The Wanderer Summer 2021 by The Wanderer

Edition 125 Summer 2021

The Wanderer News from the Wanderer Class Owners’ Association

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The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

WCOA Committee 2021 CHAIRMAN JOHN RENOUF 07789 988296 1953jgr@gmail.com TREASURER & ADVERTISING SECRETARY ROBIN GABBITAS 07946 730314 robingabbitas@yahoo.co.uk TECHNICAL SECRETARY MIKE BENNETT 01483 424175 technical@wanderer.org.uk

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY MARIA LAMB membership@wanderer.org.uk

REGALIA SECRETARY JENNY RENOUF jrenouf@gmail.com

EVENTS COORDINATOR PHILIP MEADOWCROFT 07771 814630 philip@brandmasters.co.uk

RICHARD LEWIS ricklewis200@ntlworld.com

EDITOR and WEBMASTER SIMON EDSFORTH 07825 735993 editor@wanderer.org.uk

NIGEL LAMB nigel@wanderer.org.uk BERNARD TAYLOR bernard@wanderer.org.uk

Front page - Wanderers new and old turn into Bosham Channel (yes - in the UK not the med) to find their way back to Cobnor. Friday at WandererFest. Below - taken just a few moments before the front page - the flotilla enjoying the waters in Chichester Harbour on their way back for lunch.

In this issue: Welcome to the AGM edition John’s Jottings Gavin Barr Trophy Race 2021 Sailing in 2020 Gavin Barr The Nut At The End of the Tiller

4 4 5 10 12 14

Modifying Medusa Just for Fun: Emoji Pictionary Not the West Country Cruise INLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association Calendar of Events and Program

18 19 20 22 23 28

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John’s Jottings A message from the Chairman of the Wanderer Class Owners’ Association UK John Renouf Greetings! I am very pleased to be writing this with the memories of WandererFest still fresh in my mind. After some early cancellations, our sailing programme is finally under way, having started with the Wanderer Weekend at Whitstable and the second award of the Gavin Barr Trophy, which you can read about on the page opposite. For the first (and hopefully last) time, the WandererFest attendance had to be limited in numbers to comply with the COVID protection arrangements of the venue and very quickly became fully-booked, such was the enthusiasm of regulars and first-timers alike to join this unique event. The event followed the established format with good sailing weather and much (COVID-safe) socialising together with the much appreciated visit and technical talk from Ian Porter. It would the wrong to say that the preparations proceeded without a hitch because the snags were many, but in the end solutions were found to all of the issues thanks to the sterling efforts of our site organiser Robin Gabbitas and Events Coordinator Philip Meadowcroft. Although I thanked them publicly at the conclusion of the event their efforts were considerable and worthy of an additional expression of appreciation here. It is also appropriate to thank Ray Tennant, who has taken the role as cruising organiser for each WandererFest to date, ensuring that we have always headed in the appropriate direction taking account of the wind and tide.

Ray has decided to stand down from that role but intends to continue to be a participant at future events. I must also thank my home club, Marlow Sailing Club, for the loan of their support boat again.

In other news, at the virtual AGM held back in February, we were pleased to welcome Nigel and Maria Lamb and Bernard Taylor onto the WCOA Committee (additional volunteers are always welcome!). A further development was Maria’s willingness to take on the Role of Membership Secretary following Jenny’s decision to relinquish that position. The handover of that responsibility is now complete and Maria is now fully engaged as the Membership Secretary of the Association. We thank Jenny for her dedication, persistence and perseverance in ensuring the accuracy of the membership records and providing new members with an efficient and welcoming response to

their applications. I know first-hand how committed she was to this and her “retirement” is well-deserved though she remains on the Committee and will doubtless be found another job! We noted, with much sadness, the passing of Gavin Barr at the beginning of the year and a section of this issue is rightfully dedicated to him. His knowledge of sailing the Wanderer and willingness to pass this knowledge on will have benefitted many sailors, myself included. On a lighter note, we were pleased to discover that Margaret Dye, the doyen of dinghy cruising, the person responsible for persuading Ian Proctor to design the Wanderer in the first place and for whom the Wanderer MD is so named, is alive and well and resident in a care home in Norfolk. We plan to make contact with her in the near future and hopefully revive some of her sailing memories. I remember meeting her at the London Boat Show where she gave me a very convincing argument as to why I should buy a Wanderer as opposed to any other boat, and I guess that is why I am sat here writing this now! By the time you read this we should have reached the end of the COVID restrictions and our events programme is expected to proceed as planned. Whether you sail only at your home club or plan to join one or more of our events I wish you fair winds and safe travels and look forward to seeing you somewhere either on or off the water.

John and Jenny returning to the Cobnor slipway after a long day supporting the Friday sail at WandererFest 2022

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Stay safe and well.

- JR

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

Gavin Barr Trophy Race 2021 Race Report Richard Maltby The Wanderer Open was sailed at WYC on Saturday 26th June, with 8 boats competing for the Gavin Barr Trophy. A day forecast for a gentle breeze gave us more than three hours of 10-15 knots, higher than expected with wind against tide.

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7= 7=

Conditions certainly made the Whitstable Open a challenge, quite exhausting by the finish, but also an experience that was enjoyed. Not least by a gallant Chipstead SC WCOA member on first visit to Whitstable who had never encountered f5 conditions on the lake let alone at sea before. A big “Well done” to Maria, WCOA membership secretary. Six of

The Gav in

roph

On the water the Wanderers were honoured by the club’s award of first race signal to the W class flag. Just a shame, as Race Officer John Boorman later commented, that no photos could be taken to show some impressive fleet starts. The strengthening wind did not deter use of spinnakers by the leading boats, others sailing the run as two broad reaches. Fast recovery from capsize was also demonstrated sequentially by each of the front three boats, while just two boats managed all three races without a swim.

Prizegiving by WYC Commodore Kelvin Tolson was followed by a perfect evening’s entertainment. Nicky of Keith’s café provided a fabulous barbecue, which really did the event and the club proud, not only in sheer quality of the food, but also in presentational style. The wonderful music by WYC fleet captain Jeremy Scott and his accompanist, played with a mandolin, guitar and violin, was pure jouissance for the (socially distanced) Wanderer gathering of 29, and hugely appreciated. This year’s winners Tim Barr and Mark Skipper (W 1282) and runners-up Stephen Nation and Liz North (W1626) sailed Gavin Barr’s old boats “Thistle” and “Surprise”. As the evening sun descended across the Swale we could all sense the smile on Gavin’s face.

- RM

More tributes to Gavin later

rT ar

By the time of the first race at 2 pm the morning’s gentle breeze had freshened to a north-easterly F4 gusting F5. It stayed that way for much of the afternoon. Races were a blast around the buoys, pretty well on the brink of sailing, though helped by surfing the rollers downwind and by the flow of the outgoing tide for the beats. The morning’s calm did not return until the boats came ashore.

the eight Wanderers powered through all races.

Many thanks to Safety Boat drivers Neil and Jo and their crews, who were also busy on stand-by for the diminishing number of club racers, to recorders, Sarah and Michelle, and t o Committee B o a t skipper A n d y Clark.

Sail No

Helm

Crew

1282 1626

Tim Barr Mark Skipper Stephen Nation Liz North

1004

Ian Simpson

David Bardwell

1351 1561 1099 477 1772

Peter Heyes Richard Maltby Paul Cross Nigel Lamb Nick Hawkins

David Connor John Berrington Jeff Leyshon Maria Lamb Mike Judson

Club

Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Net

WYC & Chipstead Sailing Club Whitstable Yacht Club Tudor Sailing Club, Langstone Harbour Whitstable Yacht Club Whitstable Yacht Club Whitstable Yacht Club Chipstead Sailing Club Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club

1 -3

1 2

-2 1

2 3

-3

(9/DNF) 4 5 (9/DNF) (9/DNF)

4 -5 -6 9/DNC 9/DNC

4 5 6 9/DNC 9/DNC

8 9 11 18 18

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r F e e s r t e d n a

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

2021

For many others like me this was my first attendance at WandererFest. This year the organisation was excellent and inclusive for all levels of capability. The morning briefings were informative and provided newcomers with confidence to sail the extensive areas around Cobnor. Having the safety boat cover meant I didn’t need to bring my outboard for insurance! The evening social gatherings were very friendly with some great stories and banter. As the weekend and sailing continued I enjoyed sharing experiences during the weekend with new friends I made. I found Ian Porters’ advice particularly useful to ensure rigging was correct and simple tips to get the most out of my boat. It may have been a coincidence but I was certainly able to keep pace with others on the water after his adjustments and recommendations. The curry on Saturday evening was especially memorable and certainly filled even the heartiest of appetites after a days sailing. It was another good opportunity to meet and get to know others to share knowledge and experience of their past sailing trips. I would certainly recommend all Wanderer owners to attend if not over subscribed. The weekend was so enjoyable and very well planned. I look forward to seeing you again at the laid back Dart sail in October. Best regards, Martin W1674

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The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

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Sailing in 2020 Not what we’d hoped for… By David Lavender The planning for 2020 was going well, in January the Tide Tables, charts and maps were out. I had just brought a small motorhome with of course a tow bar, so the camping websites were also open. Lots of trips were being planned that January and February for the spring and summer. As we neared Easter, the week in the Rock, Cornwall over Easter week was cancelled, no sailing this year in the Camel Estuary. Incidentally, there are great facilities to launch and store dinghies on the Rock side of the Estuary opposite Padstow. It can get busy so plan your arrived at the dinghy park to rig and leave a Wanderer.

Working from home

Any chance of sailing during the May half term were dashed. The first opportunity when we were released we were able to get out on the River Deben at Bawdsey Quay. However, I was still recovering from we later think was Covid and felt that I would be unable to launch and recovery our Wanderer which has a steel centre board over the very soft sand of Bawdsey Beach. So, we took the family RS Feva and had a couple of days out on the water.

Wanderer. Desperate to get out on the water, I took it out myself for the first time in many years. The result; I think I am getting far too old for a Feva. I had red raw knees, having to kneel in the centre of what is in essence a wet tea tray with a cheese grater as a non-slip surface. I am 6’ 4” tall and must almost lie down to get under the boom. It makes you appreciate the comfort and room of the Wanderer. I had planned to get to the WandererFest in Chichester Harbour and looking forward to taking the van and boat to this fantastic part of the country. Understandably it was cancelled and I have been trying to get to this location for many years. But as I have been told the owners of the land only allow organised groups to camp, I have been waiting for that group trip. The summer months came and went with restrictions, when we could get away there was little time or too impractical to get the Wanderer wet, so it stayed in the garage. October came and I had been given two weekends shore leave from ‘Domestic Gold’ command, one at the beginning of the month and one at the end. Initially I had planned to go north to the hills walking and then, I had a thought perhaps I could get the Wanderer wet for one of these weekends, but which one. Which was likely to have better weather and where? Camping websites were studied, and I found to my surprise that Cobnor Point, home of the WandererFest does have a small area for individual caravans and motorhomes if you are a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. I waited to the last minute on the first weekend in October to check the weather. On the Monday the forecast was good, so booked the site and became a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. As often with British weather after checking the forecast again on the Tuesday it had now turned nasty, by Thursday it was now better, but not great with strong winds and rain. Friday morning, I set off and travelled through torrential rain only clearing up on arrival at the site. My son Rob, who lives only a couple of minutes away joined me.

Resorting to RS Feva Sailing on the River Deben, Bawdsey Quay

This boat is usually sailed by my children and I accompany them in the

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He has spent the last couple of years resident in CYE water sports centre next to Cobnor Point as a dinghy instructor. So, despite the

forecast I was relying on local knowledge and instruction for winter sailing in the harbour. I have sailed a few times from the centre but in summer. The club site is a small field next to Cobnor House, those of you who attended the WandererFest will probably have used the larger adjacent field. Cobnor House is right at the end of Cobnor Point which a small peninsular jutting out south into Chichester Harbour with Bosham Channel on one side and Thorney Channel of the other. The club site only has a water tap and so it is only open for caravans and motorhomes who are self-contained with their own facilities. As a result, it is cheap and for additional small fee the use of the slipway which is within the dinghy park of Bosham Sailing Club only about four hundred metres away. Having arrived at midday we quickly rigged the boat, as advised we did this on the campsite, we then pulled it on the launching trolley to the slipway. Well, we got past the first tree but the very large old oak tree having been there for no doubt hundreds of years was not budging, so the mast had to come down and put up again in the dinghy park. We launched on the clean concrete slip into Bosham Channel. There isn’t a lot of room at the top of slip as it is right amongst the dinghy park. Today the place was deserted but on a busy summer weekend forward planning and timing, I suspect would be needed. The wind had eased, and the rain stopped so we headed against the tide up towards the village of Bosham. For short trips it is always easier to start against the tide so at least you can get back if the wind drops altogether. It was a nice fine reach up the channel, this helps as it is a small channel with lots of mooring which at low tide take up most of the available water. As the wind was dropping further it was slow progress, but we had the time and the location is beautiful. Our intention was to explore the little pool above Bosham village before the last of the tide, but this was thwarted by the now total lack of wind and we started drifting backwards. Opposite the village we turned round and drifted back down the channel to the slipway. However, this was a pleasant afternoon sail the first of the year for the Wanderer.

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021 We recovered the boat using the slipway which has an electric winch available for use and parked the Wanderer in the grass car park adjacent to the dinghy park. There was little space and no one around to ask in the dinghy park. The car park is large and was empty, so we tucked the boat against the trees. The forecast for Saturday was for strong westerly winds, but we decided to leave the decision making for the morning hoping for a small window where the winds may be manageable in the harbour for a dinghy instructor and his relatively experienced father. It rained heavily overnight and I was pleased to make the decision to buy a motorhome. In the morning before Rob turned up from a night in his own place, I walked along the sea wall around Cobnor Point and noticed a distinct lack of wind, oh the British weather, will it change after Brexit, when we are free to make up our own rules! We launched again from the slipway this time accompanied by a Laser Stratos. The plan was to head out into the main harbour with a bit of foul tide but with the forecasted wind that should not have been a problem, before turning north into Emsworth Channel with tide behind to lunch at the top of Hayling Island. Take the ebb back down, turn into the main harbour and against tide but with a following wind back to Cobnor Point simple, however as sailors we know that it never is.

Just off the collection of houses known as Rookwood I notice a gaggle of dinghies milling around what looked like a committee boat. So, seeing that they were about to start a race we kept away but to shore side of them. Just as we passed, they set off and yes in line with Murphy’s Law they headed our way. It wasn’t long before they caught up with us. The fleet was a vast range of boats from single handed lasers to what appeared to be something like a Devon Yawl. The range of classes meant different speeds, making it interesting to tack through the fleet. We ended up very much in the midst of it. Having to join in due to the lack of water it brought back memories of old racing days. I had to at one-point call water on the Devon Yawl look alike, in order to tack away from the shore. After a couple shouts of starboard we were away from them only to find that they rounded a mark and heading parallel with us. Opposite East Head we cross over the channel to the shallows to the south of Thorney Island leaving the fleet behind. The wind died again, we drifted attempting to head up Emsworth Chanel before giving up, turned round and drifted back to East Head. We anchored off the sandy beach for lunch. In the summer East Head is usually busy but today there were only a few dog walkers and no other boats. The harbour by now had one or two racing fleets out from the various sailing clubs around. Despite a brief rain shower, it now warmed up a bit and the sun came out.

Having launched we promptly stayed still due to the complete lack of wind the tide now flooding and wanting to send us back to Bosham Village. As it was likely that the famous Bosham Village ice cream shop would be closed on an October weekend we did not want to go there. The outboard engine was fired up and we motored for about ten minutes to Cobnor Point, where we should have been exposed to the so-called westerly wind. We switched the engine off and managed to short tack up the shallows on the north shore in very light winds. After about half an hour the wind died again, engine came on for about ten minutes before a breeze was seen on the water. As instructed by the local onboard instructor we crossed the channel and short tacked again against the tide in the shallow waters of the now east shore. The wind picked up enough for us to make reasonable progress against the tide and started to enjoy the sail.

round in a now freshening breeze. As always, the wind backed a little, meaning that we had to tack back down the channel this time crossing the moorings with a fast-moving ebb tide making it entertaining. Are we going to make it past the bow of that moored yacht or bear away and go astern? Wind now against tide made the entrance to Thorney Channel a little lumpy, what a difference a couple of hours makes. If we weren’t turning down wind towards Cobnor Point we would have been close to putting a reef in! We took the south shore again as we were now against the ebb, timing to cross the channel to head into Bosham Channel needed careful thought. The tide runs fast across the entrance. On the first attempt despite a reasonable breeze on a broad reach, the tide pushed us back past the entrance, we needed to run past and then tack pushing back into the channel before we could head into the tide to the slipway. We recovered, put the Wanderer to bed after a good day sailing despite the change of the original plan.

This photo of Cobnor Point doesn’t give the wind justice

On Sunday morning after another night of heavy rain I again took a walk along the sea wall, the forecasted storm was now starting to appear. I was having difficulty walking against the wind and my experience often tells me to note, there may be a reason no boats are out sailing! East head looking North East towards Goodwood

After lunch we decided to explore Thorney Channel on the way back. The wind picked up and was now more south west which meant a nice broad reach up Thorney Channel, almost opposite East Head. We made good progress through the moorings, there is more room here than in Bosham Channel. We got as far we could to Southbourne and turned

We spent the morning slowly de rigging the boat in the rain and I drove home in torrential rain on a very wet M25. Even though I like to spend the winter scheming and planning, often the last minute arranged trips can prove to work out well, despite the lack of a sail on the Sunday. But I am spending the current national lockdown planning for the summer, just can’t help it. -DL

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Gavin Barr January 5th 1931 – January 2nd 2021 Richard Maltby I know Gavin as a fellow Wanderer sailor and member of Whitstable Yacht Club. I have also come to know dear Caroline, Tim, Elizabeth and Chris, other members of the Barr family and the hospitality of Gate Cottage in recent years. A phone call to Gavin was invariably also a call with Caroline. I think the phone was on loud speaker. As we spoke the sound of Caroline’s laughter in the background encouraged more laughter among ourselves . . . this made Wanderer events all the happier. Among many people who cannot be physically present with us, Chris and his family in Zambia will be participating on-line and also Gavin’s sister Elizabeth with her son Guy in Edinburgh and daughter Lucy in Athens. We have all been deeply saddened by Gavin’s passing. I wish to relay the deepest sympathy of Whitstable Yacht Club and the Wanderer Class Owners’ Association to Caroline and the family. He was a most remarkable person, a great sailor, a master of many arts and a true gentleman. Much of what I say expresses the views of successive Commodores of the club and officers of the Wanderer Association and members of both. Philip Meadowcroft has relayed some marvellous tributes, particularly by Andy Peter a former WCOA chairman and Paul Yeadon, which are published over the next few pages.

some measure the pleasure of his wisdom, his kindness and his company. Gavin was a very popular and respected member of the club, a benign presence, a wise and kind counsellor and guide. Many have benefited from his help and advice, freely given. His authority was all the more respected for being understated. As Dick Bradburn says, “He was one of those people who could deliver a substantial opinion simply through a prolonged look, often involving a subtle realignment of eyebrows and glasses”. We also treasure wonderful memories of the entertainment and fun he brought to social evenings. More on this in a moment. What a life: Navy officer, colonial administrator, mining company executive, later joining the Church Mission Society, and a Sailing legend, also a talented musician and even TV presenter. Then there is Gavin, the husband, devoted to Caroline just as she is devoted to him, father of four children, always remembering Sarah, grandfather of eight and, seemingly limitless cousins in the Barr, Usher and Cunningham lines. I know that really I should not single out a grandchild, but I am sure we would all like to thank Phillip for the beautiful biopic which so well captures the spirit of Gavin’s unique qualities. The words of the title, “Going forward In One Spirit”, enshrine a lasting tribute and, I think, Gavin’s legacy.

As we gathered to the sound of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and will leave to the “Flower of Scotland”, and as Burns Night approaches, Gavin’s story starts in Scotland. Gavin was born on January We have lost a great man, and we 5th, 1931, eldest son of Iris and Guy, were all privileged to have shared in at North Berwick, Gavin and Caroline at one of their garden parties having a hoot. East Lothian. I have looked up North Berwick. It is a beautiful seaside town where the Firth of Forth becomes the North Sea. With a glorious sandy beach, small islands and skerries just offshore and blessed with lots of Scottish sunshine Yes, sunshine in Scotland! Actually, I found that North Berwick has 1,450 hours of sunshine per year. It is not surprising that at age 4 Gavin declared he

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wanted to be a sailor. Although with two golf courses at North Berwick he might have said golfer. Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Gavin was to serve as a young officer in the aircraft carrier, HMS Triumph, and destroyer, HMS Barfleur. The motto of the Royal Navy, “If you wish for peace, prepare for war”, as we came to know, certainly applied to Gavin’s meticulous preparation of his boat for Wanderer events! Peace always prevailed, especially as Paul can tell us as “the name on the victor’s plaque had to be Barr” Gavin brought the great qualities of service in the Royal Navy – integrity, respect, responsibility, his bearing and composure – to everything that he did. On leave in the summer of 1951 and at the Festival of Britain, this strikingly tall, handsome 20-year-old naval officer first met Caroline, the beautiful lady who became Gavin’s wife on their marriage two years later on August 1st 1953. It was always lovely to see the profoundly felt devotion between Gavin and Caroline woven in their love together. When Caroline was recovering from polio Gavin resigned from the Navy and, as he said, advised of the benefits of a hot climate to help Caroline’s recovery, not yet 30 entered the Colonial Service in 1958. As a district officer and later commissioner, he helped to construct the infrastructure for the development of Zambia towards independence, a country for which Gavin retained great affection and where Christopher continues to live with his family. Gavin’s record of service in Zambia shows that for him black lives truly mattered. Far from being top-down, the concerns of local people were his preoccupations, and he did a fine job. It was to be the same on Whitstable beach, where boat owners such as myself were lucky enough to have the benefit of Gavin’s expertise, time and consideration. Such a good job that following independence in 1964 Gavin’s services were retained by the Zambian government to work in various ministries for another five years. Gavin and President Kenneth Kaunda became brothers-in-arms. As Gavin recounted in the video, his stolen guitar was speedily recovered on informing the police that it was played by his friend the President. Gavin’s rendition of Kaunda’s favourite song, “Let us go forward in one spirit", sung in the vernacular, became part of his television appearances. The words of course come from the Bible.

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021 (Kaunda’s father was a minister in the Church of Scotland.) They were echoed by Winston Churchill, “Let us go forward together”. Gavin personified “going forward in one spirit” in many ways to many people in his eventful and multi-faceted life. On completing his service with the Kaunda government Gavin was snapped up by the global mining and engineering Anglo-American corporation, working initially in Zambia and then Zaire. Following a corporate merger and transfer to Charter Consolidated, the company brought him back to the UK as a personnel manager and the Barr family came to live among the “darling buds of May” at Charing. Then in 1986, another change. Joining the Church Mission Society met well with Gavin’s Christian calling and international outlook. For eight years until retirement in 1994 Gavin served the CMS as Personnel Secretary, an appointment which took him on missions to South Korea and Japan. “Going forward in one spirit”, our donations today are for the ecumenical work of Charing Methodist chapel and the Church Mission Society. Now I’d like to tune into some of our members’ favourite memories. In Zambia Gavin was a member of the Lusaka Theatre Club and played Baron Von Trapp in the stage musical of the Sound of Music. Jean Whittaker, who knew the family when living in Lusaka and later became secretary of WCOA says, “You can imagine he was just made for the part”. Indeed we can - supported by his own Trapp children, 10 year old Elizabeth and 12 year old Timothy who will never forget that he was the boy who sang “La”. Fast forward from the musical events of Lukasa to the veranda of Whitstable Yacht Club, with stage set by the setting sun across the Swale, the intense passions of the “frog racing” game and to the after sailing entertainment of Wanderer and club evenings. Gavin led with a vast array of funny songs and sea shanties. His renditions of the Pirates’ Song, “The Tattooed Lady”, even the “Colorectal Surgeon’s Song” are the stuff of legend. Among the favourites was a song about beer and the blowing out of froth from the “The Hole in The Elephant's Bottom”. A club cadet, Angelyna, aged 11, who had sailed in the Open was sitting quietly in the shadows. Her grandmother, Fef, relates that after some slightly risqué verses Gavin,

with a wry smile realised she was there. “Oh dear, I hope I didn’t overstep the mark.” Angelyna with a smile and a giggle answered “It’s fine.” And as always with Gavin it was fine.

the page opposite. The boat is beautifully balanced, as the bow lifts onto a plane the sails are perfectly set - and what a smile on Gavin’s face!

To mark Gavin’s 80th birthday in 2011 WCOA presented Gavin with a garden chair in recognition of his outstanding contribution, not least his technical advice for improving boat performance and “Sailing Faster” (which can still be read today on the Class Association Website). By then with Gavin at the helm and Mark Skipper as crew the partnership had achieved an unparalleled run of success in Wanderer Open and National championships, Gavin winning his 4th national championship at the age of 79. But Gavin wasn’t ready to settle into the garden chair. He was featured in a BBC SE television series about sport for octogenarians with presenter Natalie Graham on board his boat and was sailing even more brilliantly to overtake Paul Yeadon and Liz North in the 2018 Open. I ought to say the other race was won by Paul. To mark our appreciation Whitstable sailors clubbed together to design and donate the Gavin Barr trophy, a replica of Gavin’s boat in stainless steel wrought by a local blacksmith.

It falls to us to carry on his mission. Thank you, Gavin, for your inspiration, encouragement, wisdom and love.

It was a shame that owing to his dodgy hip and rough seas competing for his own trophy was not an option for Gavin at the inaugural 2019 event. However, if it couldn’t be Gavin and Mark on the plaque first it had to be another Barr. Despite the tremendous competition of Paul Yeadon and Liz North, the event was won by team Barr and Skipper, with Tim Barr at the helm.

Gavin has rounded his final mark.

We must do our best to go forward in his spirit. Notes: I wish to acknowledge the thoughts and comments of Tim Barr, Philip Barr, Richard Bradburn, Hugh Cunningham, Wendy Fitzpatrick, Fef Griffin, David Hewett, Nick Hawkins, Ian Hay, Philip Meadowcroft, Andy Peter, Kelvin Tolson, Jean Whittaker, Mark Skipper and Paul Yeadon among many contributors in word or print. I am also most grateful to Reverend Dr Paul Dean who read the first draft for his advice, particularly on timing! Most of all Gavin kept a chronological account of “What / When” which enabled me to embrace his life, even though in the attempt I was bound to full short given the limitations of 10 minutes (albeit pushed to 12). With huge thanks to Phillip Barr for his priceless biopic I was able to weave the eulogy together – and try to emulate Caroline in her beautiful art of weaving. How sad, undeserved and cruel that we should lose Gavin to the scourge of Covid-19, when Gavin and Caroline could not possibly themselves have taken greater care with all the precautions, in circumstances that were beyond his or the family’s control. What an honour to write about this wonderful man. -RM

Gavin himself attributed his success on the water to being, “the only boat with two Left to right, Richard Matlby, Mark Skipper, Tim Barr and Gavin Barr at the awarding skippers”. Mark puts of the inaugural Trophy Race in Gavin’s honour, Whitstable 2019 it down entirely to Gavin: “I learned everything from him”, Mark told me. How did Gavin make his boat go so fast, I asked? “Well, in a blow most people reduce sail, but Gavin was always getting the spinnaker up, even in 40 knot gusts. That made us go quite fast!” The truth is they won through pure excellence and style. Just look at the fabulous photo of Gavin and Mark on

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The Nut At The End of the Tiller Gavin Barr’s son, Tim and I met at Reading University a mere 43 years ago where we became firm friends, sailing in various team racing events or regattas and getting into (and out of) numerous scrapes along the way. As a Lancashire Lad, a long way from home, Tim took me back to Charing in Kent and introduced me to Gavin, Caroline, Liz his sister and brother, Christopher. They were then in a rambling family house and Whitstable Yacht Club was already a commanding presence in their life. As was music, and I have a clear recollection of Gavin introducing me to his guitar playing on that first visit. Those were the Enterprise years, which culminated in a rain soaked ‘Worlds’ in Largs. How we avoided trench foot, whilst camping for a week with streams running through the tents, remains a mystery.

and sailing careers took over, I would return to Charing and to Whitstable YC. By this time, Gate Cottage had become the home from home, and everyone was welcome to drop in for tea and cake around the AGA or for summer parties with ‘garden Olympics’ and the inevitable rendition by Gavin on guitar or squeezebox. Having left his former employer in Ashford, Gavin took an HR job which particularly suited his calling (and his Christian beliefs). He proudly informed me, with a lean-in and a wolfish, grin that he had “taken up a position with the Missionaries”. “Oh, Gavin, you are naughty!” was Caroline’s lighthearted rebuke.

Both Tim and his brother followed in their parents’ footsteps with their taste for overseas work placements. In 1982, sailing took me in a round-about way to Rio de Janeiro and Tim was also in Brazil, drilling for oil. It was a miracle I tracked him down by telegram, but he joined me for the bacchanalia of Carnival which is how Tim met local lass, Vanete, resulting in two of Gavin’s grandchildren (Sara and Phillip) and why ‘Iate Clube de Rio De Janeiro’ appears on the Wanderer National Championship and Gavin Barr trophies Throughout the following years as work

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With his Royal Navy background, he was volunteering and sailing with the Jubilee Sailing Trust on various sail training vessels, helping to teach navigation, including on board the tall ship ‘Lord Nelson’. He also took to sailing Wanderers and success followed, invariably crewed by Mark Skipper (“the only boat with two skippers” as Gavin would say). Eventually, Tim was due b a c k from

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

Rio and the Nationals were going to be held at Whitstable. “Come on” said, Tim, “let’s you and I borrow a boat, enter and go pot hunting”. Having not raced in dinghies with Tim for some twenty years, that appealed. As is often the way with the best laid plans, that didn’t happen and the phone rang the day before leaving for Whitstable, “Paul, Gavin here, the bad news is the Class Secretary has damaged his knee so you’re helming his boat. The good news is, I’ve found you a crew!” Which is how I ended up in the back of a Wanderer for the first time with Liz North. Over the following years, various boats were loaned with Liz and I encouraged or cajoled by Gavin into entering numerous Wanderer events “to get the numbers up” until a pattern of entry was established (we’d usually sail three times a year – Nationals, Inlands and Whitstable Open). The normal ‘charter fee’ would be a bottle of Scotland’s finest, Whyte & MacKay being his favourite ‘neck oil’. Having lost the Nationals at one point to Tim and on the last leg of the last race of the regatta, Gavin’s obvious and immediate reaction was to buy ‘Surprise’, a new Hartley boat. He duly won the Nationals back again the following year and in similar fashion, even though his beloved ‘Thistle’ remained his weapon of choice. It goes to prove that you can’t keep a good octogenarian down and he remained the man to beat. In two of the last races we sailed against each other at Whitstable Opens, Liz and I had a good start, in light conditions, beating into an increasingly heavy flooding tide. I was concentrating too much on the competition to leeward rather than what was going on behind. Stealthily, Gavin pinched up and got his bow across the tide, for the magic carpet to inexorably drag him to windward and towards the turning mark for a close win. On a long passage race to the

Shipwright’s Arms, he once again called the local tide right and pulled out a substantial lead on the fleet in ‘Thistle’. We managed to chase him down in ‘Surprise’ on the long beat up the Swale, just getting ahead of him on the final leg into the finishing line. Whilst disappointed that he couldn’t hang on to the win, he wouldn’t have had it any other way. The inaugural ‘Gavin Barr Trophy’ in 2019 was held in boisterous weather with ‘Windy Whitstable’ living up to its reputation, producing boat and crew breaking conditions. By then, Gavin was having to rely on a stick whilst ashore, to offset his dodgy hip, and on the shoulders of his crew to ‘Zimmer Tack’ as he crossed a boat. Competing for his own trophy in those seas would not be an option but he collared me as we left the shore. “Remember, Paul, Tim first and you second.“ Liz and I gave Tim and Mark Skipper a good run for their money in worsening conditions, but despite our best endeavours there seemed a just inevitability to the outcome of the eventual two races. We arrived on shore a tad battered and bruised to be met by Gavin. “Well?“ he enquired “Mission accomplished” I replied. “Excellent” replied Gavin. “If it couldn’t be me on the plaque first, then it had to be another Barr“. Gavin was a remarkable man. He was a terrific mentor to those entering the class, encouraging all and sharing his ‘top tips’ for tweaking a boat’s performance. Generous to a fault with his advice and time, for over 25 years he was an enthusiastic supporter and defender of the Wanderer Class. He put tremendous effort into organising events and actively arm-twisting people into trying the boat and participating in racing or cruising. He was a competitor to be reckoned with but a firm believer in fair play, with a tendency to be a gentleman at the windward mark. A ‘boat bimbler’ par excellence and an equally excellent raconteur, with a wealth of stories from his time in the Navy or in Africa. Good humoured and always game for both a laugh or an adventure, typically joining Tim and me to race in regattas in Tobago when well into his 70’s. A much loved family man, devoted to Caroline and revered by his offspring. An enthusiastic musician with a vast array of songs and sea shanties, the more risqué the better. His renditions of the ‘Pirate Song’, ‘The Tattooed Lady’, even ‘The Colorectal Surgeon‘s Song’ are fond memories and were peerless entertainment at the end of a regatta. I’ll finish by saying that ‘The Nut at the End of the Tiller’ will be sorely missed by all. Fair winds and smooth seas, Gavin. Paul Yeadon

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Gavin Remembered An appreciation

and wants fraternity.

Andy Peter, Founder Chairman WCOA

Even on the rare occasions when Gavin's recommendations were judged to be tilted a little too far towards the racing end of the dinghy-sailing spectrum, he accepted the reservations of what he called 'Corinthian sailors' such as myself with humour, good grace and with a characteristic raised eyebrow when some of his proposals were adopted at a later date!

'I was very sorry to hear the sad news that Gavin has rounded his final mark - as ever ahead of most of the Wanderer sailors who have been privileged, over the years, to admire his peerless sailing ability and tactical nous on the water. Many have benefitted from his knowledge and measured advice in the dinghy park and clubhouse or through his writings in the Wanderer. Perhaps less well known, but very much appreciated by those who served with Gavin on the Wanderer Class Owners' Association Committee, was

Page 16

his very significant contribution as Technical Secretary, applying a forensic expert eye to the drafting and amendment of class rules in the light of changes to hull manufacturing techniques and sail measurement practice. His advice to less well-informed committee colleagues on the wisdom or otherwise of adopting changes to rules details of manufacture was invaluable, always mindful of the necessary balance between maintaining the principle of onedesign , the need to keep existing boats competitive and the introduction of developments which would benefit current owners but would also modernise the Wanderer in response to the changing interests

the

dinghy-sailing

Gavin's' good company, knowledge and sailing skills will be sadly missed by the Wanderer community as his transom disappears over the horizon ahead of us for the final time.' I leave you with a selection of images from the archive courtesy of Philip Meadowcraft, ex magazine editor, which I hope will give you an impression of Gavin’s contribution. - AP

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

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Modifying Medusa Adding a Cascade Jib Tensioning System Andrew Powell shows us how

Simon, our editor, supplied, which will be of greater interest to those of you who race your boats, and which I shall quote verbatim at the end. It seemed obvious to me that the best solution was to adopt a system similar to the one on my previous boat, a Laser 2000. On this boat, a simple ‘cascade’ system is used; in other words, the loop in wire halyard was captured on a hook and tensioned with 4mm cord and jammed on a jammer on the mast. It was a very reliable system: it had to be because a Laser 2000 is sailed without a separate forestay in place so the jib halyard also holds the mast up!

I like almost everything about the Wanderer design. I like its manageability in the boat park and its stability on the water in a blow, and I appreciate its general user-friendliness. The one thing I really don’t like is the Highfield Lever, used for securing and tensioning the jib halyard. I am, I confess, not very tall and not very thin, so I had to use a collapsible stool in the boat park to reach the lever when the boat was on its trolley. Even then, there was a real prospect of me tipping forward into the boat to be left stranded, wet boots kicking impotently in the air, my cries for help muffled by assorted sail bags and the other bottom-board detritus. …m

e tipping forward

Even assuming that didn’t into happen, I found it th awkward to push the e b lever down without it snapping back at my fingers (an experience akin to having one’s hand bitten by the faithful family labradoodle!)

I did not want to drill any holes in Medusa’s mast to attach a fitting so I wanted something with an integral jammer. The obvious thing to use was to repurposed an old kicker. I found just what I wanted in a wrecked boat on the “storage fees in arrears” corner of the boat park (yes, I did pay the centre some money for it!) The first question was where to install it on the boat. The best answer was to use the small slot in the (non-adjustable) gooseneck. This slot is behind the gooseneck itself so any fixing had to be slender enough not to cause friction with the swivelling part. For this I made up a very short wire strop, about 12cm long with a loop in each end, which passed through this slot. I had to form and crimp the second loop having passed the wire through the slot. The loops were pulled level under the gooseneck and secured with a key pin bar shackle. The wire loops are secured behind the bar, so the assembly is fixed in place. The top end of the kicker, with the jammer, is held by shackle pin. The last component is to secure and hold the wire end of the halyard, as it sticks out from the bottom or the mast. For this I made another wire strop about 30 cm long with a loop each end. The top end of this strop attaches to the bottom end of the kicker. The bottom loop on the strop includes a simple stainless steel hook.

t..s

Cascade System suspended by a short wire strop and key pin bar shackle.

d nde tra

@pinandinko

Thankfully, my crew is taller and thinner, so I was usually spared the humiliation and pain caused by this device.

Also, and from a technical sailing point of view, the Highfield Lever allows a very limited range of adjustment. A friend’s boat, for a while, suffered from what I called “droopy boom”, partly because the mast was raked back too far because the jib halyard could not be properly tensioned because it was already on the tightest, lowest, setting on the Highfield Lever. On top of all these reasons are some which

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The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021 To use the completed device, one hoists the jib in the usual way, until the wire loop emerges at the bottom of the mast, then one “fishes” for it with the stainless steel hook. This takes about a minute, unless of course, it gets obstructed by the redundant Highfield lever!

Everything needed to make wire strops: pliers, cutters, wire, thimbles, ferrules plus close-up of a key pin bar shackle

Wire strop suspended from up-cycled kicker, with hook to attach to halyard.

Just a word about making your own wire strops: this is quite easy, but you need the right tools, namely a dedicated pair of wire cutters and a hefty pair of general-purpose pliers. I have never found the cutters that form part of regular pliers give a very clean cut with wire cable, but dedicated cutters do. To make a strop you need a ferrules (I have had my best results with copper ones) and a stainless thimble, which fits inside the loop. I use 3mm stainless wire rope, and fittings to match. If you want a strop of an exact length, screw two screws partway into a piece of scrap wood exactly this length apart, and form the loops around the screws. If you want to be super-sure your strop will not part, allow extra wire and use two ferrules for each loop. Squash the ferrules into the wire, using the pliers, with all the strength in your body. Trim the ends of the wire flush with the ends of the ferrules to prevent them fraying and causing painful jabs to fingers. My cascade system modification has been tested in high winds at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and seems to work very well. I don’t know if my version of this system would comply with class rules for racing, but I am

informed a similar-sounding modification is now permitted. I will conclude with Simon’s own words about the racing advantages of replacing the Highfield Lever with a Cascade system. He writes: “The cascade system was added to the class rules fairly recently and one of the first "modifications" I made (to my boat) because it gave many benefits: firstly the Highfield Lever was set so low on my boat that it wouldn't go past the centreboard without some encouragement. Secondly, I want to be able to remove my furling gear for racing without adding a halyard extension. This adds drive, as the foresail should scoop the foredeck and raising the tack prevents this. Furling gears also prevent proper jib tensioning, as the sheets should pull perpendicular to the luff. And lastly, and most importantly, it allows the crew to control jib tension when underway - a key safety feature. A quick yank on the system adds tension to the jib, flattening the main at the top and depowering the top third of the sail making for a less exhausting ride. Conversely letting out an inch or two can add power to a run as you can allow the jib to "billow" and curve more (akin to a spinnaker) reducing flapping and wear, and making goose-winging easier.” - AP

Just for Fun: Emoji Pictionary Did you work out the sailing terms from the clues? Here are the answers, see W124 for questions:

Start Pistol

11)

Port Shift

Club House

12)

Kite Hoist

Panting

13)

(I’ve lost the answers)

Crew

14)

Class Flag

Helm

15)

Starboard Layline

Slipway

16)

Windward Mark

Finish Line

17)

Capsize

Death Roll

18)

Boat Park

Pin End Buoy

19)

Bouyancy Aid

10)

Committee Boat

20)

Tight Reach

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Not the West Country Cruise Five Go Sailing in Cornwall By John Sharples and Andy Powell When John Sharples first suggested taking our boats to Cornwall I demurred somewhat, thinking of the driving distances involved, and perhaps having a lurking impression of Cornwall’s coastline being unrelentingly craggy and wreckstrewn. Of course the latter was just silly, and the former was ameliorated by having our caravan on a site roughly

Left - Right: John and Sarah, Andrew, John and Alex at Pasco’s. Photo Heather Powell

Who we are

John and Sarah Cooper in 1242 Aurora. Image John Sharples

We are, broadly, the same group who sailed together at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy last year (see The Wanderer Autumn 2020) except John Cooper brought his wife Sarah instead of his son, and my friend Paul and his wife were prevented from coming by illness, which meant I was without my regular crew and Heather, my non-sailing wife, was without Joy, her usual walking companion. John Sharples sails with his son Alex in 1646 Wander-Off; John Cooper was sailing with Sarah in 1242 Aurora and I have 1138 Medusa (see photos on page).

halfway, allowing us to break our journey comfortably. Anyway, it was John who, as usual in our group, did the work of selecting our campsite, our boat-yard for storage and suitable dates when high tide would be around the middle of the day. All his choices were perfect for our purposes. We camped at Trethem Mill Touring Park, Roseland. This has outstanding facilities and is exceptionally quiet and peaceful. It is kept quiet by having a strict nounder 18’s rule. One excellent feature was, for us, the generous pitch sizes which easily accommodated our boats on our first and last nights. It is only a few minutes drive (but what a drive!) from Pasco’s Boat Yard where we lodged our dinghies for the duration. Pasco’s assigned us spaces “on the bar” from where we could launch and come and go as we pleased. One small caveat here: for those who do most of their driving in Surrey, the roads between the campsite and Pasco’s are narrow, twisting and steep! I prayed fervently that I would not meet another vehicle coming the other way, especially another vehicle towing a boat. The

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Alex at the helm of 1646 Wander-off. Image Andrew Powell

approach to Pasco’s is especially “exciting” in this regard, and when you arrive and need to tow your boat to the bar, you must descend a slipway, drive around the beach and then up the slipway the other end. This is not to be attempted within an hour each side of high tide! I should say at this juncture that no one in our group suffered any mishaps driving on the beaches or narrow roads.

Where we went and what we did We were very fortunate with conditions. We stayed a week and got out on the water four times, with only one day ‘rained off’. On the Saturday we drove our boats to Pasco’s and spent the morning rigging and tinkering. By the time we were ready the wind had picked up to a gusty

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

force three (perhaps four) so I left Medusa on the bar and joined John and Sarah in Aurora for an exhilarating sail on the Carrick Roads, basically heading out from St. Just Creek towards Restronguet Sailing Club, on the Mylor side, and back again.

St Just Creek and Pasco’s, through the moorings, in very light winds, was a challenge. John Sharples tracked the day’s cruise on his ‘phone (see right). Monday was very wet but we had a nice day in Falmouth. Tuesday was John and Alex’s last day and we headed out to Restronguet Creek, where some helpful soul had informed us there was the Pandora pub complete with a jetty. It was just John and Alex in Wander-Off and the other John with me in Medusa. We found the jetty but it was heaving with motorboats so I was able to radio “there was no room at the inn” (I know, such wit!) . Otherwise, another great day afloat. Wednesday was our last day of sailing, with inviting light winds. We set off to get up as far as the King Harry chain-ferry just north of Trelissik.

Image John Sharples - please ignore the elevation from the app!

Again, a lovely long cruise back , and again, a challenging return to harbour with more tide than wind.

Sarah crewing 1242 Aurora on Saturday. Image Andrew Powell

On Sunday, with calmer conditions, we set off with sandwiches on a longer and more ambitious cruise up the River Fal to Loe Beach where we pulled our boats up, bought coffee from the café and picnicked. It was there I got a call from Heather who had missed us but could meet up further on, so, sandwiches eaten, we cruised further inland to Channals Creek which has a beautiful curving beach, which is on the estate of Trelissick House (NT) and met up with Heather and a very excited Dexter, our labradoodle.

1138 Medusa with Andrew and John Cooper in search of fabled quay beside a pub. Image John Sharples

It was a long and very pleasant cruise back, although getting back in

It was a great long sail up the Fal, although as one nears the ferry the river narrows and the wind does odd things, one minute dying and the next punching through quite violently.

L-R Heather, Dexter, Andrew and Medusa at Channals Creek Photo Sarah Cooper

Andrew in 1138 Medusa in light winds. Image Sarah Cooper

Finally at the slipway: vexing boat moorings in background. Image Sarah Cooper

Altogether a great week, sailing and camping with friends. - AP / JS John has kindly offered support in organising a West Country cruise ‘22. John and Alex Sharples in 1646 Wander-Off well reefed and going like a train on the Carrick Roads. Image Andrew Powell

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INLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 18th-19th September Leonie Johnson

Cotswold Sailing Club (https:// www.cotswoldsailingclub.org/) is delighted to be hosting this year's Inland Championships (COVID restrictions permitting.) We are a small, family friendly sailing club right in the heart of the Cotswolds, a beautiful location to enjoy a weekend of competitive racing.

classes, including a large Supernova fleet. Racing is made more exciting by the three small islands we have on our lake, and our clubhouse, elevated on a sunny incline, has changing facilities and showers, a small kitchen and a conservatory from which to watch the racing.

We will be publishing our Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions shortly, but we thought we would tell you a little bit about our club, arrangements for the weekend and how to find us. Cotswold Sailing Club is located between Cirencester and Swindon in the Cotswold Water Park, close to Cerney Wick village. We are fortunate to own the 100 acre gravel-pit lake we sail on, plus the 100 or so acres of land around the lake that makes picnicking, camping and caravanning so pleasant. We have a competitive home fleet, including current and p a s t national champions i n various

This is me and my crew (my daughter Evelyn!) club racing- at least we are smiling!

Our address is Lake 9, Cerney Wick Lane, Cotswold Water Park, Cirencester. Try not to be guided by your sat- nav. You may end up at S o u t h Cerney Sailing club, which is nearby. We are on Cerney Wick Lane, 2mins drive

off the Spine Rd (B4696) towards Cerney Wick (which is signposted), not South Cerney. Camping and caravans are permitted in our secure camping field adjacent to the lake on our western edge. We have water tap and disposal point close to the clubhouse, but if you can, please do bring your own camping loo/washing facilities. On Saturday 18th September we’ll try to squeeze in at least three races from 12pm onwards, with a briefing at 11.30am. On Sunday 19th September we are planning a fourth race in the morning, with the opportunity to join in our usual fleet racing (handicap) at 1pm and 3pm. Catering will depend on where we are with Covid restrictions - but if we can’t offer lunch, there are a number of lovely pubs, cafes and restaurants nearby. We are really looking forward to welcoming WCOA members to Cotswold Sailing Club in September. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do get in touch. Leonie Johnson leonie.johnson@blueyonder.co.uk Somerset out on the Lake

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St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, who were so impressed with the initiative that they came onboard as event sponsors. The Tourism Authority have generously continued to provide prizes and a steel pan band for entertainment. We are hoping to be able to run the Regatta again this year on Sunday, 11 July, and break the record 43 entries.

Spotlight on SESCA Mike Steele The St Edmundsbury Sailing and Canoeing Association (SESCA) is a family orientated, volunteer run, amateur sports club based at Lackford Lake, located 5 miles NW of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Surprisingly, it is one of the most isolated sailing clubs in the country, with Ely SC 18 miles to the west and no other sailing club within a 35 mile radius.

SESCA was founded in 1981 on a disused gravel pit, as an offshoot of the Greene King Sports and Social Club. From lowly beginnings, the Club has been built up through the efforts of its members and support from St Edmundsbury Council, Sport England and local businesses into a flourishing watersports facility. In addition to over 200 family and adult individual members, the Club now has nine group members: Bury St Edmunds, Mildenhall and Newmarket Sea Cadets; Suffolk Scouts; WASH Sailability (disabled sailing); Young People Afloat (a sailing youth club); RAF Honington Canoe Club and Culford and Priory Schools. The Club is a registered RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Training and Foundation (sailing with disabilities) Centre and runs RYA sailing courses for members several times per year. The Club prides itself on being accessible to all and being a great resource to the local community. It has very low membership fees (family membership is currently £90 per year) Picnics enjoyed on the banks.

Reproduced with permission from the SESCA

and a fleet of sailing dinghies and kayaks, so it is not necessary to own a boat if you want to sail or paddle. There are currently 12 Wanderers at SESCA: 3 are owned by the Club (2 Hartley and 1 Anglo Marine), which are primarily used for training purposes but are also available for hire to members; 3 owned by YPA; 1 by Suffolk Scouts and 5 are members’ boats. The Club’s sailing season runs from the last weekend in March until early November, with on the water activities taking place on most days of the week. Dinghy racing is scheduled for Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings, with WASH disabled sailing sessions programmed for Tuesdays, Thursday mornings and the first and third Saturday afternoons of each month. Members can use the Club’s facilities at any time, so long as there are two adults on site.

Fun and frolics safely on the water at SESCA

Despite severe disruptions to last year’s programme, due to Covid restrictions, Club members were still able to get out on the water for much of the summer. Contrary to initial fears, Club membership actually grew by 20% in 2020, with a particular increase in interest in kayaking; paddleboarding and start to sail courses. The highlight of the Club’s racing programme is undoubtedly the ‘Antigua Sailing Day Regatta’, which was first run eight years ago as a fun event to coincide and celebrate Antigua Sailing Week. Through the wonder of Google News alerts, the Regatta came to the attention of the

The Club regularly holds an RYA ‘Discover Sailing’ Open Day when members of the public can visit the Club to try their hand at sailing and kayaking for free. The Wanderers are the principal boat used for the sailing tasters and joy rides, as they are stable; can carry a family and are easily reefed. We usually get over 120 people out on these occasions, so many people in the area can say that they got their first taste of sailing in a Wanderer.

Wanderers mixing with Kayaks

The Club’s Wanderers are also used for an annual ‘Away Day Cruise’, when members take some boats down to the coast for a change of scenery. In previous years, we have kindly been hosted by Brightlingsea SC and sailed around to the Anchor Pub at Rowhedge for lunch then back, which has made a very pleasant day out. This year, we plan to sail from Aldeburgh up to the Plough and Anchor at Snape Maltings.

If any Wanderer sailors would like to visit the Club, they would be most welcome. We can probably get you out for a sail, if you give us some notice, but, if you would like to bring your own boat, Day Membership is available at £15 for the day. For further information, please see: www.westsuffolksailing.org.uk or e-mail: sesca.admin@googlemail.com St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association Lackford Lake Mildenhall Road (A1101) Lackford Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP28 6HX

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Over the Road Tales of Adventure Simon Lambert Lindisfarne always feels like home even though I live miles away in the city. Driving down the narrow road which cuts through the dunes to the start of the causeway fills me with happiness. Every time I arrive here my heart skips a beat where the view opens out to sand stretching as far as the eye can see under a huge Northumberland sky. The seaweed covered causeway which runs across these sands is exposed at each low tide allowing cars to drive onto Holy Island, the tourist name for Lindisfarne. I pull into the long layby and park up so I can read the SAFE CROSSING TIMES notice, to double check it is still safe to continue before the road vanishes beneath the sea. Towed behind the car is my Wanderer dinghy, designed and fitted out specifically for coastal sailing. She is my pride and joy and I feel so excited this weekend as I attempt to complete one of my sailing dreams. It is Autumn and already the nights are drawing in. The Harvest Moon will soon appear over the horizon creating an enormous spring tide, the largest of the year with a height of 5.2 metres above chart datum. My aim is to use this tide to circumnavigate Lindisfarne Island, sailing over the same road which I am about to drive across. This can only be attempted once every year.

Tied up on Guile Point looking back towards Holy Island

playfulness feel a little intimidating as they surround my tiny boat, curious yet scared, they follow my track northwards. My watch tells me it will soon be high water, I feel the need to press on. Alone at sea in a 14ft sailing dinghy with a forceful tide and a fresh breeze filling the sails makes me excited, maybe a little anxious as I set out on this micro adventure. I love this type of sailing the most. The freedom and risk of going alone, taking responsibility for every move I make. My boat glides silently past St. Cuthbert’s Island heading towards the first waypoint, a refuge tower standing on tall stilts above St. Cuthbert’s Way where people walk across the sands from the mainland at low tide. When I arrive, I find only a small barnacled section of each stilt remains above the sea; it will soon be high tide.

submerged just below the surface of the rising sea. In addition to this hazard is the road itself. Raised above the sand at around 4 metres above chart datum, there will be only just sufficient depth to cross at high water today! Both wind and tide are pushing the boat along at 5 knots. I beat back and forth, holding my position, unsure whether I have sufficient depth to cross. One final check of my watch confirms it is time to make my attempt. I return to the reference point, the stilted timber refuge, make one final tack, ease the sheets and head straight for the road sign I checked out earlier from my car.

I need a slow and cautious final approach to the causeway because the causeway is marked by tall steel posts which are now invisible,

The sea below is murky, a mixture of sand, mud and water churned up by the flooding tide. I sense the shallowness, so raise the centre board protecting it from possible impact with the seabed. My next waypoint is the SINGLE FILE TRAFFIC road sign which now appears to be floating on the water, the waves lapping at its lower

Before the flood - the causeway onto the Island at Low Water

After the flood - just the top of the signs and posts are visible.

Ready to go - the Wanderer behind the car.

The Ouse is the name given to the islands harbour which remains an active fishing port with 4 brightly painted trawlers bringing home a daily catch. I launch here, weaving between the small fleet of moored fishing boats until I meet the strong tide flooding into Fenham Flats. Soon I am surrounded by large Atlantic Grey seals, their size makes their

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The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

edge with the supporting pole totally submerged. I need to pass only metres from this sign otherwise I risk running my dinghy into the steel posts lurking just below the waves.

remains balanced and sure as each wave in succession flows smoothly by.

My GoPro records the final moments and within seconds I sail over the road. I’ve finally done it! All my planning has worked out. The late nights studying charts, tide tables and the addictive analysis of weather forecasts these past few days has paid off. I have achieved another one of my sailing goals.

The open sea has large swell and the turning tide is starting to push against the breeze. My Wanderer powers south along the rugged coast, sails sheeted in and heeled hard on the chine. Emmanuel Head with its sandstone cliffs and white pyramid are soon abeam with my little boat dancing through the waves. Wanderer dinghies were created for this type of sailing and so was I.

Glancing over my shoulder I see a small queue of cars waiting in the layby on the mainland, drivers stood gazing over the sea towards a small sailing boat gliding over the flooded causeway. I wave to them triumphantly and laugh to myself thinking what a picture it would make from their viewpoint. Lowering the centreboard fully, I regain speed by adjusting the sails, the breeze feeling stronger now. Suddenly something catches my eye. A tilted pole protrudes from the sea only a few cables away and I am approaching it rapidly on this broad reach. I quickly check the chart folded in a waterproof sleeve and see the wreck clearly marked. How could I forget this? My focus on the road crossing has deleted from my memory the remainder of the passage, which is only half complete. I steer to starboard and check my notes. The water here will be just as shallow as the causeway, so I raise the centreboard once more. Passing close to the wreck I notice some withies not shown on the chart. I feel worried seeing these but reason that nobody sails here except adventurers in dinghies so guess these sticks have another purpose and ignore them. The northern part of Lindisfarne is wild and remote, out of sight from everyone on land. Ahead the open sea awaits with a continuous line of surf marking the underwater boundary between shallow and deeper water offshore. As I approach the surf-line I begin to realise the height of the waves rolling in from the sea, but there is a small line of weakness where a rip is flattening out the surf. I steer towards this point without breakers. As I clear the northern tip of Lindisfarne my boat accelerates downwind towards the surf. Large tubes either side roll and collapse with thunderous noise as my bow heads up the first wave. The speed I reach over the top is quite alarming, but my boat

Within an hour of breaking through the surf barrier I can see the impressive ramparts of the castle, standing p r o u d overlooking the North Sea. This is the landscape V i k i n g s encountered centuries ago after their sail from Scandinavia. I feel like a real explorer as I clear the castle headland and turn hard to starboard before Ridge east cardinal buoy, its white light flashing in the fading light. The home run into the harbour is joyous. I have a warm glow inside, weaving between the fishing boats until safely inside the harbour wall. In the twilight, village lights sparkle in the calm harbour water at my journeys end. I wonder how many other roads there are in the world I can sail over.

Looking across the Ouse to the Castle and the ramparts The chart and my route - marked in red, I sailed clockwise.

Seamanship and Day Sailing are designed to teach coastal sailing skills in small boats. They say good dinghy sailors make great yachtsmen. - SL Me at the mast of my Wanderer - ready to sail.

Small boat coastal sailing is a truly emotional experience. The feeling of freedom is immense once you venture into the open sea where wildlife surrounds your boat as you silently pass through their world. Dinghy sailing is physical, stimulating and rewarding. Most of all, sailing my Wanderer dinghy has opened doors into the sailing world where my experiences have been applied to larger vessels and ultimately led to my Yachtmaster qualification and work as a yacht instructor. If you want to experience this type of sailing RYA Level 3 courses in

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Arnside Weekend Wander

Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd August 2021 Alasdair Simpson A new Wanderer event is due to take place at Arnside in August for people looking for an event in the North of England. The village is located in Cumbria on the scenic Kent Estuary south of Kendal. There are views across the estuary to the Lake District Fells. This will be the next Wanderer event and the third since restrictions have been lifted, though everybody still has a duty to help stop the spread of Covid the risk, as this is a mainly outdoors activity, is very low Covid risk. With a wide south west facing estuary, Arnside is a great place to sail. Winds tend to be stronger but more constant than on an inland water. A sea breeze may develop around midday. Tide against wind can result in exciting sailing conditions. The village has a long history of sailing. The estuary was the port for Kendal. The village’s first sailing club was set up in 1852. Arthur Ransome’s Swallow was built in the village and later kept on the estuary by a local teenager. Another of Arthur’s boat Coch-ybonddhu was used to teaching sailing at a prep school on the sea front. The village’s maritime history is due to feature in a BBC Villages by the Sea programme probably in the Autumn. Overlooked by Arnside Knott, at 522 feet high the country’s lowest Marilyn, the village lies in the Arnside Silverdale Area of Natural Beauty at top end of Morecambe Bay. The area is characterised by low wooded limestone hills interspersed with flower rich meadows, making for good walking. Arnside Knott is one of the best sites for butterflies in the North of England. Arnside developed as a gentile holiday resort after the arrival of the railway in 1857, which crosses the estuary on a viaduct 552 yards long (see top panel). Sirens warn of the incoming tidal bore. The village regularly appears in best places to live lists, including the Sunday Times 2021 list which mentioned the friendly sailing club. There are several places to stay in village, including AirBnB and nearby camp sites.

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The Sailing Club has increased its membership by over 100% in the last year partly as result of being able to offer training at low tide, through the introduction of paddle board and as people have more free time. The Club owns a Wanderer and a Wayfarer. There is another Wanderer in club which belongs to Alasdair Simpson. Other club boats include Hartley 12s. Depending on the weather we hope to be able to arrange racing on one day and a cruise to Holme Island off Grange-over- Sands on the other day. Whilst there is only a two to three hour window at high tide when the water is deep enough to sail, with distinctive landmarks on either side of the estuary it is possible to feel that you are sailing somewhere. When not sailing there will opportunities to walk along the coast, climb Arnside Knott, canoe or paddleboard at low tide. There should be a chance to meet in local pubs for a meal in the evening. On Sunday evening there will be a concert by Luna (pictured left) at the Arnside club house. Luna are a folk duo from Sunderland Point, a village at the mouth of the River Lune, south of Lancaster which is cut off at high tide. Luna are Jo Powell and Scotty Wilson, a fellow Wanderer sailor. Luna were recently filmed singing the Severn Song about Severn, a yacht built in Arnside in 1912 for the BBC Villages by the Sea programme. The Club are operating a booking system for music nights with capacity limited to 50%. Attendees are invited to book a ticket for the concert at the following web address: www.ticketsource.co.uk/arnside-sailing-club On Saturday we will open our clubhouse so that people can socialise before the event. On Saturday and Sunday, we are happy for people to bring their own cold food in the clubhouse to eat. For more Information and book a place please get in touch. Alasdair Simpson - arnsidesc.sailing@gmail.com 01524 762386

The Wanderer Edition 125- Summer 2021

From the archive; This advert from c.1991 for Porters boats. Featuring Robin Gabbitas, our very own treasurer, at the helm in Salcombe c.1991. Thanks to Dave Hewitt for sending it in! Ian Porter is now mostly retired but you can still find him at WandererFest, see page 6. Copyright © 2021 WCOA[uk] All Rights Reserved

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Calendar of Events and Program Day / Date Venue

Event

Contact

AUGUST 22ND - 23RD

ARNSIDE SC

RACING AND CRUISING IN THE RIVER KENT AND MORECAMBE BAY

Alasdair Simpson alasdairsimpson2@gmail.com

COTSWOLD SC

WCOA INLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

Leonie Johnson -

SEPT 18TH AND 19TH

leonie.johnson@blueyonder.co.uk

Lindsey Weatherley -

Beggarsrest@btinternet.com

SEPT 25TH AND 26TH

BALTIC WHARF SC

RACING AND SIGHTSEEING INSIDE BRISTOL HARBOUR

Philip Meadowcroft philip@brandmasters.co.uk

OCT 2ND AND 3RD

GALMPTON CREEK

RIVER DART LAID BACK WEEKEND Camping and Cruising in Cornwall

Philip Meadowcroft philip@brandmasters.co.uk

OCT 2ND AND 3RD

SWARKESTONE SC

RACING EVENT WITH WAYFARERS

Bob Rastrick rrastrick@gmail.com

26TH FEB 2022

ZOOM or DINGHY SHOW

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

John Renouf 1954jgr@gmail.com

JUNE 2022 TBC

SOMEWHERE IN THE CARRICK ROADS

WEST COUNTRY CRUISE It’s back!!!

Philip Meadowcroft philip@brandmasters.co.uk

JUNE / JULY TBC

COBNOR, W SUSSEX

WANDERERFEST 2022

Philip Meadowcroft philip@brandmasters.co.uk

Please keep your eye on the website for updates, full details and to register interest in events: www.wanderer.org.uk/events/