Cadet World Team Indicator at Stone Sailing Club - Overall
by David Elliott 29 May 2009 07:41 BST
23-24 May 2009
Racing during the Cadet Indicator at Stone © Steve Proffitt
Final race cliffhanger
Clear blue skies and no wind greeted competitors on the second day. Three races were scheduled but as the morning passed, the prospect of no racing dominated the dinghy park. An early lunch was taken, which was a fortuitous move, as reports from further along the Blackwater estuary suggested a 10 knot wind was forecast for St Lawrence Bay throughout the afternoon.
The fleet launched with the knowledge that there would only be enough time for one, or maybe two races before the influence of the falling tide would be too great. The Race Officer went straight for the Black Flag and the event’s fourth race got away to a clean start. Overnight leaders Jess Quinlan & Alex Warrington in 8407 led at the first windward, followed by Max & Francesca Ingall in 8855, Stevie Green & Harriet Ayre from Corinthian Otters/Stone in 8420, Chris Brewer & Ole Alcock from Parkstone in 8997, Will Kennedy & Rhos Hawes in 8539 and Nicholas Sutton & Jack Shorter from Corinthian Otters in 7514. The lead changed hands twice during the race; first to Stevie & Harriet and then to Will & Rhos, who took the gun. Second place went to Jess & Alex and third to Max & Francesca.
Fortunately the anticipated wind had materialised and there was sufficient time for a fifth race, which would allow a Discard to kick in. Jess & Alex and Will & Rhos were level on points. With the former carrying a ninth place and the latter a seventh place, Jess & Alex needed a three place margin over Will & Rhos for victory.
The tide again affected the final race of the day. Starting under a Black Flag, fifteen crews were over the line and sent in early. Parkstone crews Chris Tiernan & Ashley Dunford in 9370 and Chris Brewer & Ole Alcock in 8997 were first and second respectively at the windward mark. Maddie Harris & Eve Bottallico from Waldringfield in 8514 held 3rd place from Ben Binmore & Phobe Jones from Royal Torbay in 8440 in 4th. Emily & Katie Kinver from Exe in 8511 held 5th from Sophie Shepherd & Hollie Marston from West Kirby in 9669 in 6th. The event leaders were well off the pace, with Jess & Alex in the mid-teens and Will & Rhos around 50th. While the top two positions were unchanged for the next five legs, both Jess & Alex and Will & Rhos worked hard to recover lost ground and by the second leeward mark were 3rd and 7th respectively. Will & Rhos made up a further two places on the final beat and all was to play for on the run to the finish.
Chris & Ashley found themselves sandwiched between Jess & Alex to starboard and Will & Rhos to port. This left Chris & Ole to take the lead only to find themselves closely tracked by Katie Barr & Arthur Brown from Corinthian Otters/Royal Burnham in 8435, who had steadily been improving as the race progressed. Katie & Arthur took the lead in the closing stages from Chris & Ole. Will & Rhos took 3rd place from long-time leaders Chris & Ashley, with Jess & Alex in fifth. An exciting finish to a close fought series of races.
Overall Results: (top six)
1st 8539 Will Kennedy & Rhos Hawes, 7pts
2nd 8407 Jessica Quinlan & Alex Warrington, 11pts
3rd 8855 Max Ingall & Francesca Ingall, 27pts
4th 9370 Chris Tiernan & Ashley Dunford, 31pts
5th 8561 Arthur Henderson & Matt Currell, 40pts
6th 8435 Katie Barr & Arthur Brown, 41pts