Cadet Nationals at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy Day 4

Day 4 of the Cadet Nationals saw the main fleet sail the one scheduled race in a boisterous South Westerly, whilst the Regatta fleet managed to slot in three races.

Gold and Silver - Race 7

Race 7 started in a 14 knot Southwesterly, which increased to 18 knots and backed as the race progressed.

Unlike some of the earlier races, the overwhelming majority of the fleet was convinced that the left hand side of the course was the paying side, and they were right. The big question competitors faced was when to take advantage of the lift and tack back on to port, to the centre of the course.

Halfway up the beat, most of the series leaders were vying for the lead, though at this early stage, there were a good deal of place changes.

However, Katrina and Christopher Brewer in Executrix judged it perfectly to round the windward mark 10 seconds ahead of Tom Kinver and Oliver Bridge in Cyclone, Hamish Stone and Aaron Woolf in Gnat, Tye Wichard and Ben Thame in Viper, and then a group of four boats which were virtually inseparable.

Cyclone dropped out of the leading group by capsizing halfway down the reach, which enabled Gnat to move up to second, and Viper to third.

This turned out to be the finishing order, but the race was anything but a procession. By the first run, Gnat had closed the gap on Executrix to 15 seconds, but Tye and Ben simply would not give up, and continued to press Hamish and Aaron for second place.

As a result, Gnat had to defend her position, which enabled the Brewers to stretch their lead on the final lap, and win by 1 minute 10 seconds. Meanwhile, with the finishing line in sight, Viper appeared to have overtaken Gnat, but by working the final shifts to their advantage, Hamish and Aaron crossed the line 10 seconds in front of Tye and Ben.

And the tussle for the following three positions was equally enthralling. At different times in the race, 6 different boats occupied 4th, 5th, and 6th places. However, by the finish, it was Josh Pistol and Elizabeth Halling in Pintail who took fourth, followed by Hynosis (Peter Lawrance and Liam Pardy) in fifth, and Mostly Harmless (Chris Videlo and Maddie Harris) in sixth.

So, after completion of 7 of the 10 scheduled races, Executrix still heads the fleet, seven points in front of Gnat. Viper and Pulling Power (Miles Blaver-Mann and Ole Alcock) share third place, followed by Hynosis and No Fear (Chris Poffitt and Hannah Muskett), in fifth and sixth.

It’s still pretty tight at the top, and it looks as though the title will be going to Executrix or Gnat – but there’s still a way to go. Thursday will be decisive!

Regatta – Races 5, 6 & 7

The second day of racing for the Regatta fleet say them enjoy three races – though a number of competitors found the conditions fairly testing, resulting in a number of capsizes and retirements.

Sarah Dallimore and James Turl in Jiminy Cricket had an excellent day, winning races 5 and 7, and finishing second in race 6. Duncan Yeabsley and Lauren Fry in Road Runner won race 6, and came in behind Jiminy Cricket in both the other races.

This means that Jiminy Cricket now leads the series, a single point ahead of Road Runner.

As with the main fleet, competitors still have another three races in their series, so this title is still wide open.

And finally... the ex-Cadets and Parents race

In the deteriorating conditions, the ex-Cadets showed they have lost none of their competitive edge! With the windward mark set close to the pontoons, they were encouraged by the cheering crowd that had gathered to watch the action – or was that jeering and catcalls that your correspondent heard?!

In any event, it was former World Champion James Rusden who came home first, just yards ahead of former National Champion Steven Videlo, with Oren Richards crossing in third.

Meanwhile, in the parents’ fleet, it was clear that time had taken its toll on some helms, who provided wonderful entertainment to the spectators. Some of the capsizes, particularly at the gybe mark, were just, well, poetry in motion!

However, the evergreen Andy Brewer showed a clean pair of heels to the fleet, with that other spring chicken, Class Measurer Will Henderson, coming in second, not far behind.

One or two other parents, well known and successful sailors in their own right, prefer to remain anonymous – and as far as your correspondent can tell, with good reason! Still, a good time was had by all, thought there are a few aching muscles today!