Whitefriars Sailing Club Celebrates 50 Years

by Paul Aggett & Tony Wootley 4 Jul 2019 14:51 BST 29-30 June 2019

On 29th-30th June, Whitefriars Sailing Club in the Cotswold Water Park, celebrated 50 years with two days of fun-packed celebrations and exciting sailing, culminating in the presentation of a newly established Founders Cup for a handicap race competition held on the Sunday.

A good number of members took advantage of club's facilities by camping and starting the fun on Friday evening with a Sundowners social sail and a BBQ.

Saturday started early with welcome breakfast rolls in readiness for a 4 hour team race and Junior sailing activities, keeping an emphasis on fun and friendly competition.

The 4 hour race was won by Simon Clark and Richard Gimmler in a Phantom. In second place were Steve Ashford/Jamie Grigor/Wolly Merchant and Ed Bartlett. Third place was taken by a Sailability team of Dave Durston and George Paxford in a Hansa Liberty.

Cream teas were provided in the afternoon accompanied by the sound of the Purton Villages Voices ladies choir, whilst the Juniors enjoyed themselves with sailing-based games. In the evening, celebrations continued in a marquee, with catering by Chef Adam and musical entertainment by the band 'Freeze' helped along by a few dubious air guitarists.

The main event on Sunday was the new Founders Cup competition, with two races to count, while the Swindon Big Band provided musical entertainment for those ashore.

In challenging conditions, first place was claimed by Will Gifford in an Aero 7 with some excellent sailing giving him wins in both races.

Presenting the Founders Cup to the winner was Dennis Phelps, one of the original founders of the club back in 1969 at Whitefriars School, Cheltenham, where the club was established. Returning to the club after thirty years, Dennis could not recognise the surroundings with its modern facilities, compared to the wooden sheds the club operated from back then.

The other places were amazingly close with only a single point covering second to sixth place. In second place was Richard Gimmler in an Aero9. In third place were Charlie and Rupert Whelan in a 2000.

After the mid-afternoon Founders Cup award presentations, the Club Commodore, Tony Jackson, thanked everyone behind the scenes whose hard work had made a fantastic weekend and in particular Nicky Durston and Victoria Farmer, who had done so much to organise and coordinate a willing team of helpers over some months of planning.

Everyone was wowed by a huge and colourful iced cake, provided by Joanne Hocking, along with over two hundred scones, served with cream and jam.

One last event remained, providing entertainment for everyone, by a Juniors Oppie-Water Polo contest and although there were rules, their enthusiasm meant more time was spent in the water than on it!

Anybody interested in joining the Whitefriars Sailing Club please contact the Membership Secretary via the club's website www.whitefriarssc.org

Founders Cup Results:

Pos	Class	Sail No	Helm	R1	R2	Pts
1st	RS AERO 7		Will Gifford	1	1	2
2nd	RS AERO 9		Richard Gimmler	6	2	8
3rd	2000		C/R Whelan	5	3	8
4th	MIRACLE	4110	P/N Robinson	4	4	8
5th	COMET TRIO	476	S Ashford/M Yeomans	3	6	9
6th	LIBERTY	3144	Dave Durston	2	7	9
7th	LASER STRATOS		A/J Stanislaus	8	5	13
8th	GP14		E/R Shiles	7	8	15
9th	Finn	468	John Andrews	10	11	21
10th	MIRACLE	4123	J Robinson/Hocking	12	10	22
11th	420		L Stanislaus/E Bartlett	15	9	24
12th	RS AERO 7	1772	Paul Aggett	9	DNF	24
13th	LASER RADIAL		Julia Sinclair	16	DNF	31
14th	LASER		D Kelly	11	DNC	33
15th	RS FEVA XL		L/T Farmer	DNC	12	34
16th	RS VISION		T/T Morris	13	DNC	35
17th	LASER		T Farmer	14	DNC	36
18th	WAYFARER		C/B Hargreaves	DNF	DNC	43
18th	PHANTOM	1424	Simon Clark	DNF	DNC	43
18th	SOLO	4749	Pat Ward	DNF	DNC	43
18th	LASER 4.7	164396	R Dalton	DNF	DNC	43