Cadet Open at Waldringfield Sailing Club

by Mark Stone 17 Jun 2003 08:21 BST

Photo © Mark Stone

A fair forecast attracted a record entry of forty-three boats to compete in the Waldringfield Cadet Open over the weekend of 14th and 15th June, thirty one of which were visitors.

With the wind Easterly and 12 knots of breeze the race officer, Richard Woolf, set an imaginative course for the first race to the North side of the island. ‘No Fear’ Amelia Hughes/Tasmain Wichard (later to find out they were OSC) lead at the first mark followed by ‘Point Blank’ James Harley/Claudia Woodhill then ‘Forty Two’ Stephen Videlo/Henry Mills. By the first wing mark ‘Nasty Tern’ James Howard/Ryan Thomas pulled through to take the lead from fifth at the windward, James Harley second, ‘Gnat’ Ben Stone/James Eminson third. The second reach was tight and ‘Whatever’ Alex Shanahan/George Ayre had pulled into second place by the first leeward mark. With a cross flood tide beat it paid to go up the left hand side and by the next windward Alex Shanaham had taken the lead followed by Ben Stone and Stephen Videlo which is the order they eventually finished this race.

The second race took place in the same area with slightly more wind, though now in the South East. The tide was now on the ebb and this time it paid to tuck onto the island up the beat . ‘Bad Influence’ Tom Makey/Anna Graves soon established the lead with Alex Shanahan and Ben Stone in hot pursuit. Good beating by ‘Get a Grip’ Andrew Twinn/ Aaron Woolf saw them pull through the fleet to finish second behind Tom Makey with Alex Shanahan third.

By the start of race three the wind was varying between Easterly and North Easterly and had dropped to 10 knots making it very difficuilt for the race officer to set a good course. With the tide ebbing fast the course was moved towards Methersgate and racing got under way as soon as possible. James Howard was first to the windward mark followed by Wacky When Wet’ Zoe Atkins/Chay Atkins who took the lead on the next leg. At the finish of the next short beat Zoe Atkins led with Tom Makey second and Alex Shanahan third, James Howard dropping to fourth. On the next lap Zoe Atkins went hard aground allowing Shanahan to take the lead pursued by James Howard and Tom Makey and these positions were maintained to the finish.

By Sunday morning the wind was very light and Southerly in direction. The race was started and shortly after abandoned when the wind turned off. After a short wait the sea breeze started to fill and the race was re-started. Stephen Videlo, Alex Shanahan and Ben Stone pulled out a good lead up the first beat but crossed into the tide too early for the windward mark and were unable to lay it without tacking in the tide. ‘Tornado’ Domonic Woodhill/William Kennedy followed by ‘Viper’ Tye Wichard/Tom Adams, Amelia Hughes and ‘Total Eclipse’ Hamish Stone/Tim Carter all took advantage rounding in that order. The leading bunch went wide around the wing mark in the light airs and the following boats took advantage. By the leeward mark Ben Stone led followed by Andrew Twinn, Zoe Atkins and ‘Wind Problem’ Richard Lewis/Claudia Woodhill. The race was shortened to finish at the next mark and although Ben Stone had pulled out a huge lead up the beat he fell into a hole allowing Andrew Twinn to sail around and for the win. Ben Stone finished second and Richard Lewis third.

By the start of race five the wind had strengthened to about five knots. Alex Shanahan arrived at the windward mark first followed by Ben Stone and Andrew Twinn and these positions were maintained for the next lap. Ben Stone took a better line on the downwind leg to take the lead with Andrew Twinn challenging hard. Ben Stone won by a whisker from Andrew Twinn with and Alex Shanahan third.

By the start of the last race three boats were in line to win the event, Alex Shanahan with 8 points, Andrew Twinn with 9 points and Ben Stone with 10 points. Ben Stone arrived first at the windward mark with a good lead over Stephen Videlo second, James Howard third and Alex Shanahan fourth. A close battle ensued on the downwind leg against the tide and by the leeward mark Stephen Vidello lead followed by James Howard, Alex Shanahan and Ben Stone. Alex Shanahan rounded the next windward in the lead ahead of James Howard, ‘Will Power’ Will Branton/Tim Linsell, Amelia Hughes, Hamish Stone and ‘Lift Off’ Jamie Mayhew/Ryan Bolger. This lead bunch of boats hugged the shore on the west side whilst Stephen Videlo and Ben Stone rounded behind the group and chose the East shore. This paid huge dividends and by the next leeward marks Stephen Videlo rounded first with Ben Stone second, well ahead of third place Alex Shanahan. Although Shanahan was challenged up the final beat by James Howard with positions changing several times, Stephen Videlo won with Ben Stone second and Alex Shanahan third.

Overall Results:

Pos	Boat Name	Helm	Crew	Pts	Club
1st	Whatever	Alex Shanahan	George Ayre	11	Otters
2nd	Gnat	Ben Stone	James Eminson	12	Waldringfield
3rd	Get a Grip	Andrew Twinn	Aaron Woolf	15	Waldringfield
4th	Forty Two	Stephen Videlo	Henry Mills	26	Waldringfield
5th	Nasty Tern	James Howard	Ryan Thomas	26	Otters
6th	Total Eclipse	Hamish Stone	Tim Carter	28	Waldringfield