2014 Cadet Week at Waldringfield Sailing Club - Day 1
by Waldringfield Cadets 29 Jul 2014 09:44 BST
28 July - 1 August 2014
31 Cadets and 19 Laser Radials have entered Waldringfield's 2014 Cadet Week generously sponsored by Seamark Nunn, Gill and Harken. After a frantic admin session where every competitor got a free rash vest together with an explanation of a live game of Cluedo involving all 81 competitors which rounds throughout the week, proceedings got off in a brisk force 3 between the Island and Tips.
In the Radial fleet, Susie Gosling stormed up the first beat showing no signs of some late night revelling at the Womad festival although she was gradually overhauled by Josie Gummer (Fishers Green) who finished 1st ahead of Susie with Will Everitt in 3rd.
Race 2 saw Josie again win this time ahead of Sarah O'Brien (Fishers Green) and Chris Gladwin (Fishers Green).
After a break for lunch and with the wind freshening somewhat the radials had to contend with a changing tide and a leeward mark which got snagged by a rib propellor setting it free on its way to Feixstowe. Nevertheless Josie continued her form to win an abbreviated race 3 ahead of Will Everitt and Cam Goodhead.
The Cadet fleet this year includes 5 boats in the World Team to represent GBR at the Worlds in Weymouth in 3 weeks time so no particular surprise there would be some pretty intense competition. Several general recalls were the somewhat predictable response which eventually had the PRO reaching for his black flag to restore order.
Race 1 saw Daisy and Hamish Collingridge lead Willow and Cara Bland and Lucy and Cally Terkelsen (Stone) up the first beat to the Tips area with a good old fashioned ding dong then ensuing as first Willow grabbed the lead, then Daisy took it back up the second beat and finally on the downwind to the finish Lucy snuck past Willow.
The second race saw a repeat of first and second place, this time with Alex Page and Aaron Chadwick (Brightlingsea) in third.
Race 3 after lunch and a bit of a turnaround as the now ebbing tide made the decision of which side of the River Deben crucial for finding some tidal shelter. This time Archie Penn and Ed Fletcher took the win ahead of Tom Collyer (Aldenham) and Eden Lovesee Clark and Jamie and Bettine Harris (Bristol Corinthian) whilst Daisy, Lucy and Willow all struggled to play catch up after taking the scenic route up the first beat.
So after day one Josie looks good in the Radials on 3 points ahead of Will (12) and Chris (19).
In the Cadets Daisy leads with 6 points ahead of Lucy (10) and Willow (16).
There are also 10 cadets in Silver Fleet being coaches by Emma White and Tim Carter for the first two and a half days before joining in the racing on Wednesday afternoon. By all accounts they were making very good progress despite the brisk conditions and are looking forwards to some keen racing later in the week.
Beach games took over after dinner with plenty of noise, a fair amount of mud and buckets of water whilst the parents did their best to make the Waldringfield bar profitable for the year watching from the sidelines. Sunshine is promised Tuesday with slightly lighter winds probably a good thing for tired and aching limbs.