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UK Cadet Class Squad Training at the WPNSA

by Peter Collyer 30 Jan 2014 06:18 GMT 25-26 January 2014
Training at Farmoor on a much better day in the Autumn © Peter Collyer

Wild at Weymouth

The UK Cadet Class squads gathered at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for their first training sessions of 2014 over the weekend of 25/26th January and were treated to the wide variety of conditions so typical of winter sailing.

Saturday morning dawned dry and sunny with a light breeze that allowed all the squads to launch and practice starts. The close-quarters manoeuvres quickly blew away the cobwebs for those who had taken a break from sailing since the last squad weekend at the beginning of December. Lunch was taken ashore while the coaches kept a weather eye on the conditions outside – the forecast had promised plenty of wind by the end of Saturday.

The National Squad were first to launch in the afternoon, and they made the best of conditions that built quickly from 'fun' to 'wild'. Coach Michael McNamara called it a day just in time to get the boats ashore before the worst of the weather arrived, but the Intermediate Squad were not so lucky, arriving at the marina entrance on their way out as the first big squalls hit. Several unwelcome New Year swims ensued before all the sailors got safely back to shore thanks to great work from the team of parents helping in the RIBs.

As promised, it was blowing dogs off chains on Sunday and no sailing was possible. All the squads were kept busy on shore during the morning, and many rosy faces appeared in the canteen at lunchtime following some energetic circuit training. By 1pm the WPNSA weather station was recording gusts close to 50 knots, so the decision was taken to head home early.

There is plenty for the class to look forward to however, despite spending so little time afloat at Weymouth, and racing and training resumes at club level over the first weekend of February. The Fisher's Green Squadron have their first day back on Saturday, while the Waldringfield fleet will be continuing their winter residency at Alton Water on Sunday. These and other local fleets can be contacted via our website at www.cadetclass.org.uk/Membership. And away from the sailing we have exciting plans for the lead-up to our World Championships at the WPNSA in August. Come and meet us at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show (now just over a month away) to learn more!

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