Wayfarer Southern Area Championships at Whitstable Yacht Club

Racing off the start - Wayfarer Southern Area Championships at Whitstable © Ayan Videography

Whitstable Yacht Club played host to a fantastic Wayfarer Open Meeting over the weekend of June 28-29, featuring four competitive races that tested the mettle of the fleet. This event was part of the Craftinsure National Circuit and marked the first visit to Whitstable for the Wayfarer class for many years (recollections of a windy 1990 National Championship circulated across the fleet with a hint of nostalgia).

The Wayfarer sailors were particularly grateful for the flexibility of the Wanderer class, who graciously allowed the Wayfarers to race alongside their National Championship held over the same weekend.

The event saw seven boats compete in total, drawing a diverse and competitive fleet from several clubs across the country. Among those battling it out were Colin and Lexi Goodman, notably sailing a beautiful classic wooden Wayfarer and recent winners of the Nipegegi trophy at the recent re-arranged Finale.

Also present were Tim Townsend, the UK Wayfarer Association Class Chairman, sailing with Jacqueline Townsend and representing the nearby Medway Yacht Club. From Silver Wing Sailing Club, Scott Hamilton and Matthew Hodges brought their skills to the mix. Adding to the excitement was the first appearance on the circuit for Jeremy and Sarah Evans from Priory Sailing Club, eager to test their mettle.

Colin and Lexie Goodman showing how a Woodie can move - Wayfarer Southern Area Championships at Whitstable - photo © Matthew King

This turnout promised a high level of competition on the waters of Whitstable Bay alongside the regular fleet front runners of John Clementson and Mel Titmus and Guy Marks and Sam Boniface. Multiple National and World Champion Michael McNamara, fresh from a second place at the Hornet Nationals, was also in attendance, crewed by Sam Pygall. The presence of Mike Mac always raises the level of competition, and it was great to see him at the event, even with a late substitute crew.

The opening day dawned with a steady south-westerly breeze of F3-4, setting the stage for tactical racing over a trapezoid course that demanded consideration of when to "roll the spinnaker dice" on the two reaches. The first race proved to be a challenging affair as the boats adjusted to the conditions, particularly for the scratch pairing of McNamara and Pygall. A significant setback occurred for this team early in Race 1 when their mainsheet came undone completely, costing them valuable time and sliding to the back of the fleet.

However, they managed to recover, fighting their way back through the fleet to secure a commendable 4th place finish by the end. Untroubled and taking the bullet in the first race were John Clementson and Mel Titmus, who sailed a superbly both upwind and downwind to claim the initial victory. Both Colin and Lexi Goodman and Guy Marks and Sam Boniface gave Clementson and Titmus a very good race, remaining competitive throughout and ensuring a hard-fought opening battle. Eventually Marks and Boniface came through for second.

After their first-race setback, the McNamara/Pygall team were clearly determined to make amends and got into their groove straight from the gun, winning a competitive committee boat-end start and charging upwind. They surged ahead off the back of considerable upwind speed, eventually winning the second race by an impressive margin of a leg and half. Clementson and Titmus consolidated a very productive first day by leading home the chasing pack to take second, with the Goodmans taking third. Tim and Jacqueline Townsend put in a commendable performance in Race 2, securing a valuable fourth place.

Clementson and Titmus charging downwind - Wayfarer Southern Area Championships at Whitstable - photo © Matthew King

Saturday evening saw a lively social gathering, complete with a delicious fish and chip supper, followed by an engaging quiz and raffle. Lucky winners in the raffle received fantastic prizes, including a Wendy Fitzpatrick book, by the former Vice Commodore of Whitstable Yacht Club, a testament to the club's rich history; a Frank Dye book, celebrating the legendary Wayfarer adventurer known for his epic voyages in a dinghy; and a Margaret Dye book, chronicling the equally inspiring journeys of his wife, also a renowned Wayfarer and Wanderer sailor. These prizes celebrated the rich history and spirit of Wayfarer sailing and its connections to the wider sailing community.

Sunday dawned with a wind that looked reasonable but then dropped off. Fortunately, a sea breeze kicked in before the 1400 start with a good F3-4 and some nice waves building. With the course held over the same shape trapezoid, McNamara and Pygall needed to secure victories in both the third and fourth races overall, whereas Clementson and Titmus were looking to build on their first race triumph and close out an overall win.

In the third race of the series, they were closely chased by Team Marks and Boniface, who demonstrated strong pace and good decision-making on the downwind legs but ultimately came just short. Clementson and Titmus came third but still had a shot at winning the event overall if they could win the last race.

The fourth and final race saw a tight battle at the front, with Clementson and Titmus pushing McNamara and Pygall hard, ensuring a thrilling conclusion to the weekend racing. A feature of the start was an aggressive move by the Townsends at the committee boat end that threatened to bury the McNamara/Pygall team. However, minimising tacks upwind and heading hard right paid off for this team and they rounded the windward mark in first place. This proved critical.

Jeremy and Sarah Evans downwind - Wayfarer Southern Area Championships at Whitstable - photo © Matthew King

Eventually some "cat and mouse" antics both downwind and upwind ended up with McNamara and Pygall crossing the line first to complete the comeback on day 2. Marks and Boniface completed the top 3 with another podium place in this last race.

With their double triumph on Day 2, Michael McNamara and Sam Pygall were crowned event winners overall, a testament to their resilience and speed after their initial hiccup. John Clementson and Mel Titmus secured a strong second place overall, followed by Guy Marks in third, highlighting the consistent performances at the top of the fleet.

The success of the weekend was also a testament to the hard work of the Whitstable Yacht Club's race officers (Richard Laven on day 1 and Rick Perkins on day 2) and their dedicated volunteers. Their efforts, in partnership with the Wanderer Class Owners Association, pulled together a truly fantastic and smoothly run event both on and off the water. Off the water, the Wayfarer sailors enjoyed the renowned hospitality of Whitstable Yacht Club.

A special thank you was extended to Richard Maltby, not only for his generous hosting throughout the event, contributing significantly to the welcoming atmosphere, but also for his tireless work in organising every small detail of the joint event over the preceding months.

The Wayfarer fleet now looks forward to its next major event: the Eastern Area Championships, which will be held at Medway Yacht Club as part of the exciting Craftinsure National Circuit over the course of the weekend of the 12-13 July. Enter at www.medwayyachtclub.com/racing/wayfarers/wayfarer-easterns-2025

Racing off the start line in race 2 - Wayfarer Southern Area Championships at Whitstable - photo © Ayan Videography

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