Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

Wanderer open meeting at Whitstable Yacht Club

by Tim Barr & Richard Maltby 28 Jun 2022 12:08 UTC
Tim Barr and Mark Skipper win the Wanderer open meeting at Whitstable © WYC

The seven boats entered for the Whitstable Wanderer open meeting were greeted by a bright and breezy morning. Unfortunately two boats had previously withdrawn owing to Covid.

Following a quick welcome from Richard Maltby and a briefing from PRO and Wanderer fan John Boorman, the fleet launched and headed out towards Slotty Dawes (the committee boat) where in the strengthening breeze assistant RO John Cooper had set up a triangle, sausage course with the windward mark bearing 180 degrees.

The Wanderers shared the start line with Whitstable club racing and were first start away in a fresh force 4 gusting 5 with regular shifts of up to 20 degrees. Tide was ebbing with the current broadly even across the course and with the wind resulting in relatively smooth water.

Tim Barr with crew Mark Skipper sailing 1282 were first off the line and led at the windward mark closely followed by Colin Gilbert and Geoff Floyd in 1819. Barr and Skipper extended through use of their kite down the two reaches and remained clear till the end of the race which was shortened on the third windward leg.

Gilbert and Floyd held onto second from Katie Berrington and Alex Wilson from the Whitstable youth team came a commendable third sailing club boat 1351.

The second race started with the wind shifting strongly to the left about a minute before the start, Barr and Gilbert headed towards the pin end and Barr managed to tack and cross the fleet shortly after the start, Gilbert tacked shortly after the first cross and was caught out by another large wind shift which resulted in a quick swim in the Whitstable bay and the traditional muddying of the top of his mainsail.

Barr and Skipper extended through the rest of the race which was shortened at the third beat. Berrington and Wilson sailed a great race to take second, with the David squared boat (Bardwell and Marsh 1004) in third. Katie's father John Berrington had a great view of her progress while crewing 1561 for Richard Maltby, mostly looking ahead.

Given two retirements and with the breeze peaking at F6, the PRO abandoned the third race for the fleet to make its way onshore to swap tales and socialize.

Prizes were presented by Whitstable YC Commodore Andrew Jackson, who had seen the racing at close quarters as a support boat crew. Some 26 sailors and friends enjoyed a superb meal prepared by Hanne Mallinen-Scott to the sound of acoustic music by husband Jeremy Scott, as the boisterous breeze calmed for a lovely sunset across the bay.

Overall Results:

Gavin Barr trophy (1st) - Tim Barr and Mark Skipper
WCOA trophy (2nd) - Katie Berrington and Alexander Wilson
WYC glasses (3rd) - David Bardwell and David Marsh
Youth Cup - Katie Berrington and Alexander Wilson
The "Start as you mean to go on" Cannon - Colin Gilbert and Geoff Floyd

PosSail NoHelm CrewClubR1R2Pts
11282T BarrM SkipperChipstead SC & WYC112
21351K BerringtonA WilsonWYC325
31004D BardwellD MarshTudor SC & WYC437
41561R MaltbyJ BerringtonWYC549
51819C GilbertG FloydGrafham SC2(DNF)10
61099P CrossG LeyshonWYC6(DNC)14
7846T KampsC KampsWYC(DNC)(DNC)16

Related Articles

Wanderer Nationals at Cotswold SC
To lose one helm overboard is a misfortune; to lose two in a month is carelessness Cotswold Sailing Club occupies one of the lakes in the Cotswold Water Park complex south of Cirencester. We have visited on a number of occasions over the years for our Inlands. This was the first time they had hosted our Nationals. Posted on 1 Oct
Wanderer Open at Whitstable
Competing for the Gavin Barr trophy Nine Wanderers gathered at Whitstable for the annual event to compete for the Gavin Barr trophy. This miniature replica of the legendary Wanderer championship winning boat, W 1282 "Thistle", was presented to Gavin in 2018. Posted on 4 Jul
Wanderer Open at Grafham Water
Visitors commented on good race organisation and ample safety boat support The Wanderer fleet gathered for their inaugural Open Meeting at Grafham Water Sailing Club over the weekend of 25th and 26th of May. Posted on 12 Jun
Wanderer Nationals at Whitstable
A moderate breeze fills in on boths days for the fleet Ten Wanderers gathered at Whitstable during the last week of August and the first weekend of September. Wanderer East, a series of cruises up the Swale and over to the island of Sheppey was held during the week. Posted on 7 Sep 2023
Wanderer Inlands at Cotswold SC
Sailors from as far afield as Essex and Kent make the trip to Cirencester The Wanderer fleet once again gathered at the delightful Cotswold Sailing Club with some arriving on the Friday night, but the majority opting to arrive on the Saturday morning, travelling from as far afield as Essex and Kent. Posted on 23 May 2022
West Oxfordshire Wanderer Open
It's not usually this windy here they claimed. Hmmmm... It's not usually this windy here they claimed. Hmmmm. Posted on 29 Apr 2022
Wanderer Class renew Craftinsure partnership
Craftinsure has been delighted to see scheme numbers continue to grow The Wanderer Class Owners Association has agreed to renew their partnership scheme with Craftinsure for 2021. Posted on 25 Feb 2021
Tips for sailing with a young crew
What is different when racing with kids between the age of 6 and 12 Here are some top tips on sailing with young people. The guide covers boat set up, jobs for the crew, sailing techniques, kit and incentives. It is written from the experience of several people who have sailed with kids between the age of 6 and 12. Posted on 25 Oct 2019
Wanderer National Championships
Wind would have been nice Nine Wanderers gathered at Bewl Valley in Kent on 14th/15th September for their 2019 national championships, hosted by Bewl Sailing Association. The forecast for both days was not promising at all. Posted on 17 Sep 2019
Wanderers at Whitstable
Sunny and breezy after the Kentish monsoons 15th of July dawned a sunny but breezy day, which was a relief after the Kentish monsoons that had lashed the county during the previous week. Posted on 17 Jun 2019
Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024