Cadet Flanders Regatta at Nieuwpoortweek, Belgium

Belgian Open National Championships 2016 © Ian Harris

Cadet Topsport Vlaanderen Nieuwpoortweek Regatta © Jo Harris

Jamie Harris and Hamish Taylor win the Cadet Topsport Vlaanderen Nieuwpoortweek Regatta and Open category at the Belgian National Championships 2016 © Jo Harris

Cadet Topsport Vlaanderen Nieuwpoortweek Regatta including Belgian Open National Championships

"Four seasons in one day" would aptly describe the four days of weather extremes served up this week in Flanders, which proved challenging for the sailors and the event organisers in equal measure. With a vicious swell on Saturday - that saw the 60 International Cadet sailors sent back into harbour after braving the boiling sea and howling winds - to an excruciating light wind finale where the rapid tide ripped through the sun kissed, nail biting, title decider.

Jamie Harris and Hamish Taylor took the title in the final race from Belgian sailors Thibaud Dirix and Ziva Perko. In a race of tactics and skill, of tide and endurance and in fickle breeze, Jamie gathered just enough speed from the start line to cover Thibaud, tactically edging him down stream and away from the windward mark. Taking advantage of some timely shifts and the last little bits of pressure in a falling breeze, Jamie then set about the remainder of the beat to lead at the top mark. With the powerful tide setting in and with barely a zephyr, Thibaud was left struggling as the title and the famous trophy slipped from his grasp. Jamie commented later that "that was one of the best beats I have ever sailed", a fitting title decider.

Thibaud showed commanding speed at times, and had enough to recover from some disappointing starts to put a very good series together with only one result out of the top 10 (to count). Sarah Roosen, last year's champion and title contender, collected 2 black flags and a DSQ that sadly ruled her out of a title defence, Victor De Ripansel and Kobe Stroobandt however were consistent to finish 4th overall. But, it was GBR's Ellie Wootton and Amelia Mayhew who kept calm and collected in all conditions to take third place on the podium, and first of the Ladies.

Ellie's win in race 6 and string of top 10 places was excellent in the variable weather, and it was encouraging to see Katie Sparks and Hazel Whittle, also with a race win, hot on her heels in fifth with an ever improving performance. Megan Ferguson and Yasmin Sfaxi, Hattie and Hamish Collingridge, and Issy and Emily Spears followed Katie, with Cara bland and Faye Chatterton in twelfth.

A massive thank you must go to Tom Mallindine and the GBR ribs for getting the GBR team (plus guests) out of the harbour for some training on the bright sunny Monday afternoon. After some speed tuning and light wind practice, Tom arranged some fun racing (and swimming) amongst parents and children with everyone swapping boats and roles. It was a lovely reminder of what fun can be had when messing about in boats, with laughter and smiles all round.

With the GBR team for the 50th Cadet Worlds using the event as a warm up it was interesting to see how well the team are developing next to our European neighbours. Lots of international new friends were made in the dinghy park during the long waits for launching and we are looking forward to seeing them all again at the UK Cadet Nationals in WPNSA later this summer.

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Overall Results: