After several requests by Wanderer members to hold a Wanderer event further north. It was a little disappointing that only 2 Wanderers attended the Carsington Charity Regatta on 25/26th August 2007.

It proved to be one of the sunniest and warmest weekends so far this year and this bode well for a good turnout at Carsington Waters in the Peak district for their 1st Charity sailing regatta.

It was a mixture of general handicap, sailability boats for the disabled and Cruiser fleets that took part, with a separate start for the sailability and cruisers fleets. In all over 60 boats participated.

The two Wanderer entries found themselves on the start line with 48 other boats comprising of Merlin Rockets, RS 800, 700, Flying fifteen’s, K6’s, 505’s Darts, International Canoe’s, Musto Skiffs, Tempests. Bytes, Solo’s, Stratos, Lasers of various sizes and one lone sailboard. There were 6 races in all over the 2 days with 3 to count. The winds were F3/4 occasionally gusting 5 in glorious sunshine.

For the Kings it was a good opportunity to try out their new Wanderer W1575 (it takes two) and for Chris and Hazel Jellis in W108 (Dougal) to compare how well they were doing against another Wanderer.

It proved to be very exciting racing against some very fast handicap boats but the Wanderer dinghy upheld its own by finishing on average between 8th and 13th in each race with a final score of Chris and Vicky King finishing in 13th place.  Hazel and Chris Jellis had a few problems with their main sheet rigged incorrectly( all Hazels fault of course according to Chris!) and their Spinnaker getting in a tangle. They competed in 4 of the races with their best place being a 15th.  Their final position 33rd.  The Kings also took first place prize for the visitor’s entries of which there were 7.

Everyone who took part did so in the spirit it was intended and it proved to be a fun filled cheerful event. Everybody kept a close eye out for the sailability boats, and the one very brave John Foxcroft on his sailboard. The rescue team were kept very busy as many of the fast handicap boats and single handers capsized in the gusts.

The race officer and his team did a terrific job with setting good courses, counting all the boats on each circuit and working out the handicap scores.The catering was excellent as always.

At the end of the racing a quick calculation showed that £650 had been raised for Donna Louise Children’s hospice.

All in all it was a great weekend and well worth the long journey, with everyone at Carsington making you feel very welcome. It was an event not to be missed and one I hope in the future to see a few more entries by Wanderer sailor’s whether they be a cruiser or racer.

Final Positions

1st place visitor’s entries- Chris and Vicky King in W1575 (it takes two) - South Cerney Sailing Club Cotswold water Park

 

Report by Vicky King