The RYA’s annual Dinghy Sailing Show, held at London’s Alexandra Palace, is the UK’s premier event for dinghy sailors attracting thousands of visitors each year. The WCOA has maintained a presence here for many years. Mike Hamilton, master minded the
WCOA’s stand for his second year and gives his impressions of how effective all the organisation, hard work and effort of his team of assistants was.

Snow covered London streets and an icy wind was not my vision to kick-start the sailing season. But the weekend of March the 5th and 6th transformed the frozen halls of Alexandra Palace, and the utter chaos of set-up day, into the annual RYA Dinghy Sailing show, one of the best shop windows for dinghy sailors anywhere.

Our chairman’s gleaming Black Mischief in full racing rig took centre stage between a GP14 and the Wanderer’s little sister - the Gull Spirit - and received plenty of attention. The ‘Big Sister’ Wayfarer was sited opposite the WCOA stand, very
handy for the inevitable favourable comparisons.

The new trial centre main sheeting modification certainly created a great deal of interest with visitors to our stand and a lot of favourable comment. In particular legendary dinghy sailors Frank and Margaret Dye, who visited the stand on Saturday, both thought that the changes were a positive move. Margaret commented: "It makes short tacking and picking up a buoy so much easier". Another regular dinghy sailor, who uses the Wanderer to teach sailing, thought the new arrangement was long overdue. He hinted that he would
probably convert back to aft sheeting when he used the boat himself.

The centre main modification was also shown to Assistant Yachts and Yachting editor, Dawn Hinsley, by Terry Pullen during the Sunday session, explaining that this was just oneadjustment to the boat’s controls undergoing evaluation over the coming season.

There was much family interest in the boat with ensuing conversations on stability, ease of launching and recovery as well as the very ample storage areas and use of outboard engines.

Our stand this year was in ‘The Great Hall’ with its lofty roof and better natural lighting. It was generally felt that this was an improvement on previous years and helped show off the WCOA stand and displays of boat and printed material.

It is difficult to judge the success, or otherwise, of this type of event in gaining association members, but as a showcase for the Wanderer, the team of willing WCOA volunteers did a brilliant job in introducing many new people to the best general-purpose dinghy around.

Mike Hamilton and Terry Pullen. Photo [WCOA Stand] by Terry Pullen.