YOUR CHAIRMAN’S CHUNTERINGS


A new season; a new Wanderer; new members; new friendships.

Because the Easter weekend this year will not come so early in the year for another 152 years, we will have completed two events before a typical Easter weekend date.

We kick off with, unusually, a one-day race meeting at South Cerney SC on
Sunday April 13. This is a pretty venue about 20 minutes north of junction 16 on the M4. We have always been cared for handsomely by the South Cernay club where catering is equally important as race management. Nice.

The following weekend is our Annual Training/Try a Wanderer event which is being hosted for the first time by Bosham SC. Following his debut at SCSC in 2007 we had no hesitation in inviting Ian Porter back to lead the on/off water instruction on
Saturday April 19 - this year hopefully more on the water than off due to the atrocious weather we suffered at SCSC. On the following day Sunday April 20 the Wanderer fleet at Bosham SC are planning a Chichester Harbour cruise.

The first cruising event is planned for the Early May Bank Holiday weekend May 3-5. Based at Reedham Ferry, Norfolk, Wanderers will be exploring the River Yare.

These first three events neatly encapsulate Wanderer activities – racing, cruising, and an opportunity to improve your boat-handling skills, whether novice or hoary old salt - whether you race, cruise, or potter (or do all three, why not ?).

Please make contact with the Event Organiser if you are going to attend.

The 2008 AGM took place at the beginning of March at Muswell Hill Golf Club who looked after us very well. The Resolution providing dispensation for all Wanderers to compete on equal terms (pending the completion of the on-going review of the Class Rules so as to modify them, if needed, now that the new Wanderer is the standard) was overwhelmingly approved. During the next 12 months or so the Technical Committee will do their level best to harmonise the rules for all three designs.

The AGM also unanimously voted to invite Stan Telling, following his decision “to throw out the drogue anchor on my career as a Wanderer”, to become an Honorary Member of WCOA. Stan’s sterling service as a member of the National Committee goes back around 25 years and I know that he will relish, in his quiet, gentle, and reliable way, the affection which WCOA holds for him.

If you have not been sailing throughout the winter, it’s sure time to check your boat for another happy season.


Cheers.

Philip Meadowcroft