ERIENCE - Sandringham Yacht Club

WEDNESDAY WONDERSWindspeed - photography by John DynanVantage with the city background - photography by John DynanThe winter of 2011 has brought many highs into theprivileged life of the Wednesday Wonderer.One high has been the continuing stories from MarkWindward, now outed as Jeff Woolhouse from the little redboat Pippa. His readership has grown to such an extentthat answers to his questions have come from as far afieldas Ireland and Poland.Another high is the number of new starters that havejoined us:Uluwatu may be a new boat to us but she has broughtthe well-known faces of Peter Geary and Mal Billings intoWednesdays. Mal’s old boat Ganggajang has been boughtby Paul Mentiplay so it now will replace Flight as a regularcompetitor.Adrenalin has joined Clockwork Orange and Stampede asone of the big ‘glamour’ boats starting at the back of thefleet.Meltemi has joined us. We were worried about Ian Howarthturning up on Wednesdays - Would he check if we werewearing thongs? Did he see me wear my hat in the bar?It would not have mattered if he had, as it’s great to haveStewie’s son and family joining us!Solveig Saga is the latest of a long line of Sagas from JohnWillett and it is great to see him out on Wednesdays.Our block entries this winter numbered 42.Yet another high has been that so many long-timefavourites are still sailing:It is always a joy tosee John Stenfordon Amicus turn upfor a race. Lackof an engine kepthim away for a littlewhile. We wereconfident when thenew engine wentin he would comeback with a rush.Alas first race backhe got the woodenspoon for his effortscrossing at the startline a record fourminutes late. I guessat 92 years of agewe can allow himto be a little tardyoccasionally.The Kauffmanbrothers on Willarieare such darkhorses. They quietly stayed out in the front of the fleet andended the season with three firsts and a third and finishedwith a sixth overall.Midnight Magic is another favourite. Bernie was a fast fillyat the start of the season but the magic didn’t last! She hadto spend too much time away from Wednesday sailing andslipped further back in the field.Cassandra of Melbourne – we all just love Big Bob. Itlooked like nothing could keep him down at the start ofthe season – a fourth, a seventh, a sixth and a second –but, like Bernie, a few too many absences saw his seriesscore rise.A combined age of over 320 years among four regularsailors makes Moana the winner in the age stakes. Theyalmost won the series too, coming in a very credible fifth.Moana is a handicapper’s nightmare. It is either first or lastwith them – no way will they ever become mediocre!Charlie may have lost his angels on Red William but he gothis best mate Lurch back. What a pair! Chuckie has had agreat season coming in eighth.Another long time competitor, not just of WednesdayWonders but in the whole Club, is Phil Spry Bailey and hiscrew from Magic. We are all proud Phil has become a LifeMember of the Club.Some memorable moments of the season:Foggy Dew, after a season of coming at the back of thefleet forgot where last was and turned up at the front of thefleet with a second, three thirds and a fourth!Such joy from Hedonism on the day he didn’t getdisqualified!Old battles have continued:Johnny B Goode and Suri really don’t care where the rest ofthe fleet are. They only look out for each other. Such rivalryreally keeps the crews on their toes and they are steadilymoving up the fleet. They are soon to be joined by PhilMartyn’s new boat – shades almost of one design racing!Red William and Musketeer have been keeping score oneach other as long as I can remember.Lebrock, Windspeed, Alibi, Barnstormer, Public Bar, INSXand the Sec all pretend they are having a long relaxing lunchin the bar when they are really watching to see what theothers are up to. The competition is so tight in this groupthat anyone could come up trumps in any race. It was ofcourse INSX who had the last laugh, winning the seasonjust ahead of Alibi.We are hoping for more competition between Wicked,Bandit and Absolut as they turn up more regularly.The Farr 1020s: Wavelength was consistent as usual andstayed out in front with a third overall. Tequila gave him a18Summer 2011 | syc off the wind