The 20th Wanderer National Championships were held over the weekend of 10/11 June at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in a five class regatta. Our courses were shared with the Devon Yawls who were also holding their national championships. Other classes taking part in the regatta were Europe, Byte, and Moth.

 

Race 1 was started in a brisk south easterly wind that was enough to cause a few competitors (including the class chairman) to stay ashore. It also presented the fleet with the spectacle of an inverted Devon Yawl on the start line. Gavin Barr crewed by Mark Skipper spotted the port end bias on the very long start line and were easily able to clear the fleet on port tack. The rather steady nature of the wind did not result in much place changing. Gavin and Mark ended up first, with Adam Wickenden and Jack Mann second, and Bob Northover crewed by Karen & Joe Northover third.

The second race was started after lunch in a reduced wind that gave ideal sailing conditions. The line still had a port bias, and this time it was Adam who lead from start to finish with Gavin coming second. There was then a very long gap before the rest of the fleet finished. Andy Whitelock and Richard Woodman mistook the Europe fleet’s windward mark for our wing mark, and led the fleet on a small diversion, This did however allow Colin and Sally Gilbert to pull up to fourth place.

 

Race three was started in near identical conditions, and saw the same boats (Wickenden, Barr & Whitelock – sounds like a rather tight-fisted firm of Dickensian solicitors) finish first, second and third respectively. The wind died rather suddenly as the fleet rounded the last gybe mark leading to a slow reach to the finish. Mike Hamilton and David Oates finished fourth.

On Saturday evening there was a carvery in the Spinnaker Restaurant within the vast complex of the WPNSA which was officially opened by The Princess Royal a year ago. In fact the regatta was held to mark that event and is now poised to become an annual fixture.

Sunday dawned with a sea mist and a very light westerly wind. The start line was set at the far side of the harbour, and, with Race Officer Laurie Thornton-Grimes starting on time, a large part of the fleet had not made the line by the gun. Quite a few ended up starting in the midst of the Devon Yawl fleet. Philip and Jill Meadowcroft were on time and led the Northovers off of the line. A 30 degree windshift close to the startline benefited the late arrivals and this quickly wiped out the Meadowcroft’s lead - their moment of glory cruelly wiped out. Adam then led the fleet, followed by Andy Whitelock. The Northovers then had a tight spinnaker duel, ultimately unsuccessful for them, with the Meadowcrofts for third place. This race also saw seven-years old Niamh Robertson helm here first race and gave the fleet the first sight of Andy Peter’s rather psychedelic spinnaker, which unfortunately took so long to rig that he and Michael Peter arrived at the start line just before the finish of the race.

The fifth and final race was sailed in a gradually increasing wind, and was probably the most tactical race of the weekend. A slightly port biased line saw Gavin win the start, however he was gently overhauled on the first beat by Adam. Colin and Sally Gilbert rounded in third place followed by Mike Hamilton and David Oates. Despite some close tacking matches this remained the order until the finish.

The Ian Proctor Memorial Trophy was duly presented to Adam Wickenden & Jack Mann, with Gavin Barr & Mark Skipper as runners-up, and Andy Whitelock & Richard Woodman third. These three helms are all past National Champions.

The Ted Shephard Trophy was presented to the Northover family for their very good overall performance – especially their third place in the first race under rather testing conditions.

The presence of the fleet’s two youngest competitors – Niamh Robertson and Courtney James – was marked with assorted chocolate confectionery and John James was presented with a bottle of wine to mark his first appearance at a Wanderer National Championship.

Finally, we appreciated the hard work done by Rosie Julian, WPNSA Events & Marketing Manager with whom Vicky King had liaised on behalf of WCOA. Rosie was duly presented with a bottle of wine by our Class Chairman.

Prepared by Adam Wickenden and Philip Meadowcroft with photos by Vicky King and Philip Meadowcroft as noted.

RESULTS: