P&B Cadet UK National Championships 2025 at Brixham Yacht Club - Day 1
by Angie Meyer 28 Jul 16:26 BST
26-30 July 2025
Nearly enough wind to race - P&B Cadet UK National Championships at Brixham day 1 © Angie Meyer
Day 1 of the Cadet Class UK National Championships 2025 dawned with near glassy conditions in Torbay and not a flicker of wind to lift the colourful bunting at Brixham Yacht Club. With the biggest fleet of GBR boats at a UK National event in ten years rigged and ready for action, it seemed optimistic to think that we might start on schedule.
After an eventful practise race the preceding day, the youth fleet were buzzing with expectation but conditions were not looking promising. The morning briefing and prize-giving therefore brought a welcome distraction from the dread of the AP flag, as did impromptu birthday celebrations. Indeed no Cadet Nationals would be complete without one or two birthdays, and I confirm our birthday helm Alex was given a friendly birthday dunking!
Briefing out of the way, the fleet then turned to occupying themselves whilst the AP flag gathered rain outside. It was fantastic to see new squadrons at Stone SC and Welsh Harp SC taking part in this National Championships alongside South Cerney SC, Fishers Green SC, Frensham Pond SC, Waldringfield SC, and Rickmansworth SC. And I have to say I think the proximity of ice cream vendors to the sailing club certainly helped elevate the lag in momentum during AP.
At 2pm the fleet launched into a promising south easterly and enough rain to make one consider decent waterproofing. The first race attempt for main fleet started at 15.10pm with a pin end bias and a cracking pace set by 10127, 8529 and 10012. It all looked so promising before a wind shift turned the beat into a fetch and RO 'Arky' Bob Wainwright took the tough decision to abandon race.
The second race attempt for main fleet saw a general recall as several boats got caught out and pushed over the line by the tide. Would the third race attempt be a success? The wind at this point was not holding, and a lengthy delay ensued.
Our race team took stock, helms got out the sugar, and our support boat crew opened the olives. What's that you say? Expectations were high. I believe it was also at this point that a live mackerel entered the fray and landed in Hettie's boat, livening up the fleet considerably before Ollie took custody of it. But I digress, back to the racing! Or rather, the third race attempt.
The boats started and before it had even begun another wind shift saw the race abandoned. This left only one more window for a fourth race attempt and the persistent rain wasn't helping.
It was a valiant attempt by all to get at least one race under our belt, but it was not to be and with another wind shift the race was abandoned and the fleet of 50 boats was given instruction to head back to shore supported ably by both impressive fleet of support RIBS and a 43 foot yacht acting as our class welfare boat. Thank you to BYC volunteer Richard Spratley for most excellent skippering!
It has to be said the Brixham Yacht Club has a proud tradition of hosting national events, boasting both a warm welcome and great hospitality, not to mention the their kindness to strangers, and whilst on this note (or was that knot?) thank you to Jon Welch of the BYC for stepping up to volunteer his magic splicing skills for young helm Daisy's jib sheet on Day 1!
A big thank you to our event sponsors of the Cadet Class UK National Championships 2025: P&B, Minerva, Clamcleat, and Optimum Time, and to all our Cadet volunteer parents who continue to drive the success of our class.