Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Wayfarer training and open meeting at Banbury Sailing Club

by Tim Townsend 9 Jun 2022 15:44 BST 3-4 June 2022
Wayfarer training and open meeting at Banbury © Tim Matthews

Banbury Sailing Club hosted its inaugural Wayfarer open meeting on Saturday 4th June. Three visitors joined nine local boats for a day of racing at the club's picturesque 90 acre reservoir.

The wind was blowing across the lake and gusting at times in excess of 20 mph. This was not the ideal wind direction but gave shifty and gusty conditions which provided plenty of challenges for the crews and opportunities for gains and losses in each race as they navigated their way around the seemingly random puffs and lulls. The wind increased over the course of the day and the last race was particularly difficult.

Nigel and Belinda sailing 11282 and Tim and Jacqueline sailing 11012 enjoyed a very close first race. Nigel and Belinda led at the first windward mark and although they were pushed hard from time to time by Tim and Jacqueline they maintained their lead throughout winning the race by fewer than 20 seconds. Andy and Paul sailing 9646 came third.

After a short break the second race began with Tim and Jacqueline getting away from the fleet at the first mark. They led comfortably throughout for a wire to wire win. Behind them, Nigel and Belinda enjoyed a distinctly average start and had to claw back places during the race. They had a close battle for much of the race with Michael and Christopher sailing 10700. Nigel and Belinda eventually prevailed with Michael and Christopher coming third, a definite improvement on their sixth place in the first race.

After lunch, the final race was sailed with all at stake, on a slightly modified course.

It was Michael and Christopher who got the advantage up the first beat and led the fleet for most of the race from there. Behind them, Tim and Jacqueline and Nigel and Belinda were having a very close race between themselves, exchanging positions regularly. At the beginning of the final lap, however, Nigel and Belinda took advantage of a shift and increased pressure and made their break into a clear second place.

Both Nigel and Belinda and Tim and Jacqueline were gaining on Michael and Christopher. Indeed, Nigel and Belinda took the lead briefly on the final leg of the race only for Michael and Christopher to regain the lead just before the finish line and take the gun.

Nigel and Belinda deservedly won the open meeting on count back from Tim and Jacqueline and took home the new Wayfarer trophy presented by Banbury SC. Michael and Christopher moved up to third overall with their final race win. First local boat was 9646 sailed by Andy and Paul.

The day before the open meeting, twelve boats had assembled at the club for a Wayfarer training day. The instruction was led by Michael McNamara, legend of the Wayfarer and many other classes besides. Attendees ranged from newbie racers to people who were regulars on the national circuit. Michael pitched his instruction perfectly and there was something for everybody to take away from the day, with instruction on boat setup and trim and boat handling exercises on the water.

A big thank you to Andy Darby and everybody at Banbury Sailing Club for organising the training day and the open meeting, for making the visitors welcome, and an special thanks to the ladies in the galley who provided lunches each day and an evening meal on Friday evening. The racing itself was calmly and efficiently organised by the race officer, Tim Matthews, and his team.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3Pts
1st11282NigelBelindaSwarkestone SC1‑223
2nd11012TimJacquelineMedway YC21‑33
3rd10700MichaelChrisLeigh and Lowton SC‑6314
4th9646AndyPaulBanbury SC34‑67
5th9644MichaelGeorgeBanbury SC‑55510
6th7601MichaelGeorge/FlorenceBanbury SC4‑7711
7th3722MattTonyBanbury SC(DNS)DNS415
8th3722VicTonyBanbury SC(DNS)6DNS17
9th7592TonyTerryBanbury SC(DNS)8DNS19
10th9930PeterRichardBanbury SC(DNS)DNSDNS22

Related Articles

Craftinsure Wayfarer National Circuit Finale
Bough Beech, a firm favourite amongst the fraternity The 2023 Craftinsure Wayfarer National Circuit concluded over the weekend of the 11-12 November 2023 with the traditional "Finale" hosted by Bough Beech Sailing Club, a firm favourite amongst the Wayfarer racing fraternity. Posted on 15 Nov
Craftinsure Wayfarer National Circuit update
All set for the finale on 11th & 12th November The UK Wayfarer fleet has enjoyed a fantastic Craftinsure circuit of seven events across the UK this year, including a highly successful Nationals at Dabchicks Sailing Club. Posted on 15 Oct
Wayfarer Inlands at Blithfield Sailing Club
Following meticulous calculations, newcomers to the class win the event The Wayfarer Inlands, hosted by Blithfield Sailing Club, marked a significant event in the UK Wayfarer Association Craftinsure National Series Circuit. The competition, held over the weekend, received generous sponsorship from Hartley Boats. Posted on 4 Oct
Craftinsure Wayfarer Travellers at Blackwater
Late summer holidays and other family commitments kept some regular travellers away Over the weekend of 2nd - 3rd September Blackwater Sailing Club hosted the latest event in the Craftinsure Wayfarer Travellers series, combined with the Snipe class. Posted on 10 Sep
Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2023 Day 6
Fast fun on Frisky Friday After racing was cancelled on Thursday because of no wind, Poole Week came to a riotous close on Friday. Plenty of breeze, together with sun and some good harbour waves, gave everyone a memorable day's sailing. Posted on 27 Aug
Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2023 Day 5
It's not all about the sailing In the context of one of the south coast's biggest regattas, it might seem strange to say that it's not all about the sailing. But in the case of Poole Week, it never has been. Posted on 25 Aug
Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2023 Day 4
Steady as she blows Wednesday was another glorious day in Poole Harbour. The sun shone, which is always a good start. And the wind, though it never matched Tuesday's 12-15 knots, was a perfectly sailable-in 7-9 knots. Posted on 24 Aug
Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2023 Day 3
Super Tuesday: Sun, wind and sparkle Everything came together on the third day of Poole Week. There was just the right amount of wind, the harbour was full of water, and the sun that the Met Office had been promising all week finally shone. Posted on 23 Aug
Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2023 Day 2
Decisions, decisons.. When you have more than 160 boats in Poole Harbour doing battle with a wind that's oscillating back and forth, you can almost hear the cogs whirring as the crews decide which end of the line to start and which way to go up the first beat. Posted on 22 Aug
Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2023 Day 1
A great day to explore Poole Harbour After the summer we've been having - if it really has been 'summer' - it came as a huge relief that the forecast for Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2023 held the promise of some slightly less wet and windy weather. Posted on 21 Aug