Racing at Whitstable YC
Wanderer Class Owners’ Association (WCOA) Open Races
at Whitstable Yacht Club, 29th and 30th June 2024
for the Gavin Barr trophy
by Amanda Tickner, Elizabeth Doggart and Richard Maltby.
In this article we have put together three reports. The narrative is by Richard, description is by Elizabeth and the first experience of Wanderer Class Racing is by Amanda.
The Timeless Beauty of Wanderers at Whitstable Yacht Club – Elizabeth
Immersed in the beauty of the Whitstable coastline, Wanderer sailing enthusiasts gathered at the Whitstable Yacht Club for two days filled with exhilarating sailing and the spirit of friendly competition. he much-anticipated Wanderer Open showcased the charm and excitement of both vintage and newer Wanderer boats, creating an atmosphere brimming with camaraderie, excitement, and sailing fun. Against the backdrop of idyllic weather (at least for the Saturday), participants revelled in the sheer joy of sailing. Regular club members and visitors alike had gathered to celebrate the timeless allure of this beloved sport.
Cruisers become Racers – Richard
The WCOA needs to encourage more entries for racing. A 24-point formula by the 2023 Wanderer Race Series champions, Dave Bardwell and Ian Simpson (W 1004, “Teazle”), puts the focus on inclusivity and making racing fun. Their ideas found a ready-made audience and practical application at Whitstable and were echoed by Richard Elliott (W 718 “Wizard”), “Normally I prefer to cruise, but I said to myself, be adventurous and let’s give racing a go!”
The first thing was to find a better mainsail for “Wizard”. A padded, flotation-filled mainsail may well be best for solo cruising, but not ideal for racing. Up stepped Dave and Ian with the offer of their reserve mainsail for “Teazle” W 1004. Applied with blue spinnaker tape, 1004 was quickly converted to 4004, W 718 thereby became 4004 for the two days and (results spoiler) went on to do better and better in the racing.
First experience: racing and Whitstable – Amanda
As I stood on the beach admiring the beautiful view across Whitstable Bay, I was pinching myself. I couldn’t believe that I was going to do this! Who would have thought that a chance conversation about how spinnakers work at my home sailing club of Chipstead, Sevenoaks, would have resulted in me taking part in a Wanderer Open racing event at Whitstable with just 5 months of spinnaker training and having never actually sailed on the sea!
There was a little pressure in that I was crewing a trophy winning boat (Thistle 1282) which was defending an unbeaten title! Boat ready. Detailed briefing attended explaining flags, start sequence, course and forecast. Weather: 21 degrees. Sun and Cloud. Wind 9 km/h gusts 11 km/h. Easterly with a rising tide. A triangular course of port buoys.
The Practice Run – Amanda
We launched and we were off. A few small waves and I was getting used to the motion and yes it was very different to lake sailing! It was the sense of space, the constant wind and of the freedom of the open sea that was a delight and so very different to the shifty conditions at Chipstead. A loop of the course to test windward marks and then 2 practice spinnaker runs which were a bit of a tangle and the fact I was trying stay upright whilst sorting the spinnaker pole, I was beginning to wonder if I had bitten off more than I could chew! No time for self-doubt the countdown was about to begin.
Setting sail – Elizabeth
As the sun painted the sky with vibrant hues of gold and crimson, Wanderer sailors eagerly prepared their boats for a day of challenges on the open waters. The Wanderer Open Day brought together a diverse fleet of Wanderer boats, each one serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this dinghy class. The sight of these lovely boats, with their elegant lines set the stage for an unforgettable event that would be etched in the memory of all who attended.
Saturday’s Races – Richard
The Wanderers were given the first start before the usual 3-2-1 start sequence for the club racing. Given clear room for the 3-minute head start this meant the Wanderers could also get around the triangular course before all of the club boats had caught up. Tide and time allowed just three races over the two days with no discards.
Saturday’s races were held in a gentle force two to three from the East, with the two starts into the flood tide. Both races produced a duel at the front. There was just one challenger to W 1004 helmed by I Simpson and crewed by D Bardwell and that was W 1280, helmed by Mark Skipper and crewed by Amanda Tickner. The two boats at the front were impressive in upwind and downwind legs, demonstrating consummate skills and slick spinnaker handling.
The Races. . . Day one – Amanda
My level of concentration was such it was a bit of a blur of sails, spray, commands and adrenaline pumping. It was also exhilarating and the sense of achievement so great. We stayed upright and came 2nd in both races. I was elated!
Catching Whitstable crabs – Richard
As W 1004 (Teazle) and 1282 (Thistle) again raced away in race 2, W1561 (Giggle) became preoccupied in another match race with W1099, helmed by Paul Cross and crewed by Jeff Leyshon. The mid fleet became quite congested when W 1561 stopped to gather a trailing spinnaker from catching Whitstable crabs. Allowing 1099 to take 3rd position and overtaken (gleefully) by non-spinnaker boats 890 and 4004, “Giggle” showed that not all Wanderers were lost regaining speed and position with the spinnaker successfully hoisted.
Excitement on the Water – Elizabeth
As the moderate wind and the open waters beckoned, sailors embarked on a thrilling race that would push their skills and ignite their competitive spirits. The Wanderer Open featured two exhilarating sailing races. The perfect weather conditions for the Saturday race, seemingly tailor-made for sailing, allowed the Wanderer boats to unleash their true potential, effortlessly gliding through the water with elegance and grace. I was fortunate enough to sail my vintage boat Avocet W116 helmed by the intrepid Ian Hay. However, despite our enthusiastic heart-pounding endeavours we met with a little “peril on the sea” resulting in our having to retire from the race. Alas, the gooseneck decided to part company with the boom . . .. Our Vintage 116 was gracefully towed back to shore by the safety boat crew (thank you Sam and Donna). Spectators lining the shore nevertheless cheered fon our return, adding to the electric ambiance that enveloped the event, (in truth just a few children who had gathered to watch the safety boat towing us in!)
Saturday night fever, fish and chip supper, quiz and sea shanties – Elizabeth
Saturday night, hungry from the day’s racing, we were rewarded with a feast of fish and chips from Whitstable’s famous Ozzie’s Fish Bar. A world-renowned chippy if ever there was one. And we were not disappointed as plate after plate of fishy delights were enjoyed by all.
This was followed by a Nautical Quiz where our sailors were encouraged to form teams with names including “Ready About! and “Land Ho!” to test their knowledge of sailing. The quiz questions covered a wide range of nautical topics, ranging from famous explorers and historical maritime events to knots and sailing terminology. The Quiz mistress was assisted by two able sailors (Ian Hay and David Conway) who ensured that no cheating took place as to who answered the questions first. All teams won prizes, but the final question was my favourite “Whose catch phrase was “left hand down a bit”? and what was the name of the radio programme? Do you know reader? (answers on a post card please).
To finish off the evening we were superbly entertained by Richard Elliott who brought with him his guitar and song sheets so all could join in with a variety of sea shanties. Some songs told tales of voyages, while others celebrated the camaraderie and spirit of the sailors. Wanderer folk were invited to join in…. and join in they did! Especially a rousing was a rendition of “what shall we do with the drunken sailor!” Sea shanty songs are a maritime culture and ever a testament to the power of music in bringing people together. A rich history and traditions that connect us to the sea. And speaking of the sea we were lucky enough to sit outside and watch the sunset over Whitstable which added to the ambiance, a setting that was a perfect backdrop for a night of maritime music and fun.
Day 2 Races – Richard
The Sunday forecast was for a light northerly wind for the 11 am start to Race 3 on an ebb tide, but the pleasant force three from the North West freshened in gusts creating some tricky moments. Could W 1282, second on day one, somehow regain the Gavin Barr trophy for the name of Skipper to be on the plate? Would W 1004 slip up and lose their two-point lead? How would everyone cope with the gusts?
The lead boats were at the front again, but in the second lap W 1282 capsized on tacking at the windward mark. With no other boat in sight victory was assured for W 1004. For 1282 retirement meant a harsh drop to 4th. W 1561 took over and held 2nd position while 1099 came 3rd. The mid fleet boats won their own victories. Richard Elliott and Dave Marsh (W 718 aka 4004) were the big improvers of the regatta, moving up a position in each successive race. Jo Wyles and Dave Lennon (1047) also finished strongly with a creditable 4th in the final race. Fef Griffin and Sam Dock (890) at 5th overall and the mid-fleet leaders, were worthy winners of the all-ladies award.
Day 2 – The “don’t mention the C word moment” – Amanda
Again, the level of concentration was such it was a bit of a blur of sails, spray, commands and adrenaline pumping. It was also even more exhilarating than the day before as the winds were stronger so required me to position myself horizontally on the side of the boat to assist balance. At the same time, I felt more nervous due to the strengthening winds, larger waves and challenging currents. We completed the first lap and were gaining on the leading boat 1004 but then as we initiated a tack on the second lap we fell foul to a freak gust and before I knew it, we had the inevitable “don’t mention the C word moment” and capsized … twice! Yes, it was a little scary but you train for such instances and while it is inevitable that you will capsize at some point, it should not be feared and once practiced you are confident to deal with the situation. Safely back on board, with the help of the safety boat, we decided to call it a day and make our way back to shore.
I couldn’t help but feel disappointed but more so for Mark as I knew how much the race meant to him, his memories of a great friend and the legacy of the boat left to him to sail.
Winners and Winners! – Elizabeth
Sunday 12.30 and following the race all Wanderer sailors were summoned to the Sea Room to be presented with prizes. Thanks to the very inventive Richard Maltby no sailor was to go away empty handed. Indeed, prizes were awarded race winners, vintage boats and even for boats who sailed with or without spinnakers! Whitstable YC Commodore David Figgis presided over the prize giving ceremony. The Wanderer Open Event 2024 had undeniably captured the essence of this great sport and the joy of owning a Wanderer and sailing with friends. WYC were delighted to be able to bring people together in the pursuit of racing and an enduring appreciation for their boats, of our sailing community and of course the sea.
The result – Amanda
We achieved a well-deserved 4th place and the award of the “Start as you mean to go on trophy” (assuming it doesn’t mean carry on capsizing!) in the form of a race starting brass cannon.
It’s not just about the racing …
Sailing is a very sociable past time both on and offshore. We all took time to get to know each other and there was much discussion on boat tweaking sharing valuable advice and problem solving. Later we discussed the day’s events, personal sailing experiences and future Wanderer events planned. On Saturday a fish and chip supper followed by a nautical quiz and sea shanties sung concluded with a beautiful sunset across the bay.
Thank you …Most sincerely to Mark Skipper, my helm, for taking me on and for increasing my sailing knowledge and skills (I have still got a lot to learn!) but I really enjoy sailing with you and we have a right laugh. To Whitstable Yacht Club for a very well organised event particularly the race officials and safety boat crews. Your members are very helpful and friendly and are a credit to your club.
And finally, to all my new Wanderer friends for a fantastic experience and I am looking forward to catching up with you all again soon.
My advice to those who have yet to try sailing …Challenge yourself, do something out of your comfort zone … life is an adventure … so get Wandering!
Practice … Practice … Practice …The more time you spend on the water, the more your confidence builds and you learn to deal with the different conditions. Sailing friends are always there to give tips and advice and books are a good source of information.
