Cadet Week at Waldringfield Sailing Club Overall

Waldringfield Sailing Club hosted its annual Cadet week from August 6th to 10th. A total of 32 boats participated, including 6 visitors from Fishers Green and Frensham Pond.

Racing began on Monday in a force 2- 3 with the first race being closely contested at the front, with Joe Runnacles and Jamie Mayhew just holding off Mark Bartlett crewed by James Eminson. Ben & Hamish Stone held off the rest of the fleet to claim third place. The second race in a slightly stronger breeze was raced around the island at Waldringfield, and again initially headed by Joe Runnacles/Jamie Mayhew this time from Stephen Videlo & Oliver Pollard with Mark Bartlett/James Eminson in close pursuit. These 3 soon pulled away with Bartlett/Eminson winning from Videlo/Pollard and Runnacles/Mayhew.

Tuesday morning proved particularly testing with low water in the river Deben. Beating against the tide, most boat hugged the right-hand shore, but those who went left came out ahead. Stephen Videlo/Oliver Pollard went hard aground on the first beat, leaving Ben & Hamish Stone to take a commanding lead. On the second lap, Mark Bartlett/James Eminson had to stop to re-hoist their mainsail, and the Stones were caught out by a large wind shadow over the left hand side of the river, leaving Andrew Twinn & Tom Power to take the lead. Videlo/Pollard just caught up into second place only to set off on one lap too many, letting Tom Branton & Aaron Woolf through. In the afternoon the wind had freshened to a force 4 and again a course as set around the island. This time Stephen Videlo & Oliver Pollard made no mistake to lead from start to finish from Runnacles/Mayhew and Bartlett/Eminson.

Wednesday was another breezy day. In the morning Mark Bartlett & James Eminson established a commanding lead from the start to win convincingly. Behind them a close battle ensued between Runnacles/Mayhew and Videlo/Pollard, but unfortunately Runnacles/Mayhew were disqualified for an infringement at the leeward mark. In the afternoon race Mark Bartlett & James Eminson won from Runnacles/Mayhew & Videlo/Pollard.

On Thursday morning with a light and variable wind some new faces emerged at the front. Greg Revill & Will Howard had a comfortable lead from Tom Branton & Aaron Woolf, but both of these boats rounded a mark the wrong way and by the time they had returned they had dropped back into the pack. Mark Bartlett & James Eminson capitalised on all this confusion to win from Ben & Hamish Stone. Over lunch some strong thunderstorms materialised but it was just possible to sail a race in very light winds late in the afternoon. Bartlett/Eminson comfortably led from Runnacles/Mayhew and Videlo/Pollard until the final lap when they were caught out by the increasing current and dropped back to 5th place.

The final race in a force 2-3 was sailed on Friday morning. This was a close three-way tussle between Branton/Woolf, Bartlett/Eminson & Runnacles/Mayhew. A freak gust on one beat caused amusement as the two more experience crews capsized simultaneously, but Runnacles/Mayhew recovered to win from Branton/Woolf.

An outstanding performance by Aaron Cooper & William Branton to finish 10th overall won the prize for the best novice (1st-year helming), whilst Nuala Black & Mary Croydon were awarded the “Bucket Trophy” for providing the rescue crews with the most “interest”.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Cadet Page