Wayfarer North American Midwinters at Lake Eustis Sailing Club

Wayfarer North American Midwinter Championships in Florida © Trevor Fisher

Wayfarers are a well-known class in North America, with an established racing circuit and a comprehensive calendar of meets and cruises. The 2013 Wayfarer Worlds will be sailed in Canada. The class has received a welcome boost in recent times with a number of new Mark 4 Wayfarers being imported from the UK and some of the UK's successful Wayfarer sailors competing in various events. Last year, the Wayfarer North American Championships were won by Richard and Mark Hartley, the builders of the boat and 3rd in last years UK Nationals. In early February, Trevor Fisher, 2nd in last years UK Nationals and current Irish National Champion competed in the Midwinter Championships in Florida, with Richard Watterson, from Pennsylvania, crewing.

The ‘Midwinters' have been a favourite 3 day regatta on the North American circuit for many years and attract visitors from as far afield as Canada, and many of the northern US states, who join the local fleet at Lake Eustis Sailing Club, in Central Florida for some warm weather, winter racing. The Wayfarer fleet is usually joined over the weekend by a large fleet of ‘MC Scows', a North American class, and this year 47 Scows competed. The weekend was very well run, with excellent windward/leeward courses, leeward gates, good starting lines and waist-stretching catering.

Wayfarers had started to arrive on the 1st February and a couple of days of swapping ideas, brushing off cobwebs and practice races got everyone up to speed. Winds were light, but the forecast for days 1 and 2 was for 10 – 20 mph, with lighter winds for day 3. Boats seemed to be pretty even in terms of speed, but Fisher / Watterson seemed to have an advantage in terms of boat handling. The regatta was unusual in that there would be no discards, so the pressure was on!

Race 1 got underway and Fisher / Watterson led the fleet around the course, in a steady 4 – 5, despite some scrappy gybes on the downwind legs. Nick Seraphinoff, US importer of the new Mk 4s and Al Schonborn, who is a multiple N American Wayfarer Champion, pushed them all the way.

Race 2 followed a similar pattern and again it seemed as though there were local increases in winds every time someone wanted to gybe! Lunch onshore followed and the fleet returned to a dropping wind, with large shifts. These conditions suited Fisher / Watterson and they did a horizon job on the fleet in race 3. Race 4 was closer, but Fisher / Watterson sneaked a win ahead of Schonborn / Krauss.

Day 2 provided lighter winds and the shifting conditions resulted in closer racing. There were almost 50 Scows sharing the course, so tactics and strategy would be a bit different. The three races were close affairs, with Fisher given close races variously by Schonborn, Seraphinoff and Heffernan, but taking the gun on each occasion.

Racing on Day 3 was cancelled, due to lack of wind, giving Fisher / Watterson the title with 7 race wins. 3 of the new Mk 4 Wayfarers competed, finishing in 1st, 5th and 6th, so they didn't have it all their own way!

The event was about much more than the results and all Wayfarer sailors who make the trip to the Worlds in Toronto in 2013 will be assured of a very warm welcome, new friendships, great racing and the prospect of putting on a pound or two! Roll on 2013!

Overall Results: (top 10, no discards)