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Zhik 2024 December

Zhik Cadet National Championships at Brixham Yacht Club - Preview

by Neil Collingridge 14 Aug 2019 10:30 BST 17-23 August 2019
Zhik Cadet Alf Simmond Trophy at Weymouth © Tim Hampton / www.timhampton.uk

Barely has a decent chunk of the UK Cadet Class got back from the Eastern reaches of Poland where the Worlds and Promos took place before a trip to Brixham YC in South Devon beckons for the 2019 Cadet UK National Championships sponsored by Zhik.

Situated on the western side of Torbay, picturesque Brixham is a popular holiday destination as well as having an active fishing fleet operating from is lovely little harbour. With over 40 entries including a rumoured 8 boats coming from Belgium we will need to make sure stocks of moules and strong lager (for the parents of course) are on order to make our visitors welcome. Fingers crossed the rain and storm force winds of last week have been replaced by traditional Devonian sun and decent breezes by Saturday.

Torbay offers a great sailing area - easy quick access from Brixham Yacht Club, rolling swell to surf on when the wind is in the South or East quadrants and challenging shifts in a Westerly or Northerly as the wind comes off the land and toys with the mind as the boats approach the windward mark - a copy of Jim Saltonstall's venue guide anyone?

Modesty prevents a run down of the likely championship contenders but the week, which kicks off this Sunday with a practice race and first championship race and runs through 10 races to Friday, will surely be hard fought. It's not unusual for things to go down to the wire of the final race. Some sailors will doubtless be looking to improve on their performances from the Worlds, others just out to get in a good result in their last Nationals before they leave the Class.

A handful will be sailing their first Nationals in the coached Regatta fleet, some will just be coming for the craic - beach games, ice cream and fish and chips (more or less consumed in that order). Whatever the aim, fun will certainly on the agenda for this friendly two person junior class where life skills are learned, friendships for life made and where it's still true today, "You'll never forget you first Cadet". Let the fun commence!

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