Cadet World Championship 2025 at Lake Lipno - Day 0
by British Cadet Worlds Team 4 Aug 15:53 BST
3-8 August 2025
Practice race ahead of the Cadet World Championship at Lake Lipno © Simon Cox
So here we are, day one of the Cadet Worlds proper. The British Worlds Team have all arrived safely on site after their marathon journeys and tales of Cadets visiting the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.
Our amazing sponsors, Hawke Marine Optics have once again surprised the team with goody bags including limited edition binoculars. Thank you Steve and his team for their amazing generosity.
Everyone loves scrutineering day! British boats were scheduled for Saturday afternoon which was perfectly timed to coincide with the torrential rain. Most of the team came though relatively unscathed but a few boats suffered from the rigorous measuring, masts that were 4 grams underweight, and sails that measured but didn't. Thankfully after some filing, butchery of sails and stretching of painters (two millimetres, really?) we mostly scraped though. That was the kid's fun.
Meanwhile in the parallel universe the parents found sanctuary at the Windy Point beach bar. It is a holiday after all.
Sunday morning the sun was shining, and the assembled fleet was lulled into a false sense of security. The final British boat passed scrutineering, and the team was primed and ready. Jumpers and coats were removed; we were good to go. The site is buzzing with activity, and the kids are loving the venue.
The 104 boats from nine nations were eager to launch into the perfect Lake Lipno conditions for the Practice race. What an awesome site seeing the boats launch all at once. None of that silly launching by country nonsense. This is how it should be - a free for all.
Ten minutes later the British team suffered its first casualty as a German boat put a hole in Team Hypersonic. Thankfully, the British coach RIB was on hand to patch it up in double quick time for the race...
Sadly, the Practice Race wasn't to be. The first start was recalled after most of the fleet decided to start halfway up the beat. The course was shifted and not long after the very impressive clouds hanging over the hills made their predicted decent. Unlike previous days though, the rain didn't bring wind.
British ingenuity was on show as Albatross's, Noah and Polly, turned their spinnaker into a makeshift tent. Jealous Ella in Matador, was heard to berate helm, Tom. "Noah is using his spinnaker as a shelter and you're making me bail!"
Half an hour later the rain had stopped but the wind was non-existent. The race was abandoned and 208 ecstatic children all cheered at once. The best race of the day was the race back to shore.
On shore the race was on for the teams to prepare for the opening ceremony. The teams walked, drummed, sang, waved their flags and generally made a cacophony of noise from the local hotel to the strategically located Windy Point where the speeches, flag raising and traditional Cadet Class Oath took place. Tonight, has been a lot of fun as the World Championship finally feels like it has arrived.
The team now eagerly anticipate the first day of racing tomorrow. Hopefully the earlier start will bring a steady breeze and a respite from the rain. Parents and the Championship Organisers alike will also hope that the sailors can be a little less enthusiastic to get racing under way. Getting races in here will be a challenge so the fewer delays the better. Those on support boats will be hoping to have three races completed before the rain starts!
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