Wanderer Open at Whitstable Yacht Club

Gavin Barr presented the Gavin Barr trophy to Larry Lamb, president of Whitstable Yacht Club during the Whitstable Wanderer Open © Phillip Meadowcroft

Tim Barr & Mark Skipper win the Whitstable Wanderer Open © Phillip Meadowcroft

Gavin Barr entertains with his guitar after the Whitstable Wanderer Open © Phillip Meadowcroft

15th of July dawned a sunny but breezy day, which was a relief after the Kentish monsoons that had lashed the county during the previous week.

Twelve intrepid Wanderers signed up to sail for the inaugural Gavin Barr trophy which had been purchased through the collaboration of the class, organized and led by Richard Maltby who praised Gavin and his contribution to the Wanderer Class over the years while the crews were gathered for the skippers briefing.

Boats launched onto Whitstable bay close to high tide and made their way to the race area in a brisk south easterly breeze which was predicted to build and become more easterly.

The first race was started without incident after the club classes by which time the wind had turned left making for a pin end bias and a port tack biased beat. Tim Barr and Mark Skipper in W1282 managed to cross the fleet at the start and led at the first mark from Paul Yeadon and Liz North in W1626. The first reach was tight and Tim and Mark were caught by Paul and Liz at the turn. The second reach had now turned into a run and Paul made numerous attempts to catch Tim on starboard as the boats gybed their way towards the leeward mark. Tim and Mark held on to win the shortened race with Paul and Liz second and Ian Simpson and Dave Bardwell in third.

There was a postponement to racing as race officer, John Boorman, reset the course for the new wind conditions. Once again the fleet got under way without problems, the strongly ebbing tide ensuring no one crossed the line early. At the first mark there was confusion as Tim and Mark, who were leading, managed to temporarily lose their tiller extension allowing Iain and Dave to take the lead. A further complication with Tim hitting the mark resulting in a 360 and saw Iain and Dave extend down the first reach with Tim and Paul in hot pursuit. The gap had closed slightly by the wing mark and Tim then powered by Iain and Dave under spinnaker to lead by the leeward mark.

Paul and Liz staged a recovery up the second windward leg by working the tide better than the rest and taking the lead temporarily, close to the top mark, only to allow Tim to sneak back into the lead inside them at the mark. Ian and Dave got caught out at the top mark and capsized allowing Chris King and Andrew Hinds-Lindo through into third. The positions remained Tim and Mark first, Paul and Liz second and Chris and Andrew third round the remaining laps.

With the wind strengthening further and the fleet much reduced, it was decided to abandon the third race and the remainder of the fleet made their way back to shore for the prize giving where Gavin Barr presented the Gavin Barr trophy to Larry Lamb, president of Whitstable yacht club, who subsequently presented the Trophy to Tim Barr (Gavin's son) and Mark Skipper (Gavin's usual crew).

Following a BBQ on the deck of the WYC, Gavin entertained the gathering with his guitar and a few songs including the now infamous Pirate song..."where does a pirate go shopping? Aaarghgos. What is a pirates favourite Christmas carol? We three kings of orient Aaargh."

The story continues next year in the quest for the Gavin Barr Trophy...

Overall Results: