Congratulations to 2022 Wayfarer World Champions Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend
Mike Mac and Simon Receiving the Championship Prizes
Now 5 Time Winners who held onto the title they first won in 1992, 2001, 2010 and most recently in 2019. The Champs Run every 3 years, Mike has finished in the top 3 on the other 3 Occasions he’s competed and didn’t make to 2 Canadian & a Denmark events.
That’s 8 podium finishes 5 Wins over a 30 year period, amazing!!
With Trophies for many of the individual races that’s a hefty engraving bill.
It must be the X factor! – We Done Mike and Simon from all @ RSBC
Friday: Congratulations to our 2022 World champions, Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend, who held onto the title they first won in 1992 and most recently in 2019, in an epic battle with local heroes, Dave Moring and daughter, Ava, who fell just a few points short of pulling off the greatest Wayfarer upset ever. Dave and Ava of the host Lake Eustis SC had a spectacular run of four straight wins, moving to within two points of Team McNamara in the 41-boat fleet before running out of gas in the 11th and final race.
Mike Leading the Way Race 6
Earlier: Forty-one Wayfarers (above) are embellishing Florida’s Lake Eustis this week as they compete for the Wayfarer world title. After Monday’s two races, we had a surprise in the results as local hero, Dave Moring and daughter, Ava, placed 2-2 and held a one-point lead over defending World champions, Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend (1-4) at day’s end. Tuesday however, saw the heavily favoured team of Mike and Simon leave no doubt with a pair of convincing wins as they have begun to pull away from the Morings (5-5) and the fleet. Today’s warm, partly cloudy overcast and WSW winds of 12 mph should enable the Committee to run three or more races as the one-drop scenario re-arranges the top end of the leader board. Wednesday: Three races. Mike Mac and Simon T. take stranglehold on series. Thursday: Two light-air races, the second a drifter which saw only ten boats finish within the time limit. Light-weights, Dave and Ava Moring, scored another pair of firsts, serving emphatic notice that the series is far from over with a final race expected to complete the series tomorrow. The previously high-flying Team McNamara came back to earth with 9-10 finishes, leaving them at 12 points, a comfortable 4 points up on Team Moring. But there will be some pressure on Mike and Simon when you look at Mike’s pair of certified discards while Dave and Ava have nothing worse than a 5th to drop. Eustis forecast for Friday is cloudy and warm, S to SSW winds 9 to 11 mph. Friday- 1st Race save Dave and Eva take the Win and with Mike & Simon in Third, now just 2 points in it with the final Race to come. In the Final Race Mike and Simon were Third, Dave and Eva running out of steam to finish 8th. Now that was a close one.
Throughout the champs the RBSC Whats’s group was keeping a eye on the results, it was a bit of a roller coaster. Re-live it in the table below- Mike looking very comfortable after Wednesday and less so on Thursday and Friday.
A perfect wind direction and mild temperature saw a great turnout, including 5 visitors, set out on the first 1 km beat along the entire length of Rollesby Broad for this year’s New Years Day Open. With a good breeze blowing there were capsizes and anyone who could break clear of the main fleet traffic and find some clear air was likely to prosper, the usual ‘stay away from the banks’ strategy on the return run only seemed to pay for spinnaker boats rather than the single-handers who were significantly split in downwind tactics.
Race Start
Rather unsurprisingly it was Daren Pike in his Phantom who led round race 1; perhaps inspired by the challenge of lapping daughter Emily in her Topper; he managed it comfortably in race 1 only by a few seconds in race 2. His closest challenger on the water was Daniel Bull in his Laser, revelling in the strong conditions Bull took both the first two races on handicap and hence the meeting! Behind these front two the racing was extremely close with only one point overall separating third from seventh.
Dave Houghton & Jon Symonds struggled to get their Wayfarer to the front of the fleet upwind, but once they raised their spinnaker they were able to make up their handicap with Richard Bailey & Ian Curtis also enjoying the kite flying on the long run. Roger Wilson and Ian Ayres led the nine strong Solo fleet, swapping wins in the morning, but unable to escape far enough from Ellie Edwards in her Splash who enjoyed her morning with two fourth place on handicap.
After a capsize and a DNF in race 1 slightly more space (13 starters) and a change of course for the afternoon clearly suited Howard Astley-Jones in his Vareo as he record a win to snatch third place overall on a tie break with Pike and Edwards, coming ashore the sailors had no idea of the overall minor places; Bailey and Wilson were also tied just one point from third.
Prize Winners.
Overall Results
1. Daniel Bull (Laser) – 2 pts 2. Dave Houghton & Jon Symonds (Wayfarer) – 5 3.Howard Astley-Jones (Vareo) – 8 4. Daren Pike (Phantom) – 8 5. Ellie Edwards (Splash) – 8 6. Richard Bailey & Ian Curtis (Wayfarer) – 9 7. Roger Wilson (Solo) – 9
A damp overcast day may have been off putting but members did turn up. 14 boats challenged for the Annual Pursuit Race Trophy. The light east wind gave a reasonable beat from marks 5 to 6. The variable wind over the rest of the course lead to much place changing and the successful sailors were those in the “right place.” Ellie Edwards in her splash was the first boat to start and maintained a good lead for four laps. Dave Houghton and John Symonds in their Wayfarer together with Roger Wilson in his Solo closed the gap on the last lap and after a telling beat came round the top mark just behind the Splash. As the race timed out on the reach Ellie became sandwiched with the Wayfarer just in front and the Solo behind. Dave and John were the defending trophy holders and able to reclaim the “Bent Vase”
Pursuit Race
Angie and Keith provided the mince pies and mulled wine to warm everyone up.
With the weather turning wetter only five single handers sailed the next race. This was won by Ellie with Howard Astley Jones second in his Vareo. A consolation prize for Howard who was very late at the start line in the pursuit.
RESULTS PURSUIT RACE
Wayfarer Dave Houghton and John Symonds
Splash Ellie Edwards
Solo Roger Wilson
Laser Chris Foster
Laser Daniel Bull
Laser Keith Sykes
Solo Kevin Edwards
Streaker Phil Highfield
Solo Matt Boreham
Solo Kevin Postlethwaite
Laser Stuart Highfield 12 Wayfarer Ian Curtis 13 Solo Phil Alison
After receiving 2 sides of paper on what we needed to do to gain RYA recognition at our first inspection, the Rollesby committee got to work on making sure that these things happened. From sourcing fire extinguishers for the powerboats and a map of the broad in case we get lost, preparing the training boats and replacing the accident book with hopefully more future entries than the 2 in the last 3 years!
This year we have had 15 different junior sailors participating on Friday sailing sessions and we have gained several family and junior members as a result. Not only have our junior sailors received certificates but we also have parents keen to learn to sail on our adult courses next year. The atmosphere on these evenings has been amazing with parents helping with launching as well as tea and coffee and home-made sausage rolls for everyone.
We ran our first RYA L1 course for adults in September which was a very enjoyable 2 days training, gaining 5 new members who are competent enough to take club boats for a sail and hopefully join in with club activities.
A special thank you goes to Ellie Edwards who came to every Friday evening to coach her group, including running the evening when I was unable to attend. Thank you to Liz Phillips who helped most weeks during both blocks of sailing, her calm approach built everyone’s confidence. Thank you to Rhiannon Alger who joined the team in September; a big favourite with the children after spending an evening in the water while they all capsized an opi. Thanks also to Chris Foster who helped Ellie’s group before the summer and Richard Brown filling in when needed.
Next year we are intending to run more junior sailing on Friday evenings, adult courses and an assistant instructor course. The adult courses are in particular high demand so if you are interested or know someone interested they will need to reserve their place quickly.
Why not treat your crew to a beautiful RBSC beanie / cap or hoodie (more options available) from our Norfolk based Club Merc supplier. – Order Here…………
Note From Our Supplier.
Christmas is coming and this has seen an increase in sales in prior years.
Due to the current nature of global supply chains we can guarantee Christmas delivery for orders placed before 1 December 2021.
Any orders after this date will be processed on the best endeavours basis.
We know this is disappointing but forewarned is forearmed in these circumstances.
Congratulations to Mike McNamra and Andy Smith for wining the Albacore Inlands @ Whitefriars SC at the Weekend. Mike and Andy were laying 3rd after day one.
Day 2 saw Mike & Andy close the gap to just one point before the Final Race. With every thing to play for in the final race Mike and Andy scored a bullet to take the championship by 3 points.
Two open events Hickling this October that Rollesby members might be interested in.
HBSC Wayfarer Open
On Saturday 9th October, the HBSC Wayfarer Open. This event is listed by the UK Wayfarer Association as “A relaxed one day open meeting”. It could be a little bit more exciting than that, weather depending! All Wayfarer sailors welcome.
HBSC Solo Open
On Saturday 23rd October Hickling hosts the Solo Dinghy Open. This event is re-scheduled from April and may not be on everyone’s calendar. It still forms part of the National Solo Class Association Eastern Area Series. All Solo dinghy sailors welcome. I hope to see some of you there.
Over the Spring and Summer seventeen of the eighteen races scheduled were completed. One was abandoned part way through because of a thunder storm. The wind co operated on most occasions. The evenings were good fun and well supported with up to eighteen boats out on some nights. When this number are racing the personal handicaps of the first and last four are adjusted! A total of 38 different helms took part over the series.
Pre- Start
The last race took place on a dull and blustery night on 25 August and Sixteen boats set out. Prior to the start there was only four series points between the places of the first five boats so the trophy was “ up for grabs.” A final discard would come into the calculation and Jack Ibbotson looked a good favourite for a series win. Jack set of in his Wayfarer with crew James and was soon in the lead. In the wind and excitement however they repeatedly missed one of the marks on the course and so had to be scored “DNF.” ( as we all know the most important thing about being in front is to go the right way!)
As the race timed out seven boats had closed up together. Roger Wilson with his handicap at plus nine minutes had pulled through the fleet and just passed Richard Foster for a second place. Daniel Bull in his Laser was still ahead to win the race and the series.
Series Places.
1st – Daniel Bull in his Laser 2nd- Richard Bailey and Ian Curtis in their Wayfarer 3rd – Ellie Edwards in her Splash–
Dan has now accumulated a handicap of Plus seven minutes and so will need to work hard next year to retain the crown.
With the series complete an informal fun race will now be set up on Wednesday evenings for the next few weeks. This will be a pursuit race based on boat handicap only. Start time 17.30 hours
HBSC Wayfarer Open 
HBSC Solo Open 