Wayfarer week with Two Bouys Challenge at East Down Yacht Club

Sunday morning race start - Wayfarer week with Two Bouys Challenge at East Down © EDYC

East Down Yacht Club held a week of cruising and racing for the home fleet of Wayfarers and visitors between Tuesday 16th and Monday 22nd June. The cruises took in some of the many interesting destinations within a short sail of EDYCs location on the western shore of Strangford Lough.

The Lough is the UKs largest tidal lough and has many islands (and rocks submerged at low tide) as well as the strong tides around the entrance which give the lough its name (adding to the challenges of navigating it). The weather before the weekend was mixed but the sun was out for the racing.

The format of the racing was inspired by the 'Three Bouys Challenge' event for 18 Foot Skiffs in Sydney harbour and intended to produce fair and close racing between the Mark 4 Wayfarers built by Hartley Boats since 2009 and the older boats which are still raced at EDYC and elsewhere. Number crunching of club handicap racing results by former Class captain John Miller suggested that the newer boats were up to 5% faster on average than the pre-Hartley redesign boats.

This estimate was tested by running the six races on a windward-leeward course with two windward marks, one for the Mark 4s and one set so the legs were 5% shorter for the others.

The wind for the first races on Saturday was light and from the West. The wind then did a 180 degree turn (thankfully in between races 2 and 3). It was not a day where boatspeed was likely to be the deciding factor but the racing was close and interesting as gusts appeared from either side of the course and holes in the wind gave made for a game of snakes and ladders.

Alan Bell and Paul Matthews - Wayfarer week with Two Bouys Challenge at East Down - photo © EDYC

On Sunday morning the sun was out again and the wind steady from the North East at 5-8 knots. Not planing conditions but perhaps more a test of boatspeed than the day before. The overnight lead was held by Sam and Rose Kelly sailed a borrowed Mark 4.

The brother and sister team had no previous Wayfarer experience but have recently been through the local Youth training system and gained competitive experience in Toppers and Lasers. One point behind were Lawrence Denyer and Jamie McIlwrath both seasoned Wayfarer sailors, known for being competitive in light winds sailing a pre 2009 Porter built Glass Fibre boat. Denyer won the first two races the Kellys scoring a third and second.

It was down to the final race sailed on a lengthened course as the wind strength was up. The Kellys built up a comfortable lead despite the longer course whilst Denyer was fighting for position in the following pack. A fourth place for Denyer meant the overall win went to the Kellys by one point.

At the prize giving prizes were given for both the Mark 4 fleet, the older boats and the combined fleets. The Kellys were presented with the trophy for the Wayfarer National Champion of Ireland which had not be contested for a few years.

The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all seventeen teams taking part. Alan Bell club Vice Commodore the driving force behind the event was thanked by Commodore Liam Kelly. Alan Bell thanked all helpers and competitors for coming and expressed the hope that the younger sailors who had borrowed boats to race in the event would race Wayfarers in the future.

Lawrence Denyer and Jamie McIwrath - Wayfarer week with Two Bouys Challenge at East Down - photo © EDYC

Overall Results: