Cadet World Team Indicator at Stone Sailing Club - Day 1

St Lawrence Bay produced challenging conditions for the first day of the Stone Indicator. This is the first of three from which the seven members of the UKNCCA team at this year’s World Championship in Argentina will be selected.

82 Cadets entered the event which has been sponsored by Noble Marine Insurance, Moke’s Boats and Mailspeed Marine, together with Race Sponsors; L.A.S. partnership, McNamara Sails, David Wood Opticians, W.L.Cooke Ltd, Seabrook Developments and Team Bull & Co. Support was also received from the Eastern Region of the Co-op.

The first race started under a Black Flag following a General Recall at the first attempt. Halfway up the first beat of a triangle-sausage-sausage course, the wind died for the back of the fleet and produced an extended line of Cadets which was to be a feature of the race. Leaders at the windward mark were Max & Francesca Ingall from Fishers Green sailing 8855, followed by Will Kennedy & Rhos Hawes from Fishers Green/South Cerney in 8539, Zoe McBride & Jack Hardie from Frensham Pond in 9047 and Jess Quinlan & Alex Warrington from Corinthian Otters in 8407. Fifth place was held by Sam Henderson & Tom Jayaskera again from Corinthian Otters in 8378, with Alex Frost & Will McMahon from South Cerney in 8402 one place behind.

The leaders fought hard over the next three legs and by the second windward mark, Will & Rhos led by a short margin from Alex & Francesca, with an extended gap to Jess & Alex in third. Arthur Henderson & Matt Currell from Salcombe/Parkstone in 8561 had moved into fourth place, with Zoe & Jack in fifth, and these positions remained unchanged through to the finish.

By the start of the second race, the falling tide was becoming a greater influence and the Race Officer shortened the gybe leg to compensate. The Black Flag was again brought into play following two General Recalls. Jess Quinlan & Alex Warrington in 8407 led into the windward followed by Abigail Croft & Matt Shorrock from Frensham Pond in 8363. Parkstone sailors Rosie Lawrence & Alice Alcock in 7335 and Amy Yeoman & Naomi Flack in 9161 held third and fourth places respectively, followed by Arthur Henderson & Matt Currell in 8561 in fifth and Louise Latham & Aaron Chadwick from Fishers Green in 9635 in sixth.

The wind strengthened as the fleet approached the first leeward mark and gusts measuring Force 3 and occasionally 4 played their part as the race progressed. By the second leeward, the lead was held by Abigail & Matt from Zoe McBride and Jack Hardie in 9047 and Will Kennedy & Rhos Hawes in 8539, who had both improved by some ten and twenty places respectively since the first windward. Abigail & Matt held off various challenges in the latter stages to take the gun, with Will & Rhos in second and initial leaders Jess and Alex in third.

The third race started about one hour before low water. After two General Recalls, the Black Flag was again hoisted and eighteen crews were pulled out of the race having been carried across the line by the tide. On the restart, two further Cadets were over and a considerably depleted fleet finally headed for the windward mark, led by Jess Quinlan and Alex Warrington in 8407, who went on to establish an increasing lead over the remainder of the fleet and score their first bullet of the day.

Competition for the minor places was intense over the first three legs, but by the second leeward mark, positions had been established which would remain unchanged to the finish. Second place went to Emma & Lucy Knott from Waldringfield in 8350. Frensham Pond sailors Marcus Young & Alex Philpot in 9020 and Adam Hopwood & Charlie Anderson in 8227 took third and fourth respectively, with Theo Bull & Robert Griffiths from Stone/Frensham Pond in 8522 taking fifth place and Ben Binmore & Phobe Jones from Royal Torbay in 8440 in sixth.

A further three races are scheduled for Sunday.

Results after Day 1: