Wanderer open meeting at Whitstable Yacht Club

Tim Barr and Mark Skipper win the Wanderer open meeting at Whitstable © WYC

The seven boats entered for the Whitstable Wanderer open meeting were greeted by a bright and breezy morning. Unfortunately two boats had previously withdrawn owing to Covid.

Following a quick welcome from Richard Maltby and a briefing from PRO and Wanderer fan John Boorman, the fleet launched and headed out towards Slotty Dawes (the committee boat) where in the strengthening breeze assistant RO John Cooper had set up a triangle, sausage course with the windward mark bearing 180 degrees.

The Wanderers shared the start line with Whitstable club racing and were first start away in a fresh force 4 gusting 5 with regular shifts of up to 20 degrees. Tide was ebbing with the current broadly even across the course and with the wind resulting in relatively smooth water.

Tim Barr with crew Mark Skipper sailing 1282 were first off the line and led at the windward mark closely followed by Colin Gilbert and Geoff Floyd in 1819. Barr and Skipper extended through use of their kite down the two reaches and remained clear till the end of the race which was shortened on the third windward leg.

Gilbert and Floyd held onto second from Katie Berrington and Alex Wilson from the Whitstable youth team came a commendable third sailing club boat 1351.

The second race started with the wind shifting strongly to the left about a minute before the start, Barr and Gilbert headed towards the pin end and Barr managed to tack and cross the fleet shortly after the start, Gilbert tacked shortly after the first cross and was caught out by another large wind shift which resulted in a quick swim in the Whitstable bay and the traditional muddying of the top of his mainsail.

Barr and Skipper extended through the rest of the race which was shortened at the third beat. Berrington and Wilson sailed a great race to take second, with the David squared boat (Bardwell and Marsh 1004) in third. Katie's father John Berrington had a great view of her progress while crewing 1561 for Richard Maltby, mostly looking ahead.

Given two retirements and with the breeze peaking at F6, the PRO abandoned the third race for the fleet to make its way onshore to swap tales and socialize.

Prizes were presented by Whitstable YC Commodore Andrew Jackson, who had seen the racing at close quarters as a support boat crew. Some 26 sailors and friends enjoyed a superb meal prepared by Hanne Mallinen-Scott to the sound of acoustic music by husband Jeremy Scott, as the boisterous breeze calmed for a lovely sunset across the bay.

Overall Results:

Gavin Barr trophy (1st) - Tim Barr and Mark Skipper
WCOA trophy (2nd) - Katie Berrington and Alexander Wilson
WYC glasses (3rd) - David Bardwell and David Marsh
Youth Cup - Katie Berrington and Alexander Wilson
The "Start as you mean to go on" Cannon - Colin Gilbert and Geoff Floyd

Katie Berrington and Alexander Wilson take second in the Wanderer open meeting at Whitstable - photo © WYC