Our 2005 Silver Jubilee National Championships, hosted by Hayling Island SC were held (mostly) in glorious warm sunshine. The location and setting at Sandy Point, on the entrance to Chichester Harbour, is quite magical and the smart modern clubhouse and its up-to-date facilities, including on-site accommodation, must be the envy of many a sailing club.

Mike Clayton, who with his son James, were serious favourites to win the Ian Proctor Trophy after their storming win at the Inland Championships in May and they did not disappoint. Mike’s report – which appeared on the internet within 24 hours of the finish of the final race courtesy of Yachts and Yachting and Dinghy Magazine – details the events at the sharp end of the fleet. Tim Robertson’s report is also special because this was his first appearance in a race meeting with his amazing six-year-old daughter Niamh as crew. Absolutely nothing fazes Niamh and I have the suspicion we could be seeing the start of a notable sailing career for her. Niamh’s efforts and contribution were recognised at the prizegiving.

Off the water, we were in celebratory mood at the Fleet Dinner which was a slap-up affair in the HISC Restaurant. Acknowledging the Trafalgar bicentenary, there was a re-enactment of a touching scene between Nelson and Hardy culminating in the immortal request to “Kiss me Hardy”. David Davies was resplendent in his Nelsonian jacket and white breeches and tricorn and Philip Meadowcroft, as Hardy, looked somewhat seedy with parrots (actually they were macaws) on both shoulders. The script – repeated elsewhere in this edition of “The Wanderer”- was the well-known “Health and Safety/Political Correctness gone mad” sketch. Beforehand, Gavin Barr introduced the sketch using all the smooth broadcasting techniques he picked up a few decades back as Zambia TV’s answer to Desmond Lynam.

At every January AGM, the Proctor family have presented the magnificent Ian Procter Memorial trophy (a glass-encased model of a Wanderer) to a member of WCOA who has made a special contribution to the Association. Jill Davies, Ian’s daughter, has presented the trophy for a number of years since Ian’s widow, Betty, died. Jill’s involvement with WCOA – not only as a director of Ian Proctor Designs Ltd who own the licence for building the Wanderer but also as a lively and determined crew with husband David – was worthy of special recognition and we presented her with an engraved glass pitcher capable of holding a fair quantity of the Pimms which she is particularly skilled in preparing (and drinking, too).

At the Fleet Dinner there were WCOA members who had been competitors at the First National Championships in 1987 which had also been hosted by HISC. They were
Fred Daborn (and his crew Reg Simpson), Margaret Wallsgrove (who had crewed her late husband Brian Proctor to the first of three successive National Championships), Andy Whitelock, Andy Peter our Founder Chairman (for 13 years no less), and current Chairman Philip Meadowcroft and wife Jill.

The meal over, Jill Davies made a surprise presentation of engraved decanters to Andy Peter and Philip Meadowcroft to mark their long service to WCOA and on behalf of two rather gobsmacked recipients, Andy gave a typical and appropriate response.

A challenge to members of the Wayfarer fleet (who were holding their own National Championships over the same weekend) to tug boat racing on the bar floor resulted in another embarrassing defeat for Wanderers (but only just) following the debacle at Whitstable with the visiting Tasar feet.

Altogether a very happy weekend and considerable credit goes to Vicky King who masterminded the event and, as she frequently does, took a full part in the racing with Margaret Wallsgrove as her crew for the first all-Ladies entry at our National Championships. A “first” which was recognised at the prize-giving with bottles of wine for both of them. A bottle of booze, too, for Jane Summers helming in her first National Championships and the Ted Shepherd Trophy for Stephen and Sarah Clampin (again!) who were using a steel centreboard for which special dispensation is granted in our National Championships to encourage owners with this particular equipment.
 

Philip Meadowcroft