FAREWELL, WAYFARERS - FAREWELL, CHICAGO!

On August 8, I will be leaving for Germany to teach there one year.  I will have to sell SNOOPY for reasons of money needs.  As I go, I have looked back over the time that I have spent in the Wayfarer Class, and also I look to the future with mixed emotions.

Back in 1963, when I first met with the Wayfarer, I saw a growing, eager Class which made me determined to get a Wayfarer.

There is no doubt that the Wayfarer is unequalled as a fun, but racingly sensitive centreboard boat and to my mind, it should be outgrowing the Albacore.  But it has not and is not.  The difficulties with England and high prices were long cited as reasons for the relative lag in class growth. These causes are now removed, however, with good supplies of fiberglass boats available right here from Whitby Boat Works in Ajax at reasonable prices.

Yet the trend in participation is downward, with a few minor exceptions.  Apparently the early energy of the Wayfarers has waned.  Apathy hit a new high on the weekend of June 1 and 2 at Chicago, where I arrived after a 500-mile trip to find myself the only out-of-town participant.  (The same was true at Ottawa last year). 

I have seen enough regattas to know the great amount of effort and money that goes into a regatta of this kind - this one, run by Ed Hoveke and the Kriebergs, was perfect right down to the most beautiful sailing conditions we'll see all year - but only eight boats were there to have the fun.  Instead of justifiable pride, the hosts had to feel embarrassment for the poor turnout and we, in turn, for our lazier out-of-town mates.

When I tell my friends about the greatness of sailing, the Wayfarer is at the centre, and right behind it, is the "Circuit", those time-honoured events at Chicago, Kitchener, "the Canadians", Cleveland, Ottawa, North Bay, "the North Americans” and Lake Orion.

The latter died in its prime due to difficulties with water level in September. Cleveland I have yet to see. Ottawa suffered due to the C.W.O.A. internal split which is now, we hope, healed. Kitchener now has more Albacores and Enterprises. And on June 2, we drank the requiem to the North American Opening Regatta at Chicago.  I really did feel like crying in my beer. I felt sad to see one of the best Wayfarer events go.  I felt sorry for those who worked so hard for so little and sorry for those who missed out.

As it stands - North Bay and the "North Americans" are still growing with the "Canadians" holding their own. The hand-writing is on the wall - let us get ourselves and our friends off our "rectums" and into the fun because, when I return next summer, I don't want to find a dead class into which to bring SNOOPY II  - Please!

P.S. As I said, the weather was beautiful in Chicago - the windy city.  SNOOP'  still likes it there and took the honours despite a dumping in the final race and my walking on water, spinnaker in hand.  Right behind our finishes of 1-1-2 was Bob Spitz (W498) whose much improved form gained him 2-2-1 finishes.  Third place went to Hy Krieberg (W657) ahead of Ed Hoveke (W441) who dumped in the last race.

FOR SALE:
Sails - One set (genoa and main) of Wayfarer sails - $125.00 Contact - P. Friedenberg, B.H.Y.C. - phone 634-8851.

THINK TROUT LAKE CRUISE RACE!

The healthiest Wayfarer fleet in Canada, North Bay, has asked us to announce their big Wayfarer Weekend which is scheduled for August 3-5. Their new Secretary-Treasurer, Ilse Kleimaker (W141) wrote me a charming letter, asking me to invite all Wayfarers:

"We offer nature at its best, clear drinking water all around you, northern hospitality (even on front lawns in the early hours of the morning - if you so desire), mixed with all kinds of weather conditions.

"Latest news from up here: the ice is gone, frostbiters have their boats in the water and I got - in looking forward to the season - a beautiful handmade paddle for Mother's Day!!! Hope to see you on August 3, at the Start Line!

'Till then, Yours truly,
Ilse Kleimaker - Sec.Treas, TLSF"

This letter, plus anyone who has been to this event will convince you that this is an event that is not to be missed!

The following letter has come from England.  We were asked to publish it for your reading.  It will be discussed at the A.G.M.

To: CANADIAN WAYFARER OWNERS' ASSOCIATION

I always read "The Canadian Wayfarer" with great interest and it is fine to hear of the class activities in your part of the world.  I am most grateful to you for keeping me in touch.

In the April 1968 edition, I read of the discussions on the possibility of allowing the CL16 to race with the Wayfarers and hope you will permit me to put forward one point of view that is possibly different from everyone else's, being that of the designer of the Wayfarer.

Professional designers are looked upon in different ways in different parts of the world and sometimes, though the benefits of their work are accepted readily, it is not understood that the results of their work, in other words their designs, are as much their property as the results of the work of perhaps something more tangible that a craftsman may make.  Into their designs may go years of experience and much thought. Such was the case with the Wayfarer - it did not just 'happen'.

Where a design is involved in which the designer agrees to accept a royalty paid on each article built to that design, the situation is that morally anyone who copies the design is in effect stealing.  These are hard words, perhaps, but there is no valid argument against this view, because a design is valuable property and it is being taken without permission and used commercially without payment.

Copyright law varies between countries, but there is a growing appreciation of the value of good design throughout the civilized world and acknowledgement that development largely depends on this.  Sailing boats, of course, are not very important in terms of world development, but the same principle applies and in this country it would be im-possible for a builder to produce a class such as the CL16, purporting to be so close to the Wayfarer in hull form and sail plan that it could race on completely even terms and, therefore, appearing to be pirating the design of the Wayfarer.  It may be equally illegal in Canada but I sincerely hope that we shall not get to the stage when we have to depend upon the law to decide the rights and wrongs of the situation.

I realize that Croce and Lofthouse may argue that for many years they supported the Wayfarer and that both time and money were involved in this.  I agree and would equally point out that their firm has not done this without benefit or profit to which they were fully entitled and welcome, so long as they continued to earn it in the proper way.

It is obvious, also, that Croce and Lofthouse suffered with delivery difficulties on boats supplied from England, but as the designer (not involved in the production of the boat) equally, if not more, concerned than owners and sales agents, that deliveries should be prompt and adequate, I have seen both sides of the picture.  I know that orders were often placed late and that builders were expected to achieve miracles in production because of this.

Several years ago, Henry Croce came to see me in England to persuade me to help him get the Wayfarer into production in Canada.  I agreed to do so and, as a result, undertook a costly legal battle which finally enabled me to arrange for the issuing of a limited number of building licences throughout the world.  Immediately, a licence was offered to Croce and Lofthouse on fair and generous terms, but with the usual protection of the designer's rights in his work.

After more than a year of deliberation and procrastination, Croce and Lofthouse turned down the offer of this licence, as they had come to some sort of understanding with Small Craft Blue Hulls Ltd. (the British builders) that the British firm would set up a subsidiary in Canada to produce Wayfarers for distribution through Croce and Lofthouse.  After a further year, during which I held back on the approaches made by several other firms who were interested in producing the Wayfarer, this scheme also came to nothing.

Now we have selected a good builder for Wayfarers who, I believe, will produce to a high standard and sell at a fair price.  It seems to me that great efforts have been made to help the Canadian Wayfarer Owners to get the kind of boats they want on reasonable delivery and that a great deal of expense has been involved in this, both by the copyright holders and by the presently licensed builder, and I hope that the Class Association will back up this effort in the fullest possible way.

Of course, I acknowledge the efforts that were made by Croce and Lofthouse in the past and in recognition of this made offers which I think can only be judged as being scrupulously fair to them.  They decided not to accept these offers.  That is their undeniable right and, of course, I would not argue against them producing a rival design in opposition to the Wayfarer.  My objection to the C. L. 16 however is more specific in that its sail plan and external hull form are far too close to those of the Wayfarer to be accepted as a mere rival design, or even coincidental.  The fact that the two boats "measure in" together appears to be clear evidence that the Wayfarer hull, structure and sail plan have been used as a basis from which the C.L.16 was copied, subject to minor modification of the internal arrangements.  This I consider to be unwarrantable. It was too much of a coincidence that a builder who previously was involved in Wayfarer assembly in Canada, should produce, by his own unaided efforts, another boat which is capable, as you put it, of racing on equal terms with the Wayfarer because it is sub-stantially identical in hull form and sail plan.

I do hope that members of the Canadian Wayfarer Owners' Association will see this point of view, and will avoid becoming a party to the behaviour of Croce and Lofthouse. I therefore ask the Canadian Wayfarer Class Association to state categorically that it will have nothing whatsoever to do with the C.L.16, nor will it allow that boat to participate in class racing with the Wayfarer on what I might call "brother and sister" basis.  I realize that I cannot object to the two boats being sailed together on an equal handicap in club races, but I do not think it would be right for the C.W.O.A. actively to encourage the C.L.16 by admitting it to your class meetings.

I wish all Canadian Wayfarer Owners a happy sailing season.
 

From your Chairman

Dear Members:

Attached you will find the program for this year's Canadians.  This year we will have Bronte Yacht Club to ourselves and all their facilities will be mustered to give us the best racing ever. Come and race.  It’s great fun and wonderful experience even if you don't win.

We need a record turnout this time to show that the Class is truly alive and ever active.  So come on out and meet the gang and welcome the new Canadian built boats.  You’ll find me somewhere at the back of the fleet if we race true to form.

Yours, Alan Chovil

From your Treasurer

To members who have not paid their 1968 dues as yet: To ensure continued receipt of Association literature and data, and to co-operate with your executive in the carrying out of their responsibilities, please forward dues in arrears, not later than June 28th, 1968.                    Bernard L. Yale
 

From your Secretary

Enclosed find mailing list up to date as possible from information supplied. It is important that I be informed of changes of address and ownership. Your mailing depends on it.

We've heard from the South Port Sailing Club, Windsor, that they will be in a position now, to hold the North American Wayfarer Championships (August 31st to September 2nd).

The first Canadian built Wayfarer seen sailing in competition is performing well up to expectations and we understand 20 or so have been sold with orders well into August.  A special request from the builder, however, to please order well ahead of required time.

Good sailing!

Sid Atkinson

Ian Chovil Wins At Conestoga

Ian Chovil, the son of our noble Chairman, Alan Chovil, edged out North American Champion, Peter Bassin, to win the Annual Conestoga Sailing Club Wayfarer event near Kitchener. Ian (W439) had 8.7 points to beat Peter's total of 9. Third place in the 11 boat fleet went to SNOOPY sailed by a dazzling crew, and nobody noticed whom else!