Waldringfield Cadet Open sponsored by Anglia Factors & Neil Pryde - Day 1

A healthy fleet of 18 Cadets were met at Waldringfield by a good forecast for breeze and the prospects of skies clearing for some sun in the afternoon of Saturday 24th June. It was that tricky wind direction with the westerly coming over the clubhouse threatening shifty conditions but we were at least guaranteed a good midday high tide just of springs.

The fleet set off towards the Galleons Hard area of the beautiful Deben with the anticipation being some classic Cadet short taking against the tide through the Rocks. After one recall the young sailors indeed headed straight inshore for some tidal shelter with Hattie and Hamish Collingridge establishing an early lead around the zig zag course with 2 reaches, 2 gybes and a run. They extended over the two laps from Angus Collingridge and Emilia Green and Faye Chatterton and Amelia Mayhew in third, finishing in that order.

Race 2 was back to back. Same course, same leaders who had pulled out a leg lead by the finish from Cara Bland and Ed Fletcher in second and Kate White and Rhona Enkel in third. The story here was about the start where of two gun jumpers only 1 returned and where 1 who wasn't over went back unnecessarily. It was also about spotting the tide had turned as several boats overstood the windward mark late in the race whilst others made significant gains by coming out into more pressure early once the tidal influence was on the wane.

After a quick turnaround for lunch followed by a less than quick course laying due to continual anchor dragging by the committee boat, race 3 got under way with the best wind of the day hitting highs of 15 knots. This time a windward leeward with a fair tide beat and a choice of gate marks to round at the bottom. Off the start Cally Terkelsen and Phoebe Barr took the early lead to be overhauled at the top of the beat by Hattie and Mish. Heading back down the run there wasn't a lot of original thinking going on - perhaps they were all brain dead after too much Love Island watching - as the fleet like sheep followed Hattie to the Rocks shore for tidal shelter but also not a lot of wind under the trees. That is except for Kate and Rhona who rounded fourth and confidently gybe set towards the left bank and in loads more pressure. By the leeward they were rewarded by a healthy lead with Hattie, Angus and Cara all giving chase. After the second beat the front two had closed up and after some spinnaker snafus Hattie took the lead down the run only to relinquish it again thanks to some keel-hauling at the leeward gate. Kate managed to hit the mark but still retook the lead and then withstood a late charge from Hattie covering hard up the final beat to take the win. Cara and Ed leapfrogged Angus up the last beat to take 3rd. Our resident fan Sidney the Seal was in his usual spot sunbathing on the mud, quite unmoved by the noise and commotion. No doubt he will be back tomorrow when we are joined by the U21 laser radials.

It was good to see lots of improvement from some of the newer helms with things much tighter at the back as the day went on. James Russell/ Tristran Whittle, Matteo Mancini/ Gabriel Hill, Marc Atkinson/ Finley Addison and Jamie Goodhead/ Robbie Stewart all deserve a mention as there was plenty going in the scrap for the lower places too. Top tip from the PRO for them is watching the jib telltails and staying on the wind on the beats so important with a vicious foul tide.

So after barbecue, rounders and footie, the overnight positions see Hattie and Mish leading on 4pts, from Angus and Emilia (11pts), Kate and Rhona (12pts) and Cara and Ed (14pts).