayfarer Open meeting at West Oxfordshire, held on 22 and 23rd April 2023 was the second event following a successful meeting at Datchet of the 2023 Craftinsure Wayfarer National Series.
The series comprises of eight events held at a number of prestigious fresh and salt water events. This event promised to be a fun and competitive weekend of racing, and it certainly delivered. The atmosphere at the event was friendly and welcoming, with sailors of all abilities coming together to enjoy the racing and socializing.
The weather conditions were variable, with winds ranging from light and shifty to gusty and strong. The conditions provided a true test of skill and endurance for the sailors, with some impressive performances seen on the water.
In the end, it was long-time Circuit stalwarts and Travellers’ trophy winners Nigel and Belinda O’Donnell who emerged victorious, taking home the top prize after a closely contested battle with James Nicoll and their crew James Ball by virtue of winning the final race of the open meeting. The competitiveness of the fleet was demonstrated through three of the teams taking line honours over the course of the weekend.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11282 | Nigel O’Donnell | Belinda O’Donnell | Swarkstone | 1 | 2 | 2 | ?4 | 1 | 6 |
| 2nd | 11603 | James Nicoll | James Ball | WOSC | 2 | ?3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 3rd | 11308 | Matt Batterton | Marion Turberfield | WOSC | ?3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 4th | 9619 | Sue Burton | Lucia P | WOSC | ?4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
The organization of the event was excellent, led by Les Burton, with a smooth registration process, detailed briefing, and efficient starting procedures. The event organizers and volunteers went above and beyond to ensure that everything ran smoothly, and any issues that arose were quickly addressed and resolved.
Overall, the Craftinsure Wayfarer Open meeting at West Oxfordshire was a fantastic event that showcased competitive inland Wayfarer sailing. Congratulations to all the competitors and particularly Nigel and Belinda on their first outright open meeting victory on the National Circuit. The Craftinsure circuit continues this week at Parkstone (13-14 May), before moving to Medway (17-18th June) and the Nationals at Dabchicks Sailing Club (30th June to the 2nd July).