The Wayfarer Inlands were held on the weekend of 7^th and 8^th September at Haversham.  In spite of a poor weather forecast the 17 competitors enjoyed good winds and no rain until racing on Saturday had finished.

Your correspondent arrived on Sunday with Naomi, to cheer on Team Burton / Parry only to find that Les had sabotaged his boat and had to retire from Race 2.  Apparently it was essential to find a jeweller in Milton Keynes to purchase a gift for a particular anniversary later in the week.

Graham was doing a sterling job of attempting to effect the repair, but things went somewhat pear-shaped when he tried to cut some rope with his pliers.  The jaws became completely locked and provided Naomi with an interesting task for the ensuing 10 minutes.

Les returned with only minutes to spare for the start of the final race.  He had apparently visited 5 jewellers in MK Central and in the final shop managed to find the piece he wanted.  It was for his silver wedding anniversary.  All we can say is a well done to Sue for putting up with him for so long.

It will come as no surprise to the Wayfarer sailors among you to be told that Martin Collen won the event.  It is probably better to draw a veil over the performance of Team Burton / Parry.

Haversham is a very welcoming club and by all accounts the natives were friendly.  At least Graham told me that one of them stuck to him like Velcro on Saturday evening! 

15^th September - Les and Graham capsize

There was a brisk wind on 15^th September and the RYA Sailing School were practicing their capsize drill.  In the middle of the race, Les and Graham decided to demonstrate how the experts really do it.

Unlike the RYA Method, Les and Graham choose to get the helm on the centreboard to right the boat.  Graham explains that this is in order to make most efficient use of weight.

Having righted the boat and scooped Graham up perfectly, Les was perhaps unaware that the tip of the mast had managed to catch a fairly enormous clump of weed.

The next part of the Burton / Parry Method probably needs some refinement.  At the moment the Method is as follows:

In order to retrieve the helmsman from the water, the crew is required to heel the boat until a perpendicular line drawn from the top of the mast is precisely 85cm outboard of the gunwale.  This is deemed to be the perfect angle for the recovery of the helm.

Unfortunately what Les and Graham have failed to appreciate is that this also places the top of the mast directly above the helmsman's head.

Those of my readers who possess a vivid imagination can probably see where this is going.  For the rest of you I attach a sequence of pictures.  If you roll your mouse over the images you should see a close-up of the picture.

At this point Les is wearing a tasteful weedy ponytail as a result of a small piece of weed landing on his head.  Our 2 intrepid sailors seem oblivious to what is about to happen as the majority of the weed makes its way back to the water where it belongs.

The approximate moment of impact of the large clump of weed.  The trick here is to remember to keep one's mouth shut.  It is tempting to shout at your crew, but this risks a mouthful of weed and foul smelling mud.  Here it is important to note Graham's concern for his helmsman.

Les is well and truly plastered!  Note that Les is adopting the "eyes wide shut" mode to ensure the minimum of weed / mud ingress.

Les looks pretty grim.  Graham says that there is nothing new there.

If anyone can suggest improvements to the Burton / Parry Method, please contact Les & Graham direct.