The Wanderer Class at Carsington is not dead!   Although much reduced, there is still life in the Carsington Wanderers.   Jack Thompson may have moved on (to a Dart 15 we hear), but Steve Holland aims to be back, although currently sorting out a drastic T-bone incident, Bill Cheshire and W1102 “Gypsy Myth” is still around, and the redoubtable Doug and Glenis Milligan have got a new boat.   Well, not exactly new, (the sail No. is W108), but at least newer than the dreaded W66!   Doug was the organiser for this year’s revival of the Carsington Wanderer Open Meeting on 6^th and 7^th July, and seven visitors and three local boats answered the call.

As the Wanderers gathered on Saturday morning, the lake presented a glassy surface, and everyone thought “Oh no!   Not South Cerney again!”   But the wind filled in enough for Race Officer Chris Rawsthorne to set a course near the North shore.   Just before the start of the first race the wind dropped to almost zero, ruining everyone’s carefully planned starting strategy.   However, the fleet got away, with Gavin Barr and Mark Skipper finding a favourable wind channel and leading the fleet at the windward mark.   Mike and Jenny Harris and the Milligans were in close pursuit, and after a lot of place changing, Gavin and Mark regained the lead, covered the Harris’s in a close tacking duel and held on to win with Doug and Glenis third.   Race Two followed a similar pattern, but this time Mike and Jenny  pointed higher and pulled out a lead to win, with Gavin and Mark second and Doug and Glenis again occupying the number three spot.   Chris and Vicky King struggled in both races and battled with Peter and Elva Wallis, and local sailors Bill Cheshire and Tony Alton for 4^th 5^th  and 6^th places.   The battle of Cambridgeshire was raging between Rob Jopling and daughter Kate, and Colin and Sally Gilbert for 7^th and 8^th, while Margaret Proctor with Colin Walsgrove in W444 “Crwydryn” (Wanderer in Welsh) had rig problems on the first day.   They, and Paul and Colin Goddard of Carsington in W133, brought up the rear.

Saturday evening brought an excellent dinner followed by some slightly flat, yet enthusiastic, singing.……

On day two the pattern was similar, but with slightly more wind – up to Force 3.   Gavin and Mark again won the first race and Mike and Jenny the second, giving them the victory overall by virtue of winning the last race of the series.   The Kings showed much improved form (what had Chris done in the dinghy park the previous evening? – He was observed fiddling with Gavin’s jib).  
Doug and Glenis remained consistent with a 3^rd and a 4^th, to come 3^rd overall, and were pleased to be able to test their “new” boat against a fleet of Wanderers (Salcombe participants beware!).   The battle of Cambs continued with Rob and Kate narrow  winners on points over Colin and Sally, and Margaret and Colin showed dramatic improvement after attending Gavin and Doug’s special tuning clinic (twenty guineas per consultation, and worth every penny).

In all an excellent weekend, and thanks to Doug and to Carsington S.C. for welcoming back the Wanderers.   We have been invited to come again.

Overall Results:   1^st W796 Mike and Jenny Harris, 4 pts:    2^nd W1282 Gavin Barr and Mark Skipper, 4 pts:    3^rd W108 Doug and Glen Milligan, 9 pts:   4^th W940 Chris and Vicky King, 12 pts:   5^th W893 Peter and Elva Wallis, 14 pts:   6^th W1102 Bill Chesshire and Tony Alton, 15 pts:   7^th W945 Rob and Kate Jopling, 22 pts:   8^th W1163 Colin and Sally Gilbert, 23 pts:   9^th W444 Margaret Proctor and Colin Walsgrove, 26 pts:   10^th W133 Paul and Colin Goddard, 29 pts.

P.S.   I leave the reader to decide whether the abbreviation pts means points or pints.

Gavin Barr W1282 “Thistle”.