Wayfarer Racing Class Development

 OK, OK, OK!

I'm humbled and forced to eat the weed from my rudder - I had no idea there were so many fit forties/fifties/fixties still tearing around with the wings of youth strapped to their wet suit boots!

So, anyone want to come and help me hike my W flat in a six? I can see the benefit of a piece of wire to help reduce the pain in the thighs!

Happy New Year, all, and any W sailors out there who read the 1st message in this thread please do make any sensible suggestions which could filter their way to the UKWA

Oh yes we will, being 40+ does not stop us sailing performance boats. It might even encourage us, in the same vein as buying fast bikes or sports cars!!

As a newcomer to the Wayfarer dinghy racing scene in Scotland I was somewhat dismayed to find few open racing events.

As I want to do these on a regular basis over the next three years, I am now "involved" as a volunteer with the Class Association.

And I guess that's what class development is about - volunteers with the vision and energy to promote its boat(s) and its activities. Don't know if I've got the vision or the energy but I do have the commitment.

The W is such a bargain - three boats in one - racer, cruiser, trainer on sea or pond. Don't have to keep trading up as the children get heavier, either! A family can use one for twenty years for all those purposes and still get a pretty reasonable trade-in or sale price. There aren't many other classes which offer all those possibilities.

Yes, they're heavy for one person to handle, but isn't that why we W helms have crews anyway?  But on the water, they're a sheer joy, burning off a lot of modern boats, even on handicap. OK, a person might feel "cool" driving a skiff or RS800, but you wont be racing them when you're 40+!

So, W sailors, come the UK Wayfarer Association AGM at the Boat Show - see what your association is doing to promote your class!

Happy New Year