Cadet class World Championship 2026 at Circolo Vela Torbole - Day 1
by Kenny English 6 Aug 08:03 BST
2-7 August 2026
Cadet class World Championship at Garda Day 1 © Tom Sullan
After days of anticipation, the 2026 Cadet World Championship finally sprang into life - but not before Lake Garda reminded everyone why it commands so much respect.
Race Day 1 never got under way. Sailors launched into almost mirror-like conditions and, with barely a breath of wind, many spent the morning swimming, relaxing and soaking up the Italian sunshine. Then, in true Garda fashion, the infamous bi-annual wind arrived with astonishing force. Gusts of up to 45 knots swept across the lake, catching much of the fleet off guard and leaving boats capsized before racing had even begun. With conditions unsafe, the Race Committee had little option but to abandon racing for the day.
With both the Practice Race and the opening day of the Championship lost, the Race Committee reviewed their options overnight. Rather than relying on the usually dependable afternoon Ora, they elected to bring racing forward and take advantage of the more stable morning Peler breeze.
It proved to be an inspired decision.
As the fleet launched into crisp morning conditions, the excitement was palpable. After two days of waiting, it was finally time for the 2026 Cadet World Championship to begin.
Race One - Right Pays
With the course laid and a championship finally under way, sailors faced their first major tactical decision: left or right? Pressure appeared on both sides of the course, but those who committed to the right were rewarded as a favourable shift developed.
GBR 8352 Bruce Ward and Alex Harker led the fleet around the first windward mark, closely followed by GBR 10002 Ava Stoddart and Alice Boddy, with Will Hancock next in pursuit. Continuing to favour the right-hand side up the second beat, GBR 8352 and GBR 10002 steadily extended their advantage while the chasing pack, led by GBR 9982 Sam English and Minnie Palmer, AUS 9551 and BEL 8997, fought to stay in touch.
Those who had committed left found themselves slipping steadily down the fleet as the race unfolded. Holding their nerve on the final run, GBR 8352 successfully defended their lead to claim the opening victory of the Championship.
Race 1 Results: (top three)
1. GBR 8352
2. GBR 10002
3. GBR 9982
Promotional Fleet
2nd place: 10092 Gregory Boddy and Joe Flood
Race Two - Australia Takes Control
The Peler continued to oscillate across the race area and, with a slight adjustment to the course, the fleet once again faced the familiar question of whether to favour the left or the right. Once again, the stronger pressure lay to the right.
After another clean start, AUS 9281 rounded the first windward mark in front. The Australian sailors judged the gradually fading Peler superbly and maintained their advantage around the gate mark.
Behind them, GBR 9982 and GBR 10128 George Cox-Olliff and Evie Winchester sailed lower downwind in search of better pressure, successfully clawing back several places before the second beat.
As the fleet headed back upwind, the right-hand side again paid dividends. Sailors choosing the left lost valuable ground, while those staying right consolidated their positions and made further gains. The Australian contingent dominated the front of the fleet, occupying four of the top five places, while GBR 9982 climbed to sixth, GBR 10002 held ninth and GBR 10128 rounded out the top ten.
On the final run to the finish, the Australian boats proved untouchable, locking out the first five finishing positions. Behind them, GBR 9982, IND 8515, UKR 9961 and GBR 10002 completed the leading group after another fascinating tactical contest.
Promotional Fleet
2nd: 9984 Emily Krailing and Jemima Cox-Olliff
3rd: 10012 Joe Mycroft and Elizabeth Thorpe
Race Three - Ukraine Strikes Back
With the morning breeze beginning to fade, there was just enough time for one final race.
A third consecutive clean start saw many sailors favour the committee boat end after learning valuable lessons from the opening races.
This time it was UKR 9961 who made the early break, rounding the first windward mark with a comfortable lead. GBR 9982 followed in second, with IND 8515 close behind.
Unlike the earlier races, the right-hand side of the course began to lose pressure. Boats that had committed there, including GBR 8352, rounded further back in eighth, while those finding better breeze elsewhere closed rapidly.
On the run to the gate, UKR 9961 chose the direct route while GBR 9982 sailed lower in search of more pressure. After rounding the gate, both leaders headed left while much of the chasing fleet split to the right.
Although the right-hand side eventually produced significant gains, UKR 9961's advantage was already substantial enough to remain secure. Behind them, NED 10123 and AUS 9552 surged through to round second and third respectively at the final windward mark, with IND 8515 close behind, setting up a thrilling final run to the finish.
UKR 9961 held firm to take a deserved race victory and round off an excellent first day of racing.
Promotional Fleet
1st: 10129 Tom Krailing and Issy Stock
3rd: 9994 Annabel Shepherd and Lillia Jones
Consistency Earns the Yellow Bib
Although three different winners emerged during the opening day, Cadet racing has always rewarded consistency as much as outright speed.
No crew demonstrated that better than GBR 9982, with Samuel English and Minnie Palmer producing a remarkably consistent scoreline of 3, 6, 5. While they never quite reached the top step of the podium in any individual race, their ability to remain at the sharp end throughout the day proved invaluable.
As a result, GBR 9982 heads into Day 2 at the top of the overall standings and will proudly wear the coveted yellow leader's bib.
With the Championship now firmly under way, the leaderboard is beginning to take shape, but with changing Garda conditions, tactical race courses and an exceptionally talented international fleet, the battle for the 2026 Cadet World Championship is only just beginning.
If the opening day has shown us anything, it is that success on Lake Garda belongs not only to the fastest crews, but to those who can consistently make the right decisions in one of sailing's most challenging and rewarding venues.
Find out more at www.circolovelatorbole.com/it/regatta/detail/1318