Medway YC to host the Wayfarer UK National & European Championships 2021
by Tim Townsend 5 Mar 02:35 PST
5-8 August 2021
2016 Wayfarer Nationals at Medway © Nick Champion /
www.championmarinephotography.co.uk
Medway Yacht Club is delighted to be hosting the Wayfarer UK National and European Championships, 5-8 August 2021. Racing will take place on the wide stretches of the tidal River Medway below Gillingham over four days and with great social events planned for the evenings.
The Club is delighted that the event is being supported by Hartley Boats, McNamara Sails, Craftinsure, Shepherd Neame and Wayfarer Wines.
Entry to the Championships is limited to 65 boats. The Club is planning to welcome entries from Denmark, Ireland, France and the Netherlands as well as mainland UK. There is an early bird discount entry fee and a guarantee return of prepaid entry fees if the Championships are cancelled for Covid reasons.
The front of the fleet will be very competitive with multi-class champions in the fleet. Michael McNamara and Simon Townsend, the current, UK National, European and International Wayfarer Champions will head up the entry list. However, this is an event for all Wayfarer sailors, whatever their racing expertise or experience, and there will be prizes for silver and bronze fleet sailors as well as the perpetual trophies for race winners.
This year, there will be a new trophy presented at the UK National Championships by the Hodshon family who own the Round Britain record-breaking Wayfarer, Nipegegi. This trophy will be awarded to the crew of the best placed boat with a sail number below 10506. Nipegegi, which has won the UK National Championships several times over the years, will be back in full race trim this summer and competing at the Championships. Her crew will be hoping to be the first winner of this new trophy.
Entry to the Championships is already open. More information can be found on the event page on the Medway YC website at www.medwayyachtclub.com/boating/racing/wayfarer-championships
The Wayfarer is the classic all round sailing dinghy from the pen of Ian Proctor. Thousands of sailors have learned to sail in a Wayfarer and it was for many years the dinghy of choice for sailing schools. The boat is cruised by enthusiasts around Europe and North America. However, in its latest form the Wayfarer has a contemporary Phil Morrison designed interior and fit-out and lends itself to being raced competitively in a wide range of conditions. For more information about the boat and the UK Wayfarer Association visit the UKWA website at wayfarer.org.uk