Cadet Open at Exe Sailing Club
by David Elliott 24 Jun 2010 14:26 BST
19-20 June 2010
Cadets at Exe © Rosie Sands
A close fought battle between members of this year’s RYA National Junior Squad and RYA South/South-West Zone Squad kept the outcome of this year’s Exe Open Meeting in the balance right up to the final race.
Entries from Parkstone, South Cerney and Royal Torbay joined local crews for a two-day meeting. Six races were scheduled in the mouth of the River Exe using a triangle-sausage-triangle course with a discard kicking in with Race 4.
Saturday’s three races were sailed on an ebbing tide with light, shifty winds presenting opportunities for the vigilant.
In Race 1, Matt Currell & Theo Smith from Parkstone sailing 8997 Executrix led at the windward mark from Royal Torbay’s Ben Binmore & Martha Jones in 8440 Black Otter and Exe pairing Katie Kinver & Gina Hearth in 8408 Inspiration. Ben & Martha took the lead on the next leg and held on for victory. Matt & Theo were second, with Amir & Aliya Jannaty from South Cerney sailing 9319, third.
Race Two again saw Ben & Martha battling it out with Matt & Theo, but a capsize left the former with too much to do in the closing stages. Matt & Theo took line honours, with Ben & Martha second and local brothers James & Chris Turl third in 7627 Vanguard.
The third race went to Ben & Martha, with Matt & Theo second and Alice Rumbelow & Jemima Crossland from Royal Torbay third in 7632 Black Mariah.
Sunday’s racing started two hours before high water with crews making their way to the racing area with the benefit of wind off the land and in anticipation of a sea breeze around midday. This all transpired in Race 4 when a significant windshift halfway through the race turned the course upside-down. Matt & Theo made the best of the challenge to win from Ben & Martha with Amir & Aliya third. Alice & Jemima, Amir & Aliya and Matt & Theo all led at some stage during the first triangle of Race 5. By the third windward, Matt & Theo led from James & Chris and Alice & Jemima and these positions were unchanged at the finish.
Going into the final race, RYA South/South-West Zone Squad members Matt & Theo led by one point from RYA National Junior Squad members Ben & Martha. Matt & Theo led at the end of the first triangle. Up the second beat Ben & Martha went left and Matt & Theo went right, but to no avail. Matt & Theo were still ahead and extended their lead as the race progressed, with Ben & Martha second and James & Chris third.
Matt & Theo achieved their first victory in an Open Meeting counting four bullets and a second. Ben & Martha were worthy runners-up with two victories and three seconds.
The Exe Open counts as the fourth round of the Southern Traveller Series. Frensham Pond sailors Michael Horne & Ben Crane/Ollie King currently lead from South Cerney’s Amir & Aliya Jannaty.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew | Boat Name | Club | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Matt Currell | Theo Smith | Executrix | Parkstone | GBR 8997 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Ben Binmore | Martha Jones | Black Otter | Royal Torbay | GBR 8440 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | James Turl | Chris Turl | Vanguard | Exe | GBR 7627 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 |
| 4 | Michael Horne | Ollie King | Purple Ronnie | Frensham Pond | GBR 9013 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 22 |
| 5 | Alice Rumbelow | Jemima Crossland | Black Mariah | Royal Torbay | GBR 7632 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| 6 | Katie Kinver | Gina Hearth | Inspiration | Exe | GBR 8408 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 26 |
| 6 | Amir Jannaty | Aliya Jannaty | | South Cerney | GBR 9319 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 27 |
| 8 | Phoebe Jones | Esmie Jones | Katchup | Royal Torbay | GBR 7664 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 43 |
| 9 | George Melborne | Helen Fox | Gromit | Exe | GBR 9853 | 10 | 10 | DNF | 10 | 10 | 10 | 50 |
| 10 | Eleanor Geare/Shaun Spring | Josh Geare | Little Skipper | Exe | GBR 9291 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | DNQ |