Notes From The National Committee
The annual meeting of the Wayfarers was held on Saturday evening, August 13. The most important business of the evening was the election of new officers.  The slate presented by Fleet 2 was elected and the new officers are listed at the top of the page.

The United States Nationals were held August 13 and 14 at Stony Creek Metropolitan Park near Rochester, Michigan.  Twenty-eight boats registered for the event. Saturday the winds were light to moderate for the first two races and picked up to 15-20 mph for the third race.  The two races Sunday were run under cloudy skies with fair winds in the first race and drift conditions for the fifth and last race.  The course was shortened for the fifth race due to the lack of wind.

Serving on the Race Committee this year, and doing an excellent job, were: George Blanchard, John Green, Mike Denholm, and John Aramanda.  Many thanks to them for a well-run race.  The final results for the Nationals follow:

Jack Reulbach of Cleveland and Bob Keefer of Rochester fought hard for the "DNF Trophy", which is not awarded because children are in attendance and some sailors have been known to be irate when reminded of their misfortunes.  Both Jack and Bob have sailed well all season and really had all the bad luck on this weekend.

Don Healy was behind throughout the series after crossing early in race two and interfering with at least three other starters while trying to slow down his boat. The fourth race was the turning point.  After starting last, Don sailed past 25 other Wayfarers to finish second.  The flukey winds in the 'bay' part of the course seemed to bother most skippers in this race.   The final race, a drifter with holes of no wind and streaks of 1-3 mph winds prevailing, was shortened to a two-leg course.  Don feels his deep-draft main helped considerably.

Jack and Jan Pierce in 737 did well starting at the uncrowded leeward end of the line.  In one race this end was actually favored, and in all but the last race, Jack managed to sail in clearer air and moved more quickly up the windward leg.  Jan did an excellent job with the jib on the important reaching legs and they usually managed to improve their position downwind.  A somewhat costly luffing match in race three enabled Gene Perme to slip by Jack and Don Healy to hold first position until almost the finish.

Al Healy and Bill Glaspie each did an excellent job with starts, windward work, and tactics to stay on top of over twenty competitors in four out of their five races.

Both Bill Worrall and Gene Perme had excellent races but couldn't put four together.  Gene Perme from Cleveland needed just another day of sailing on Stony Creek Lake.  It was clear to all that he was beginning to handle the shifting winds better each race.

Avon Sailboats presented a trophy which will be given annually to the top skipper his first year in the National Championships.  This year, the award was won by Bob Huston of Fleet 4, Cleveland.

George Blanchard, the chairman of the Canadian Wayfarer Association, was a guest at the dinner and, in his usual erstwhile manner, managed to work in 27 speeches during the evening.

Note: Don and I were extremely pleased and surprised by the plaque that was awarded to us at the dinner.  It is gratifying to be appreciated and we have been rewarded many times over by the fellowship and fun we have with all our fellow members.  Thank you so much.  Gen Healy
 

The North American Championships will be held September 3, 4, and 5, at South Port Sailing Club, Windsor, Ontario.  John Green, who is chairman of the event this year, informs us that there should be about 40 boats entered this year.  United States arrivals may appreciate the following information.  Take the John Lodge Freeway, follow signs to Canada via the Tunnel.  In Canada, while passing through Customs, you will be headed North.  Exiting from the Customs, turn left and go about 30 yards to the stop light (Ouelette Avenue), turn right (north), drive four blocks and turn right on Riverside Drive heading East.  The Sailing Club is 11.2 miles along Riverside Drive which follows the shore.  Riverside Drive ends at "South Port Sailing Club." The corner is marked by a flashing amber light.

Around The Fleets
Fleet  #1 - Chicago. No news.

Fleet #2 - Detroit. This group has completed five of their six regular season races. 
The sixth will be held in September at Lake Orion.
Note: There has been a change of dates for the Lake Margrethe Invitational.  This weekend event will be held October 15 and 16 at Grayling, Michigan.  The sailing is great and the season is beautiful.  We invite you all to join us for a weekend of fun.

Fleet #4 - Cleveland.  Several members participated in the Put-in-Bay Regatta which was held August 8, 9, 10.  Jack Reulbach "out-pointed" Gene Perme to finish first overall.  These two skippers came directly from Put-in-Bay to the Nationals and had some very exciting stories to relate about their experiences there.  In one race the winds were blowing 40-45 mph.  Reulbach capsized, his wife Beverly was caught under the boat for a few hairy minutes, but they managed to get the boat righted and finish the series in fine shape.

Fleet 4 sponsored their first invitational in July.  Although the turnout wasn't as good as anticipated, they provided an interesting weekend.  Results were:  First - Nelson Richards, Second -  Bob Keefer, Third - Bill Worrall.

Fleet #5 - San Francisco. This fleet is more a cruising fleet than a racing fleet. They are able to cruise throughout the year, which makes them the envy of fleets in the midwest.  Last April, during a cruising weekend to Tomales Bay, Stan Heggen sprained his knee quite badly during a squall.  He spent several months on crutches and wasn't able to sail for some time.  We hope all is well again.  It is good to get news from Stan and the group out there.  We hope they will keep us informed of their activities.

Fleet #6 - Lake Orion, Michigan.  On September 11, the Lake Orion Boat Club will sponsor an inter-fleet regatta for Michigan boats.  There will be several classes of boats sailing in this event including Wayfarers from Fleets 2 and 6.  The Michigan Invitational Regatt, sponsored by Fleet 6, will be September 24 and 25. This is one of the most popular Wayfarer sailing events of the year.  This year it will be bigger and better than ever because Fleet 6 has grown to a fleet of seven boats now.  Let's all try to be there.

Fleet #7 - Longview, Washington.   No News.
 
 

USED BOAT FOR SALE
Wayfarer #1126.  Metal mast and boom, Elvstrom bailers, sliding tracks, boat cover, spinnaker, 2 paddles, life jackets, Jeckell sails. . . . .$1500.
Contact: Hans Callies, 1484 W. Winnemac, Chicago, Illinois 60640  Telephone 312-516-1285
 
 

COMMENT ON MEASUREMENT RULES
The adjustable luff jib has become a topic of controversy this season.  The executives of both the Canadian and U. S. Associations have approved this modification to the normal jib but there seems to be some misunderstanding as to what the adjustable luff jib does.

The head of the jib is secured to the luff wire which is in a fixed position. Without changing the halyard the head of the jib cannot move from its position.  The luff wire runs through a seam in the jib and is not secured to the sail cloth at the tack.  The luff wire, however, is in a fixed position at the bow plate and cannot be raised or lowered.  Now, the only adjustment is made by fastening a line to the sail cloth at the tack cringle and stretching the sail at the tack.  The jib stays within an inch and a half of the height off the deck which it was secured at the dock.  Any changes in tension later just alter the shape of the sail, moving the pocket forward or aft, rather than raising or lowering the jib.  The new prohibition, "No method of adjusting the tension on the luff. other than adjustment of the halyard is permitted." was taken from the British Wayfarer class rules and added to the form being distributed.  This sentence follows a rule prohibiting the use of zippers in the mainsail.  It is doubtful that the intent of the luff tensioning rule was to prevent skippers from raising their mains to the black band at the head of the mast then pullin~ down on the boom to get the right tension.  It is also doubtful that the adjustable luff jib is not to be adjusted since the rules approved in the United States and Canada permit the use of the jib.  The only other type of tensioning device that comes to mind is the lever action halyard tensioner or possibly the Cunningham hole in the main.  Until this has been cleared up to the satisfaction of our association, I would not advise race committees to rule against a skipper following a protest regarding luff tension.

A FEW WORDS FROM THE NEW COMMODORE
This year's United States Championships were well attended and the competition the closest yet.  From all indications, it appears this is the year the United States will capture the North American Championships.

With the series being held in Windsor, it is only a few hours for most U.S. boats to attend, so I urge you to come out and be a part of the upset of the year.

We need you!

The Skimmer Staff welcomes comments from members on anything we print.   We do need more news from the fleets.  Send information to:

Bill Worrall, Commodore, 41427 Crabtree Lane,  Plymouth, Michigan
or
Marianne Ayres (Mrs. Paul), 755 Parkdale, Rochester, Michigan 48065