Cadet World Championships at the WPNSA - Day 1
by Peter Collyer 17 Aug 2014 09:24 BST
15-22 August 2014
After the fun of Friday's opening ceremony the Cadet fleet was greeted by sunshine and light winds when it launched on Saturday morning for the (relatively) serious business of racing in the World Championships. Nerves were given a chance settle during the hour's sail over to the other side of Weymouth Bay and Race 1 began at the third attempt, black flag flying, into a steady NW Force 3 that had enough fluctuations in it to present the young sailors with plenty of tactical challenges.
At the first windward mark GER9690 Julian Mathwig/Matthias Henning hit the front with BEL8520 Cesar Smet/Emiel Marien and GBR8521 Alex Page/Aaron Chadwick renewing their rivalry from the Nationals immediately behind. The German boat extended its lead downwind and by the bottom of the course the first three remained in the same order but now with the World Champion UKR9853 Igor Lvov/Maria Kulbashna lying in an ominous 4th. The German, Ukraine and British boats went to the left on the second beat but it became clear that other tactical options were available when BEL8520 went right and was followed by AUS9616 Thomas/Sophie Alexander. Left paid and as the boats turned onto the final run GER9690 had a clear lead from UKR9853 and GBR8521. However, a moment of confusion aboard GER9690 saw them go the wrong way at the bottom of the course, handing the lead to UKR9853 with GBR8521 gaining all the time to finish a close 3rd. AUS9616 opened their account with a solid 4th and GBR9964 Lucy Corby/Oliver Payne came through to finish in an excellent 5th. The result is provisional pending a protest.
In Race 2 a building breeze saw Thomas and Sophie Alexander return to their dominant form of last week, storming away to a big lead that they held to the end of the race. Behind them another star performer from the Nationals, ARG9472 Nahuel Ponce/Lucas Pruden was second at the windward mark with GBR9964 3rd. Going downwind they were joined in battle by GBR8352 Lucy/Cally Terkelsen, GBR9962 Willow/Cara Bland and GBR8541 Alex Warrington/Anna Wootton. By the bottom of the course GBR8352 were 2nd, GER9690 had popped up again in 3rd, GBR9962 and 9964 were locked together fighting for 4th and ARG9472 had dropped to 6th. By the finish the Australians had extended their lead while GBR8352 had held onto 2nd with GER9690 still 3rd. Willow and Cara Bland scored an excellent 4th with the lone Argentinian boat 5th and Lucy Corby/Oliver Payne rounding off a very consistent day in 6th.
In the Promotional fleet proceedings were dominated by GBR boats, all from East coast clubs. In Race 1 Waldringfield's Sam Yale/Harry Chatterton took the victory with club-mates Lulu Knott/Daisy Nunn 2nd and the Corinthian Otters team of Ben Barr and Joshua Bennett in 3rd, In the second race a fighting performance from Stone SC's Lainey Terkelsen/Martha Jones gave them a narrow victory from another Waldringfield boat sailed by Archie Penn and Hazel Whittle, with Lulu Knott and Daisy Nunn on the podium again, this time in 3rd.
Full results for the Worlds and the Promotional Regatta can be found at www.cadetclass.org.uk/sitedata/Worlds_14/Cadet_Worlds_Results.pdf
Both fleets were back on shore by 4.30 and were soon enjoying the hospitality of the Dutch team who provided a selection of cheeses and cold meats for the daily prize-giving. All attention is returning to the weather forecast once again as strong winds are forecast for Sunday. Keep up with the action all day on Twitter @GBRCadets and on our Facebook page.