Cadet class at the Waldringfield Easter Egg

Cadets at the Waldringfield Easter Egg Open © Juliet Dearlove

Cadets at the Waldringfield Easter Egg Open © Juliet Dearlove

A strong turnout of Cadets at the Waldringfield Easter Egg Open Meeting saw 50 young sailors in 25 boats battling some eggstreme conditions on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. The enthusiastic home fleet were joined by visitors from Brightlingsea, Alton Water and Stone all assembling for some good competition on the usually picturesque River Deben.

The tides and local knowledge always make Waldringfield a challenging venue and that is perhaps part of the reason why the Club produces so many good sailors from its Cadet Squadron but this year the cold, strong wind added to the adversity these keen young sailors had to deal with.

On Good Friday rather surprisingly the Race Officer elected to sail 3 races back to back. Willow and Cara Bland quickly established their dominance by winning all three in The Great Escape -aptly named as was shown in race 3 where they recovered from a poor start to escape from the middle of the pack to take the lead. Alex Page and Aaron Chadwick in Gnat from Brightlingsea / Alton Water were 2nd in race 1 with Lucy and Cally Terkelsen 2nd in races 2 and 3 having travelled from Stone for the first day only.

The attrition rate was high principally due to the cold with only 11 boats completing the third race compared to 18 finishers in race 1 but there was plenty of evidence of excellent sailing as the Force 5/6 gusts from the North East failed to capsize many and most flew their spinnakers at every opportunity. The fact that a Wayfarer was timed doing 12 knots (yes really that is possible) evidenced that it was a day not for the feint hearted!

Day 2 and more breeze but this time some sunshine too. Also a request to the Race Officer not to have the Cadets waiting so long between races appeared to have been actioned. Race 4 saw the fleet starting half way to Galleons and then setting off downriver to The Rocks where a quick leeward/windward sorted out the runners and riders. This time Alex and Aaron took the lead and were chased home to the Clubline finish by Willow and Cara.

After a break, Race 5 took place on a tight figure of 8 just downriver of the Club and there were many places to be gained and lost as the Cadets had to weave their way around the course and ensure they were not fouled by the fleets of Squibs, Wayfarers, OKs, Larks, Lasers, Laser Radials, Fireflies and Mirrors. With 99 boats entered across the different classes it was fast and furious and the wind was still blowing Force 4 to boot. Alex and Aaron again came in 1st but with another 2nd place Willow and Cara had secured victory without needing to sail race 6. They were not ready to stop though and Race 6 saw a return to a Bland, Page one-two.

Places in the rest of the fleet were hard won and lost. Only 3 points separated 5th place from 3rd with Archie Penn and Hazel Whittle being rewarded for their consistency leading home Sam Yale and Harry Chatterton and Ed Harris and Faye Chatterton.

At the prize giving there were more chocolate eggs than Augustus Gloop would have known what to do with and no Cadet sailor went home empty-handed... just reward for some massive performances in these windy conditions.

Overall Results: