Wayfarer Western Area Championship at Arun Yacht Club this weekend

2017 Wayfarer National Championship at Arun © Sue Blessett

Originally scheduled to be sailed over the weekend of 10th/11th August but cancelled because of the storm which disrupted the beginning of Cowes Week the Wayfarer Western Area Championship will be hosted this weekend (19th/20th October) by Arun Yacht Club.

This will be event #6 of the Craftinsure sponsored UKWA National Circuit and Travellers Series 2019 (NCS). The Wayfarer fleet is no stranger to Arun YC which hosted a very successful class National Championship in 2017 and the competitors will look forward to contending with all that open sea sailing can throw at them; clean winds, big waves and strong tides. At the recent International Championships at Greystones, Co. Wicklow, the Wayfarer proved once again what a great all round racing boat it is with most of the series sailed in winds of around 20 knots or more. This will also be the first NCS event since the end of July following the unfortunate cancellation of the open meeting at Swarkestone SC earlier this month because of flooding. Even more reason for the Wayfarer sailors to be champing at the bit.

The wind forecast for this weekend (as I write this) is for force 4-5 south westerlies on Saturday and a gentle force 2-3 north easterly on Sunday. And did I mention rain? Not on Sunday (and not much on Saturday either by recent standards).

To date, 62 boats, representing 23 different clubs, have competed in one or more of the open meetings and championships included in the NCS. The National Circuit Series, where the best three results (including at least one at a fresh water venue and one at a salt water venue) count, is currently led by Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend, followed closely by Andrew and Tom Wilson and Brian Lamb and Sam Pygall. In the Travellers Series, where all events count, it is the Wilsons who lead from Brian Lamb and Sam Pygall/Sue Risbridger. The Swarkestone team of Mike Weighill and Carl Martin hold third place.

Several of the leading competitors will be at Arun YC this weekend. Some other long standing Wayfarer racers are also threatening to travel to Littlehampton having recently traded up to the current MkIV model (and rather liked it).

In addition to the silverware, participation in the NCS events counts towards the end of season prize draw where there are great prizes on offer from the sponsors, Craftinsure, Hartley Boats, McNamara Sails, Allen Brothers and Pinnell & Bax. The greater the number of events attended the greater the chances of having your sail number drawn from the hat.

For more information about the Wayfarer Class please visit wayfarer.org.uk