Cadet open meeting at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

Cadet open meeting at Frensham © Tim Hampton / www.timhampton.uk

The first Cadet event of the 2019 season kicked off in style at Frensham Pond on 23rd March. Great to see 28 Cadets on the water from five different clubs including a Regatta fleet of 15 boats which is an amazing turnout and for most in this fleet it was their first event as a helm or first event full stop - they did really well and hopefully whet their appetite for more.

In true Frensham style the wind was fickle making the Race officer's job a hard one, but Keith Videlo, totally at one with the pond's variances, laid four great start lines and ran four good races (three to count).

Race 1 saw the Cadets as keen as mustard on the start line resulting in three boats returning to go back through the start. Frensham Cadets took the lead, local knowledge coming into play no doubt. Toby Slump and Emily Cullen seized control of the race, with Ellie Watling and George Little in hot pursuit, and a pleasantly surprised Ben Goult and Alex McEwan in third as they crossed the finish.

In the regatta fleet, ably coached on the water by Charlotte and Rebecca Videlo, there was a competitive race, but South Cerney were right up there to mess up Frensham's party! Ryan Harris and Oliver Caygill got the first Regatta bullet of the day, with Ethan Millar and Thomas Pontet (South Cerney) keeping the pressure on and Frensham's own Tom Walker and Elliot Chapman in third place.

Race 2, same course as before, but the wind had built a little. Ellie and George made it to the windward mark first, closely followed by Sam Goult and Octavia Vaughan. These two boats tussled all the way around the course as the others followed on with Yasmin Sfaxi and Matteo Mancini catching up all the time. At the finish line, it was Ellie and George followed by Yasmin and Matteo, with Ben Goult and Alex McEwan sneaking past brother Sam on the line (nice trip home in the car for them?!).

The battle between South Cerney and Frensham raged on in Race 2 in the regatta fleet: this time Ryan and Oliver conceded to Tom and Elliott, both of these boats clearly getting into their stride. South Cerney this time were represented in third place by Megan McMorris and Joshua Davidson.

An athletes' lunch (i.e. carb-heavy!) was followed by Race 3, and refuelling definitely benefitted the visitors as Cally Terkelsen and Pippa Smith (Stone Sailing Club) rocketed into first leading all the way even through temperamental winds, closely followed by Max Buswell and Monty Hampton (South Cerney) in second and Ethan Davy and Alex Enkel (Waldringfield Sailing Club) in third. The race for the Trophy was ON!

In the Regatta fleet Tom and Elliott bagged their second win, with Ben McLoughlin and Grace O'Donnell in the top 2 for the first time, followed by Megan and Joshua getting comfortable in third place again.

Cadet open meeting at Frensham - photo © Tim Hampton / www.timhampton.uk

So, race 4 and it was all to play for. In the main fleet, nerves were jangling on the start line, but the line was clear. Cally and Pippa were off like a rocket and led from the start, but Ellie and George were not about to let go that easily and fought through the fleet including overtaking Ellie's sister Jess (and Lilly Buckton) in the process. But Ethan and Alex, and Toby and Emily, were also fighting hard as every place counted. Cally and Pippa continued their lead to finish with a very convincing win but behind them places swapped around right up until the last minute when less than half a boat length separated Ellie and George (second) and Ethan and Alex (third) on the line. Toby and Emily came in fourth.

The final Regatta race saw a change at the top with a lovely win for Jemima Hill and Anna Bond, followed by Ryan and Oliver who were right up there again and Tom and Elliott this time settling for 3rd place.

How close can it be?! There were tense sailors and parents all crunching numbers and munching hotdogs in the boat yard as both the main and Regatta fleets were so close it was a mathematical challenge to work out who would win overall in each fleet. Mark Walker, Frensham Fleet captain had the all-important final results...

First place in the main fleet went to Ellie Watling and George Little with Cally and Pippa just one point behind. Toby and Emily picked up third prize.

Cadet open meeting at Frensham - photo © Tim Hampton / www.timhampton.uk

In the Regatta fleet, it was even closer with first prize going to Tom Walker and Elliott Chapman who won on count back ahead of Ryan and Oliver. Jemima Hill and Anna Bond picked up third place overall.

In summary, a great day with tight competition all the way through the whole fleet.

A fantastic start to the 2019 Cadet season the Cadet class rolls into Stone Sailing Club for the first Spring Series event on 6 / 7 April, followed by Weymouth on 26 / 27 April and Grafham on 6 / 7 May - more details and entry on the website: www.cadetclass.org.uk. Bring it ON!

Ellie Watling and George Little win the main fleet in the Cadet open meeting at Frensham - photo © Tim Hampton / www.timhampton.uk

Main Fleet Results:

Tom Walker and Elliott Chapma win the regatta fleet in the Cadet open meeting at Frensham - photo © Tim Hampton / www.timhampton.uk

Regatta Fleet Results:

Cadet open meeting at Frensham - photo © Tim Hampton / www.timhampton.uk