Wayfarer Craftinsure National Circuit Open at Blackwater Sailing Club
by Sam Pygall 9 Oct 10:16 BST
5-6 October 2024
Wayfarer Craftinsure National Circuit Open at Blackwater © Zoe Nelson, BSC
After a short gap following the double header of National Circuit opens at Arun Yacht Club and Aldeburgh Yacht Club and the Northerns at Leigh and Lowton, the Craftinsure UK Wayfarer National Circuit resumed over the weekend of the 5-6th October at Blackwater Sailing Club.
The event shared with the Snipe Fleet which ensured a great social and camaraderie across the competitors. The event saw a competitive fleet of Wayfarers take to the water, with visiting teams from Bexhill (Colin and Lexie Goodman), Bough Beech/Medway Yacht Club (Elliot Marks and Sam Pygall) and Walton and Frinton Yacht Club (Arlo Atkins and Penny Smith) vying for top honours alongside the home fleet. To increase interest and encourage participation, the fleets were split into Gold and Silver fleets which worked well to create a widespread sense of competition.
Day 1: Champagne Conditions
After arrivals and a competitor briefing, the first day of racing was marked by champagne sailing conditions with flat open water, and a steady force 3-4 from the south east and triangle-sausage racing configurations. Race 1 was notable with the sight of Elliot Marks and Sam Pygall, having watched too much Louis Vuitton Cup, confusing their Wayfarer with an AC75 and stalling at the start, much to their embarrassment. Taking full advantage, Jess and Rob Haigh had a cracking first beat and led at the windward mark, chased closely by Steve and Jack Perkins, Colin and Lexie Goodman and Alan and Janet Hoy. Some nip and tuck racing then unfolded with the Goodmans coming through to take line honours ahead of a charging Marks/Pygall who just pipped the Haighs on the line. Game on!
Race 2 was held in much the same wind but this time Marks and Pygall had learnt their lesson from race one, powering up to the line having allowed for a few hundred metres to get up to full racing speed and port tacked the fleet to charge off down the first windward leg. Making no mistakes, they held this position to the finish to get back into the running for the event overall, but the Goodmans showed consistency and took a hard fought second from Team Haigh.
With a clear plan in place, Marks and Pygall looked to replicate their AC75 starting technique in the third race but had the Goodmans as closer company at the windward mark. However, gear failure on the Marks/Pygall boat in the form of a broken spinnaker uphaul gave them some challenges, particularly on the fine reaches. However, they held off the Goodmans to take second win of the day and hold a slender one-point overnight lead. The Haighs were third, the Hoys 4th and the Perkins 5th. Clem and Dave Evans led the silver fleet going into day 2.
As is traditional with the Blackwater open, the fleet were provided with an excellent evening meal in the form of fish and chips and some evening chats relieving the excellent day on the water.
Day 2: Tight Competition
Day two saw slightly windier conditions, with a force 5 being registered at the club weather station, again from the south east. As it transpired, the wind was a bit lighter than this on the water to begin with but did build and then dropped during the day.
Marks and Pygall continued their starting technique from day 1 but this time they left too much of a gap from the committee boat, which the Goodmans nailed and took a lead that they steadily built over the first two laps with a demonstration of boat-speed and boat-handling. The Goodmans were cruising to line honours except a wind shift on the last wing mark gave them trouble as the last reach was had now a "white sail" only leg. Marks and Pygall just about realised this change of circumstances in time and worked the boat hard down the reach while the Goodmans looked to close the door having been blown sideways. The two teams crossed the line close together, but the Goodmans took it to take the regatta down to a last race decider. A consistent Haigh team took 3rd and the Evans team took a credible 4th to seal the silver fleet with a race to spare.
Adapting their starting approach with the regatta on the line, Marks and Pygall adopted some interesting pre-start manoeuvres to win the committee boat at the start of the third race. The wind was up at its highest strength of the weekend, and they powered up the first beat with the Goodmans and Haighs in hot pursuit. Largely untroubled for two laps, the wind dropped noticeable on the last lap and the Goodmans and Haighs closed significantly. Holding their nerve on a tense final set of reaches, Marks/Pygall crossed the line just ahead of both teams to secure the event by a point. A superb and tense last race to a great event. Many congratulations to Elliot who won his first Wayfarer Open with a consistent display of starting tactics, race management and upwind and downwind boat speed. Great credit must go to Colin and Lexie who followed up their excellent runner-up spot at the mixed wind Arun event which another runner-up spot here. W998 has a rich history in the Wayfarer fleet and its great to see the "woodie" hold its own against the MKIVs.
Local Talent Shines
Worth a mention and great to see, local sailors Jess and Rob Haigh from Blackwater SC, sailing Jay Jay (10925), showcased their local knowledge by securing third place overall with 12 points. They demonstrated a consistent performance across the races. It was great to see the participation across the fleet and the silver fleet concept worked well to encourage participation.
Overall Results:
1. Fiasco (11120) - Elliot Marks & Sam Pygall (Bough Beech SC) - 5 points
2. Bertha Bell (998) - Colin & Lexie Goodman (Bexhill SC) - 6 points
3. Jay Jay (10925) - Jess & Rob Haigh (Blackwater SC) - 12 points
4. Nomad (11183) - Clem & Dave Evans (Blackwater SC) - 22 points
5. No Name (11356) - Alan & Janet Hoy (Blackwater SC) - 23 points
6. Oystercatcher (10757) - Steve Perkins & Jack/George Perkins (Blackwater SC) - 26 points
7. Nimbus (10740) - Arlo Atkins & Penny Smith (Walton Frinton Yacht Club) - 32 points
8. Hokken (10661) - John Joyce & Tim James (Blackwater SC) - 38 points
9. Dragonfly (11364) - Belinda Hunt-Sturge & Colin Hansford (Blackwater SC) - 42 points
10. Quicksilver (10947) - Graham & Georgina Fisher (Blackwater SC) - 44 points
The Blackwater Sailing Club UKWA Craftinsure National Circuit Open meeting was a resounding success once again, with excellent racing and sportsmanship on display. A particular shout out to Steve Perkins and the Blackwater team for the excellent organisation both on and off the water. The event was a testament to the skill and dedication of the Wayfarer sailors and sets the stage for the final event in the Craftinsure National Circuit at Bough Beech on the 9-10th November. Hope to see you there for a fitting finale for the Circuit in 2024!