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WHITSTABLE YACHT CLUB

              Founded 1902                                   Affiliated R.Y.A.

 

WANDERER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND RALLY, 14TH & 15TH JULY 2007

GENERAL INFORMATION.   SEE ALSO SEPARATE “NOTICE OF RACE and ENTRY FORM.

  

Whitstable Yacht Club, and the Whitstable Wanderer fleet, look forward to welcoming Wanderers to a weekend of cruising and racing on 14th and 15th July 2007.   We hope that visitors will also take the opportunity to see something of the charming town and working harbour of Whitstable.   There will be both cruising and racing activities each day, and entry to the event gives you the choice of doing either, or some of each.   We certainly hope that our cruising enthusiasts will have a go at racing on at least one day.   We are sharing the weekend with the Mirror class.   If you decide to arrive on the Friday, please ring Gavin Barr on 01233 712543, or email me at gatecott@aol.com, giving as much notice as you can so that we can arrange for you to be met.    

 

Racing:

Three races are planned for Saturday and two for Sunday.   The exact format will be decided on the day but the intention is that on Saturday we share the racing with the Mirror class, and run three races on conventional courses in Whitstable Bay.   On Sunday, weather permitting, racing will consist of a “passage race” from Whitstable up to the Swale, followed by a race home after a picnic lunch.   For the passage races you are advised to carry an anchor, or stake and long painter, for mooring in Faversham Creek.    If you race on one day and not the other, you will still qualify for the Nationals, but in addition to the overall prizes for the Championship there will be prizes for each day’s racing for those who only sail on that day.   There will also be prizes for the first steel centre-plate boat, and for the first “non-spinnaker” boat (to be declared on registration).   The new owners of the Wanderer trademark, Hartley Laminates, have generously agreed to sponsor the prizes, and Richard Hartley hopes to attend the event with a HL Wanderer. 

 

Cruising:  

As mentioned we hope that everyone will have a go at racing on at least one day, but there is no obligation to do so, and cruises will be run on each day.   Cruise plans and destinations will be decided on the day depending on the weather and wind direction, but on Sunday the hope is to cruise to the same destination as the racers, where we can all take our picnic lunches together.      Each participant should check the weather forecast and feel confident that you can cope with the predicted conditions.   We hope to have a support boat to escort each day’s cruise, but full safety cover cannot be guaranteed, so participants all look out for each other.   It will be helpful to have some boats equipped with outboards.   Boats must be seaworthy and should be equipped with alternative means of propulsion (engine, oars or paddles), an anchor, a towrope, and a bailer or bucket.   Reefing devices are recommended.   A mobile phone, in a waterproof case, would be useful.   Make sure you have clothing suitable for the weather conditions, and plenty to drink.      See also the “Cruising Notes” in the WCOA Almanac.   Registration for both cruising and racing will start at 0900 on Saturday.   Briefing will be at 1030 on Saturday, and 0930 on Sunday.   The aim is to be rigged, changed and ready to go by 1130 on Saturday and 1030 on Sunday.

 

When afloat, especially in the time before and after High Water, make sure that you keep well to the West of the Whitstable Harbour mouth, so as not to interfere with commercial shipping.   As a safety precaution, cruise participants will be required to sign on before going afloat, and sign off on return.    Cruising boats will be supplied with masthead streamers, which you are asked to fly to help the Race Officials in distinguishing between those racing and those cruising.                                                                                                                 /2…

2.

 

Evening Meal and Social, Saturday 14th July:

On Saturday there will be an evening meal at a cost of £ 15.00 per person, £7.50 for children.   After the meal, Anne and Dennis Kell, the well known cruising couple, will talk to us on their experiences and share some pearls of wisdom to make your cruising more enjoyable.   You may have read books or articles by the Kells, or perhaps you caught them at the Dinghy Sailing Show this year where they gave a presentation on “Cruising in Comfort”.   Although they now sail a Wayfarer, Anne and Dennis started with a Wanderer and Anne was for many years our Cruising Secretary.

 

How to find us:

Take the M2 to J7, then join the A299.  Watch out for the slip road for Whitstable on the left about a mile after passing a “Little Chef”.  The slip road leads to the roundabout at the top of Whitstable Hill.  Turn left, and go down through Whitstable Town.  At the bottom of the High Street follow the short one-way section, which emerges at the Harbour entrance.   Turn left into the Harbour area.  The Yacht Club is to the left past the Lifeboat Station.   On arrival you will be met and directed where to park your boat and car.   Boats and trailers are left at your own risk on the Yacht Club’s premises.   Car parking in the harbour area is restricted to one hour, but there is a large public parking area known as the Gorrel Tank about 200 yards past the harbour, on the right.

 

Accommodation:

The Whitstable Y.C. accommodation list, including b&b, self catering, hotels etc. can be obtained from the club, or viewed on the club website, www.wyc.org.uk.   Go to “About” then “Accommodation”.    The club has a limited amount of  bunk room accommodation, at a cost of £12.00 per person per night.   Ring the club on 01227 272942 to arrange a booking.   Accommodation information can also be obtained from the Whitstable Tourist Information Centre.  Their number is 01227 275482.

 

Refreshments:

Breakfast is available from the Yacht Club Galley, which remains open for light refreshments until an hour after the last boats come ashore.   Sandwiches, drinks etc. for picnic lunches will be available.

 

Security, Safety and Insurance:

The Wanderer Class Owners Association (WCOA), and Whitstable Yacht Club do not accept any responsibility or liability arising from any accident or other event.   The safety of a boat and her entire management, including insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/person in charge of that boat, who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to the conditions.   Lifejackets or personal buoyancy aids must be worn for both racing and cruising.   All boats must carry effective and valid marine insurance, including third party cover for at least £2 000 000 for any one incident.

 

Further Information and Entry:

The entry fee is £25 per boat for the weekend.   For further information, entry form etc.  apply to The Club Manager, Whitstable Yacht Club, 3-4 Sea Wall, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1BX.   Tel: 01227 272942, ext.0. between 9.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. Mon. to Fri. or email:   office@wyc.org.uk.  

Or you can download your entry form from the Wanderer class website: www.wanderer.org.uk.  

For any queries contact me at: Gate Cottage, Charing, Kent TN27 0JG.   Tel: 01233 712543.   email:   gatecott@aol.com.

 

Gavin Barr, event organiser.                                                                                          1st May 2007.