Cadet Nationals at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy Day 1

The 2006 Cadet Nationals, being held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, began with a three hour postponement due to a blustery Westerly rattling through the boat-park.

The patience of the 106 entries in the Gold and Silver fleets was rewarded as the breeze became more manageable, and the fleet enjoyed 2 excellent races, whilst the 14 entries in the Regatta fleet received onshore coaching from former several national champions.

Race 1

The first race started cleanly in 15 knots of breeze. First out of the blocks were Ben Cornish and Dominic Langdon in Fantasy, who quickly worked their way to the front of the fleet by heading to the right hand side of the first beat.

Matt Shepherd and Charlie Fitzgerald in Purple Dragon went up the middle, and at the first mark, Fantasy led Purple Dragon by a boat-length, followed by Jessica Blick and James Turl in Leviathan, Peter Lawrence and Liam Pardy in Hypnosis, and Katrina and Christopher Brewer in Executrix.

By the leeward mark, Executrix had worked her way through to second place, just a few boat-lengths behind Fantasy. Ben and Dominic held off the Brewers on the next beat and run, but on the third beat, Executrix worked her way past the loose cover of Fantasy and took the lead.

Katrina and Christopher held the lead to the finish, but not without a fightback from Fantasy, which resulted in a nailbiting finish with the Brewers taking the gun by no more than 2 boatlengths.

Meanwhile, there were equally exciting battles taking place just behind the leading pair, with William and Sophie Shepherd in The Red Cadet taking third place by half a boatlength from Miles Blaver-Mann and Ole Alcock in Pulling Power. They were followed by Matt Shepherd and Charlie Fitzgerald in Purple Dragon, and Peter Lawrence and Liam Pardy in Hypnosis in sixth position.

Race 2

After a general recall, race 2 started under a black flag in 12 knots of breeze, still from the West.

Hamish Stone and Aaron Woolf in Gnat put a disappointing result in race 1 (by their standards) behind them, and the first mark had established a lead of about 3 boatlengths. Hamish and Aaron then proceeded to sail away from the fleet, extending their lead on every leg, and winning by more than 2½ minutes.

Meanwhile, there was a good deal of place changing behind Gnat, involving Ed Impey and Jack Wilson in Touchwood, Miles Blaver-Mann and Ole Alcock in Pulling Power, Katie Robinson and Sarah Lombard in Powered Up, Amy Seabright and Katie Barr in Lady in Red, Seb Balch and Emma Knott in Genesis, and Peter Lawrence and Liam Pardy in Hypnosis.

This group remained in close contact throughout the race, but by the finish, Ed and Jack in Touchwood pulled away to take second from Miles and Ole in Pulling Power, Katie and Sarah in Powered Up took fourth place just ahead of Amy and Katie in Lady in Red, with Peter Lawrence and Liam in Hypnosis crossing the line in sixth.

So – a good first day, and Race Officer Roger Wilson is to be congratulated on trusting his judgement by being patient and securing two excellent races.