Corinthian Otter Cadet Open sponsored by Zhik at Burnham on Crouch

by Matt Barr 4 Mar 2016 12:27 GMT 27 February 2016

Corinthian Otter Cadet Open © Matt Barr

A total of 23 boats arrived on a chilly but dry morning on 27th February 20016 for the first Open Event of the Cadet calendar at The Corinthian Otters in Burnham on Crouch. The Organisers had been watching the Forecast carefully all week and were very happy to find that the wind had dropped to give almost perfect conditions.

Slick pre-planning ensured we were ready to go as soon as possible in order to get the maximum 5 races in. The North Easterly wind direction was not ideal but PRO Edwin Buckley managed to set a course diagonally across the river with a reaching leg which, to the delight of the parents viewing from the club house brought the boats right across in front of the club.

Race one saw Waldringfield duo of Ellie Wootton & Amelia Meyhew in Zest (GBR9876) showing superior boat speed from the off. They lead from the outset and never looked like they would lose, until a navigational error saw then turn back up the beat, followed by several others, gifting race 1 to Hazel Whittle & Charlotte Leigh in Wizard (GBR8853), Second was Amy & Ben Goult in Aquillo (GBR9510) and third was Hattie and Hamish Collingridge in Mistofeles (GBR8553), All from Waldringfield.

Race 2 started in quick order and once again Zest was showing well, Ellie didn't have it all her own way however with Isobel & Emily Speirs in True Colours (GBR9984) from Frensham vying for the lead all the way round. On the last reach to the finish It was the Speirs girls who managed to steel the win from Zest in second and not far behind was Finbar Wormell & Oscar Ferenczy in Leathal Menace (GBR8847) from Frensham.

Once again Edwin worked quickly to get race 3 underway and Zest were not going to be beaten this time. Ellie & Amelia sailed a faultless race to win from Katie Spark & Connor Line in Lift Off (9321) (Waldringfield) with Isobel & Emily coming in 3rd. It was then a dash ashore for a bowl of steaming hot Lasagne, which judging by the empty plates was very well received, a short rest then a return to the fray. All achieved within an hour or so.

Corinthian Otter Cadet Open - photo © Matt Barr

Nobody knows what was in the Lasagne but it certainly agreed with local due Ben & Phoebe Barr sailing Whatever (GBR9027) from the Corinthian Otters. The wind had increased by a couple of knots and this seemed to suit the Burnham pair who lead round the 1st windward. Close in attendance were a clutch of others including the ever present Zest. Whatever & Zest contested the lead all the way round only for Ellie to make the same race 1 mistake again to let Ben & Phoebe in at the finish. Ellie recovered to hold onto 2nd with Hattie & Hamish taking 3rd.

The final race of the day left Ben and Phoebe thinking if only they had eaten Lasagne for breakfast what might have been as the lead away from the gun to eventually take their 2nd bullet of the day. An excellent performance from Finbar & Oscar secured second with the consistent Ellie & Amelia in 3rd. It was then back to shore for all the competitors to be greeted with a welcome cup of Hot Chocolate as they came off the water.

Once the points had been counted, Ellie & Amelia's consistent sailing was enough to secure the event and the School boy trophy, which, coincidentally had been won by both Ellie's Aunt & Mother when they were Otters in the dim and distant past. Isobel & Emily were second and Hattie and Hamish were third. Lucie Nunn and Ethan Davey won the spot prize finishing in lucky 13th place.

Corinthian Otter Cadet Open - photo © Matt Barr

A great end to a great day which by all accounts had achieved what it set out to do: Give high quality competitive racing before the first indicator with the bonus of being able to get an excellent view from a warm club house. My Thanks go to event sponsors Zhik and everyone who contributed to the organisation of the event. It is hoped we can do the same next year and into the future.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1	9876	Zest	Ellie Wootton	Amelia Mayhew	Waldringfield	15	2	1	2	3	8
2	9984	True Colours	Isobel Speirs	Emily Speirs	Frensham Pond	6	1	3	4	5	13
3	8553	Mistofelees	Hattie Collingridge	Hamish Collingridge	Waldringfield	3	5	5	3	6	17
4	9027	Whatever	Ben Barr	Phoebe Barr	Corinthian Otters	10	8	9	1	1	19
5	8847	Leathal Manace	Finbar Wormell	Oscar Ferenczy	Frensham Pond	9	3	17	6	2	20
6	9321	Lift Off	Katie Spark	Connor Line	Waldringfield	14	9	2	9	4	24
7	9001	Racing Stripes	Erin Marks	Sam Goult	Waldringfield	4	24	6	5	9	24
8	9510	Aquillo	Amy Goult	Ben Goult	Waldringfield	2	6	13	7	11	26
9	9020	What's It Called	Anna Morgan	Jemima Hill	Frensham Pond	13	4	7	8	8	27
10	8852	Wizard	Hazel Whittle	Charlotte Leigh	Waldringfield	1	7	12	12	10	30
11	9390		Phoebe Brashaw	Mimi Slump		7	16	10	11	12	40
12	8441	It Takes Two	Oli King	Sophia Sfaxi	Frensham Pond	11	14	20	10	7	42
13	9994	May Contain Nuts	Lucie Nunn	Ethan Davey	Frensham Pond	8	10	8	18	17	43
14	9962	The Great Escape	Cara Bland	Daisy Nunn	Waldringfield	24	13	4	14	13	44
15	8420	Tantrum	Rosie Targett	Annabel Seabrook	Frensham Pond	5	11	14	13	15	44
16	8352	Blu Calula	Caley Terkelsen	Lainey Terkelsen	Stone	12	15	11	15	14	52
17	9576	Ecko Gecko	Lia Fletcher	Olivia Gallard		18	12	16	16	16	60
18	8541	Stress	Ben Warington	Ollie Mears	Corinthian Otters	17	17	15	17	18	67
19	9029	Freestyle	Katie Lloyd	Sophie Dawson	Corinthian Otters	19	18	19	19	19	75
20	9386	No Messin	Kate White	Rhona Enkel	Waldringfield	16	19	18	24	24	77
21	8415	Chalenger	Freddie Pitcher	Charlie Corbett	Corinthian Otters	21	20	24	24	24	89
22	8333	Sizzin Hot	Toby Slump	Wiliam Shepard	Frensham Pond	20	22	24	24	24	90
23	8542	Pure Genius	Jamie Rashbrook	Lawton Fennesey	Corinthian Otters	24	21	24	24	24	93