History and Background:
The Kitchener fleet operates on an excellent artificial lake formed by the Conestoga Darn across the Grand River near Kitchener. The lake has the shape of a 'Y' and we can sail about 6 miles from one end to the other through rolling hills and cottages between April and July while the lake is full.
We race under the burgee of the Conestoga Sailing Club which was chartered about 5 years ago and now has a family membership of about 100. The first Wayfarer appeared on the lake soon after the club was formed in the person of Peter Bassin with PIPPA (W-421). Following Peter was Alan Chovil with CAPRICE (W-439) and the fleet has now grown to seven boats. With many club members still undecided about their choice of boats, we hope to attract some more to our class.
Our Wayfarer fleet was the first to stage a truly international regatta for Wayfarers only. The turnout was splendid and the saying around the clubhouse was: "What is missing in luxury is sure made up in hospitality." (ed. note: hear! hear!)

1965: We staged our second International Invitational Regatta which was again a success. Nine of the best U.S. boats came, along with all the big names in the Canadian racing circuit. Many people brought their camping gear and slept on the Clubhouse lawn along the shore. Weatherwise, we were also lucky with three straight days of sunshine.
Aside from the five races, the pigtail and sauerkraut dinner is becoming an increasingly popular part of our regatta.
The wind was fresh for Saturday's three races. Tom Johannsen (W-649) of TS & CC started out by putting a scare into the local sailors by taking the first race ahead of Peter Bassin (W-421). That order was reversed in the second and third races. On Sunday, the winds were moderate, and Peter managed to hang on to take the Raymond Trophy for the second successive year. Don Healy took the Walper Mug as the top skipper from the other country. 
Final standings: 1st - Peter Bassin   2nd - Tom Johannsen   3rd - Harry Jones   4th - Bill Vandermay
The regatta was covered both by radio and on TV, and at 11.30 on Sunday night you could see yourself on local TV.

Under Bill Vandermay, our racing captain, we also have a very well organized and active local racing schedule. Races are every Sunday at 2.30 p.m. and any visitors are welcome to participate. Although the competition was close, the 1965 winner of the Conestoga Wayfarer Cup was Peter Bassin for the third time, and the cup now retires permanently to Peter's living room. Representing Kitchener in the Canadian Championships was Peter Bassin. Peter was outstanding, along with his wife, Maggie, as crew, as he became the first non-Torontonian winner of that event. Peter also did well in the North American Championships, placing 4th. Alan Chovil found the going tougher and was well down in 23rd place.
Late in the year we received word that our fine friend and fellow Wayfarer sailor, Alan Chovil (W-439) was leaving Kitchener for "hog-town". In a farewell party at the Gibneys, he was presented with a small remembrance cup from the Kitchener Wayfarer fleet. We wish him all the best of luck in Toronto and hope to meet him often on the starting line.

History and Background:
After Brockville, Toronto became the capital of Canadian Wayfarer sailing, hosting every Canadian and North American Championship, a tradition which will finally be broken by holding the 1966 N.A.C. in Windsor. The CWOA executive is mostly based in Toronto, where Wayfarers from eight yacht clubs compete at open regattas, held every Saturday, for the overall Toronto Bay Championship.
Some of the Wayfarers' most notable skippers sailed in Toronto including Alec Lowenthal, Leo Maarse, Wally Cavill, Arthur Earl and our own Chairman, George Blanchard.
A hotbed of keen skippers ensures that Toronto is always represented at any of the major outside ragattas.

1965: Toronto boats again dominated the Wayfarer classic, the North American Championship, placing 1, 2, 3 and eight boats in the first ten, including -
 

The Canadian Championships fell to Peter Bassin of Kitchener, but Mike Schoenborn, Al Schoenborn and George Blanchard, all from T.O. finished 2, 3, 4.

Our own fleet series consisted of eight races, omitting the Port Credit Yacht Club Open Regatta. Six of the eight races counted and Mike Schoenborn was the winner.

History and Background:
Don Paine (W-112) and Herb Bowers (W-111) started the fleet in 1959. When these two started to beat Don Rumble's ancient 14' dinghy, he quickly bought a Wayfarer and started to fight back with great success. By 1965, the fleet had rapidly grown to a total of 15 boats.
The yearly highlight has been the annual North Bay Wayfarer Weekend, an event which has usually had one day of pouring rain and/or heavy gales. This has led to some tremendous fun and games which usually ends up as a social event at the house or cottage of a member. Alec Lowenthal, who has also distinguished himself by falling out of his boat during the N.A.C., used this event as a springboard to fame. A most spectacular spinnaker capsize at the leeward mark was captured for the world by local TV cameras.

1965: North Bay Wayfarer Weekend (1965): Four races were held, and Peter Bassin led the 28 entries in total points.
1st - Peter Bassin     2nd - Dr. Laurie Oxenham (TS & CC)     3rd - Ken Holloway
The winner of the Wayfarer National Cruise Race was Don Paine, followed by Peter Bassin and Tom Johannsen. 

Local races are held Wednesday evenings and Sundays:
 

A note of credit to the perseverance of our North Bay Wayfarers who had awful weather throughout the summer, yet had to cancel only one race.

Two of our boats participated in the '65 Canadians: Don and Richard Paine came 9th, while Don Rumble and crew, Jaye Downard, left early and still took 11th.

A contingent of five Trout Lakers made it to the North Americans at Toronto, with Don Rumble placing an excellent 5th in a closely contested series. Others had a rougher time:
         Jamie Wallace - 16th, Don Paine - 17th, Ken Holloway - 17th, Paul Birnie - 24th
 

History and Background:
Fred Hulke (W-416) was the first Wayfarer in the area, and Don Mason came along with W-95 to found the fleet, which has now grown to five boats.

1965:
Saturday Series: 1st - Fred Hulke, 2nd - Don Mason, 3rd - David Cromarty
Labour Day Regatta: 1st - Don Mason, 2nd - J.F. Swayze

Representing the fleet in the Canadians were: Fred Mason - 14th, Fred Hulke - 16th, David Cromarty - 21st

Fred Hulke also went to the N.A.C. and finished 19th.

John Cromarty and Fred Hulke participated in the Royal Hamilton Y.C. Regatta, with Fred taking home a third.

1966: Labour Day Regatta.
 

Class Association Representative: --
Class Measurer: --
Newsletter Correspondent: Don Davidson

History and Background:
The Ottawa fleet camo into existence with a bang in 1964, as one of the home-towners in the person of Peter Jefferson (W-827) took the North American Championship away from Toronto for the first time. The fleet continued to grow in size and enthusiasm at its home base on Lake Deschenes. Unfortunately, a rules split developed in the surnmer of '65 which flared rather violently at the National Capital Regatta with numerous protests and counter-protests. In any case, diplomatic relations were all but severed, with Ottawa sending no one in '65 to defend the Peter Jefferson title at the North Americans. (ed. note: There was regrettably a conflict in Toronto with this year's National Capital Regatta, so that we were unable to go and attempt to bury our differences and once more establish all our sai1ors as a friendly group. Don Rumble of North Bay attended the regatta this summer, however, and was quite pleased with the situation, and feels that a reconciliation might be effected. Amen from all other Wayfarers, and the most cordial of invitations to our Ottawa brothers and sisters to join what promises to be the best N.A.C. ever held).

1965: No News. If you can manage the time, please send us word of what is happening in your fleet, especially results from the National Capital Regatta.
 

Participation in major events was as follows in 1965:

Canadians: John Green - an excellent 5th, Doug Johnston - 18th
North Americans: John Green - 15th, Doug Johnston - 20th, John Wood - 21st
 

Ron Gillespie, who reports for Hamilton to the Newsletter, is over in England in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manchester. Yet he has not forgotten us, and I am ashamed to have to admit that he has been far more prompt in his reports than I in my replies. Ron has written two letters - one giving us news, the other asking for a newsletter which he missed. (Dear Ron - I can't find the spare copies of it, but there was really only a schedule of the year's events, a plea for membership money and a vote on jib sheets inside or outside shrouds in that very short home-made edition). 

This was the other letter:
In the January Wayfarer Newsletter you appealed for news of the Hamilton Fleet. I am a bit out of touch at the moment for obvious reasons, but the following is what I can remember about last year.

Wayfarers 682 (Seymour Mogford) and 854 (Ron G.) took part in the Tuesday and Thursday evening race series in the miscellaneous centre-board class racing on a handicap basis (Portsmouth yardstick). On Tuesdays 854 came 1st and 682 5th, and on Thursdays 854 came 1st and 682 3rd. Ten boats raced actively - the others were 3 Daysailers, Enterprise, Shearwater, Zenith, 505 and Albacore.

There are three other Wayfarers in the club but unfortunately they were not active in racing. Mel Preston only got his boat half-way through the season but I have no information on the others.

Although I will not be there, I hope that the R.H.Y.C. Regatta will be attended by some boats from Toronto - this would help to popularize the Wayfarer in Hamilton. Last year there was a clash with a Toronto regatta - I think the L.Y.R.A. - I hope that this can be avoided in the future.

I was pleased to see that the North American Championships are to be held in Windsor. I get back to Hamilton about 10 days before and I hope to take part although I shall be rather out of practice.

Best wishes for the coming season. Yours sincerely,