Waldringfield Cadet Week 2026 Preview
by Edd McArdle 28 Aug 08:26 BST
28-31 August 2026
Cadets at Waldringfield © Edd McArdle
Waldringfield Sailing Club, on Suffolk's River Deben, throws open its Cadet Week for another year this Friday, with four days of racing, socialising and messing about on the water for the junior double-handed class.
Cadet Week keeps to a simple formula the club knows well: close racing across the fleets, a coached regatta division for newer crews, evening socials for sailors and parents alike, and the traditional Crews race, Ex-Cadets race and Old Gaffers race that are as much a fixture of the week as the sailing itself. Every competitor goes home with a goodie bag and an event rash vest.
Cadets were first sailed at Waldringfield in 1950, and the very first Waldringfield Cadet Week was competed for in 1957, making this year's event the 69th edition of a fixture that's run every summer since. Waldringfield Cadets remains one of the most active Cadet squadrons in the UK.
Schedule
- Friday 28 August - Three trophy races in the afternoon, followed by a BBQ.
- Saturday 29 August - Briefing at 11am followed by three event races. After sailing there are games on Church Field, and Curry for dinner in the clubhouse.
- Sunday 30 August - Four event races followed by the Ex-Cadets and Old Gaffers races once racing is complete. After sailing we have the raffle draw, treasure hunt and quiz in the evening.
- Monday 31 August - Crews race followed by two event races, with prize-giving scheduled for 15.30.
The event consists of nine races for the championship fleets, plus the traditional crews race and the ever-popular Ex-Cadets and Old Gaffers race, open to any pairing with a combined age of 70 or more.
Ethan Davey will be coaching the Regatta Fleet this Cadet Week. An ex-Cadet sailor himself, Ethan coached the GBR Cadet World Team at Plymouth in 2024 and is now a professional sailor, recently competing on the J-Cup series and the European Match Racing Tour. Expect some sharp coaching on the water, alongside skills sessions before and after racing!
The sponsors behind Cadet Week 2026
A big thank you to the sponsors who make Cadet Week possible:
Hawke Marine Optics
Hawke's Endurance ED range of marine binoculars are built exactly for the kind of use they'll get on the Deben this weekend - waterproof, fog-proof, and fitted with a floating neck strap so a dropped pair doesn't end up on the riverbed. With integrated compasses and rangefinding reticles, they're as much at home on a committee boat as they are for the parents watching onshore.
Associated British Ports
ABP operates the UK's largest port network, with 21 ports across England, Scotland and Wales, including the Port of Ipswich on the River Orwell, just around the coast from Waldringfield.
Royal Hospital School
RHS run a Centre of Excellence for Sailing at Alton Water, with a fleet of more than 60 dinghies spanning everything from beginners to competitive youth national sailors in ILCAs and 29ers. Every Year 7 pupil learns to sail, and the school's Elite Sailing Programme has produced many national sailing champions.
Lewis Culf Group
Lewis Culf are a building contractor based right in Waldringfield itself, currently at work on many different projects in the local area.
Morgan Marine / Fox's Marina
Fox's Marina & Boatyard in Ipswich and Morgan Marine in Brightlingsea now sail together as the Morgans Group, bringing more than 150 years of combined marine experience to sailors across the Rivers Orwell and Colne.
Jackson-Stops Estate Agents
The Ipswich office of this well-established agency specialises in prime Suffolk property, from waterside homes to listed buildings and barn conversions, with the kind of expertise that comes in handy for anyone eyeing up a house near the water after a week on the Deben.
Reuben's Butchers
A family-run butcher, deli and bottle shop at Melton railway station near to Waldringfield. Reuben's pair hand-picked Suffolk meat with wine, cheese and provisions from independent producers, and are soon to open a second Suffolk location at Darsham Train Station.
Roberto's Ice Cream
Ipswich-based Roberto's Ices has been supplying Suffolk with scoops, soft serve and novelty ice creams for years, delivered by its own fleet of refrigerated vans. They are a fixture of Cadet Week's warm afternoons on the Waldringfield beach.
Deben Inns
A family-run group of eight independent Suffolk pubs, including the Maybush in Waldringfield, the Fox in Newbourne and the Ship at Levington, founded and run by the local Lomas family. The Maybush is one of Suffolk's most iconic waterside pubs and is dog-friendly.
McNamara Sails
A family sailmaking business on the Norfolk Broads now in its sixth decade, with championship wins across more than 20 dinghy classes to its name. Sails are custom designed around crew weight and sailing water, so there's real expertise behind every McNamara Cadet sail on the startline.
Suffolk Sails
Based just up the road in Woodbridge, Suffolk Sails builds racing and cruising sails, boat covers and spray hoods, and is currently pioneering Monolithic, a new uni-directional-fibre sailmaking technology with no panels or joins.
Curious Retreats
A collection of hand-picked Suffolk holiday cottages, from grand country houses to sea-view apartments, for families wanting to extend a Cadet Week trip into a longer stay on the East Anglian coast.
Loch Leven Lodges
Self-catering luxury lodges on the shores of Loch Leven in Kinross, Scotland. A perfect destination to experience Scotland's natural beauty.
Pump Street Chocolate
Pump Street Chocolate are an award-winning Suffolk bean-to-bar chocolate maker, with a factory in nearby Woodbridge and a bakery café in Orford on the River Alde serving chocolate, bread and pastries daily.
Woodyard Pizza
A Neapolitan-style pizza restaurant right on the water at Woodbridge's historic Tidemill, overlooking the River Deben, serving pizza, cocktails and gelato from noon, with no table booking required.
Vida Haus
A wellness studio in nearby Pettistree offering yoga, dance and Pilates alongside holistic treatments. A calmer environment for any parents needing to unwind after a busy Cadet week!
Follow the Event
Follow the action on Instagram at @waldringfieldcadets and on Facebook at waldringfieldcadetsquadron. Entries and the Notice of Race are available at waldringfieldsc.com
We'll be filming over this weekend. Re-watch Cadet Week 2023: