Wanderer Category: News

News

Gavin Barr

Gavin’s family have announced his death coming three days before his 90th birthday which would have been today, January 5. He created and sustained the backbone of Wanderer sailing for more than 25 years.   His loss, and that of his family’s, will be deeply felt by our class association which he did so much to encourage and develop. A celebration of Gavin’s contribution to the fun and enjoyment of Wanderer sailing will appear in “The Wanderer” magazine in due course.

Read More »
Events

2021 Event Calendar is Coming Together

What we’ve got planned for 2021 After a totally blank 2020, save for the winter reunion, otherwise known as the AGM, on February 29 at the last London Dinghy Show to be held at Alexandra Palace, I have re-assembled the main elements of what was the 2020 programme and, tides permitting, have planned an event in every month from April through to October. I am especially grateful to the support I have readily gained from those WCOA members who are called local organisers, usually members of the host club, who put in the effort to make sure the event goes ticketty-boo. Finding a decent sailing venue has to go hand in hand with finding somewhere nearby to fill our boots on the Saturday evening.  The exception is the Marlow SC picnic – please bring your own daytime grub – and WandererFest where, aside from your own personal catering on site, we

Read More »
News

2020 Events Now Cancelled

This is the latest update from the Event Coordinator, Philip Meadowcroft, on the restrictions of Social Distancing and the remainder of the WCOA sailing season: Following the cancellation of the Arnside Event we have reviewed our position on the remaining calendar of Events for 2020 owing to the limitations of Social Distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two-man sailing is typically restricted to folk in the same household, changing facilities at host clubs are generally not available and many toilet facilities are closed.  Bars or club rooms are restricted in capacity making organising evenings difficult or impossible. This is not Wanderer-style sailing enjoyment as we have come to know it.  The Wanderer ethos of  “Sailing with Friends”  doesn’t fit with social distancing.  The association now has no alternative but to confirm that there will be no events for the rest of 2020 which will be sponsored and supported by WCOA.

Read More »
Events

Wanderer Events Update

The government’s latest relaxation of the lockdown rules prompted your Chairman and the Events Coordinator to review, along with the local event organisers, the status of the five remaining WCOA events for the 2020 season. From the Class Association’s perspective the committee has agreed that no WCOA-sponsored event can take place until all social distancing regulations have been lifted. In due course the event organisers for Arnside SC, Cotswold SC, River Dart Laidback Weekend,  Swakestone SC, Bewl Sailing Association will be notifying me of their club’s/organiser’s decisions to go-ahead or otherwise, particularly with regard to visitors as well as other remaining lockdown regulations.  These will be circulated in the Wanderer Event Update email and all the details will be kept up to date on the events page. There is no way that the WCOA, with or without the personnel resources, wants the responsibility for compliance with prevailing lockdown regulations or

Read More »

WandererFest 2020 Cancellation

It is with regret that the Association has taken the decision to cancel WandererFest 2020. You are, of course, well-aware of the disruption caused to all outdoor activities by the social distancing and travel restrictions imposed by the government in their efforts to control the pandemic that have resulted in the cancellation of all WCOA events so far this year. Whilst the restrictions are gradually easing and it is becoming possible to return to the water,  the Committee feels that even if, by early July, group gatherings are once again permitted the likely requirements for social distancing and other measures to prevent the transmission of infection (that are still to be confirmed) will have a detrimental effect to the smooth running of WandererFest and necessitate close supervision of activites and facilities to ensure full compliance with requirements. This will place an undesirable burden on the organising team and detract from

Read More »