Cadet 2nd World Indicator at Stone Sailing Club

Action from the second Cadet Worlds Indicator at Stone © Steve Proffitt

Action from the second Cadet Worlds Indicator at Stone © Steve Proffitt

Action from the second Cadet Worlds Indicator at Stone © Steve Proffitt

A very challenging weekend for the 77 Cadets and the race management for the second World Team selector held at Stone Sailing Club over the weekend of the 31st March/1st of May. All races sailed over a triangle, sausage, sausage and beat.

Race 1:

Sailed in a South/South Westerly 7-10 Knots with the tide carrying the fleet towards the start line it was no surprise to see two general recalls before the black flag start. This then saw a further general with eleven boats chalked up on the board watching them get away cleanly at the fourth attempt. The beat was very tricky to call as the best pressure was out of the main channel. First to round was ‘Harum Scarum’ James Rusden/Aaron Woolf followed by ‘Grim Reaper’ Harry Harris/Jessica Quinlan, ‘Lethal Menace’ Sam Brearey/Michael Horne, ‘Blue Moon’ Kate Allam/Katie Barr and ‘The Red Cadet’ William/Sophie Shepherd. By the first leeward James led from Kate and Harry. Fourth was now ‘Cyclone’ Thomas/Emily Kinver. By the second windward James and Kate were clear of ‘Fantasy’ Ben Cornish/Sam Matson and Harry was fourth. Positions were maintained in the top three with ‘Challenger’ William Rusden/Mathew Davanzo now fourth at the final windward. At the finish line James took the gun, seventy five seconds ahead of Kate. Ben was third and Harry fourth.

Race 2:

With the wind dropping the race officer got the race sequence started very promptly with a number of boats caught out still on the race side of the line trying to make their way to the leeward of the start line against the tide. Some of these returning boats were caught out by the ‘I’ flag and not going round the ends but dipping the line. Seventeen boats were OCS including Harry Harris who crossed the finish line first.

First at the windward mark was Kate Allam followed by William Rusden, ‘Who Dares Wins’ Sophie Pearson/Amy Yeoman, ‘Flirting with Danger’ Jonathon Moss/Sophie Dingwall and ‘Pulling Power’ Miles Blaver Mann/Hettie Penman. The fleet stayed very close together out to the wing mark and then gybed towards the leeward. At this point the wind started dropping and it seemed obvious to the rescue boats at the leeward mark that with the tide pushing the boats away from the mark they were not going to make it. With about the top twenty round the wing the boats arriving at this mark started to go up the coast.

With the wind dropping further the leaders then found that the sea breeze had kicked in and they were now attempting to beat into the leeward mark. Most in fact were going backwards slowly. The boats who had headed up the coast now started to dive for the mark. First to come in was ‘No Fear’ Chris Proffitt/Alex Coulton. They looked good up until about fifty meters from the mark when they to were left holding position waiting for some wind. Next to come in was ‘Rockwell’ Alex Harley/Christopher Thame. They got within about five meters, still with a green and white striped spinnaker filling, when they realized they needed to beat. Sadly it was too late and to the groans of most boats they missed! There was now considerable shouts of abandon, abandon ringing out on the course. Some boats changed tactics and headed for the far shore. Others caught a slight increase in pressure and started gaining on the mark. First to round the mark, having gone up the coast, was ‘Predator’ Billie Quinlan/Mat Lis who received the loudest cheer of the day. They were followed by ‘Wicked’ Amy Seabright/Natalie Aldridge, ‘White Lightning’ Edward Harrison/Adam Owens and ‘Altered Image’ Nicola Knight/ Megan Harries.

The course was shortened and the boats headed over towards the line, firstly reeching and then as the wind changed again hardening up to cross in one fetch. First was Amy Seabright, followed by Edward Harrison, Jonathon Moss and William Rusden to end a very controversial race. The only comment I would make is that Jonathon Moss was fourth at the first mark and crossed third but that is no consolation to those who clearly suffered.

Race 3:

After a break ashore with the wind now South Easterly the course was laid in front of the club house with a beat up against the tide. Away first time the boats split and headed for both shores. Those who went for the clubhouse through the moorings arrived at the windward first. First was ‘Hot Rocks’ Katherine Kimber/Stevie Green followed by ‘Jimney Cricket’ James/Sarah Dallimore, ‘White Stuff’ Ben Muskett/Sasha Brumi, William Rusden and ‘Heatseeker’ Jamie Hill/Lee Taylor. At the leeward mark William now led from James, Ben and ‘Y Knot’ Stephen Tiernan/Hugo Pullen. With the wind dropping the course was shortened. Again there was a split for both shores Stephen Tiernan crossing first from Kate Allam, Katherine Kimber and William Rusden.

Race 4:

Sunday saw only one race in late afternoon having seen the sea breeze and the prevailing wind fight each other all day flicking backwards and forwards through 180 degrees. The fleet were away surprisingly first time with the tide pushing them up the course into a Westerly 4 knots of wind. Stephen Tiernan arrived first at the windward mark, followed by ‘Point Blank’ James Harley/George Somers, ‘Teen Spirit’ Aaron Cooper/Jack Wilson, ‘Relax’ Jamie Crapnell/Jonathon Griffiths and Ben Cornish. By the leeward the fist four had broken clear. Stephen led James, Jamie and Aaron. Leading the chasing group was William Rusden. At the second windward the order was the same with Stephen having a useful gap over the others. The run was to see some nail biting sailing with the wind dropping the chasers took a different approach going left and right out of the current. The committee boat raced down the course to lay a finish at the leeward mark. With the leaders going down the middle in the strongest current those on either side started to overtake them. ‘Gnat’ Hamish Stone/Tim Carter had gone left, they gybed parallel to the line and reached in for the line. Hamish arrived about two boat lengths in front of Jamie to bear away and take a brilliant first place from Jamie Crapnell, James Harley and Stephen Tiernan. With the wind dropping further, those who went down the middle lost a lot of places and forty boats were timed out.

Overall Results:

1st Challenger, William Rusden & Mathew Danvanzo (Highcliffe) 13pts
2nd Y Knot, Stephen Tiernan & Hugo Pullen (Parkstone) 18pts
3rd Teen Spirit, Aaron Cooper & Jack Wilson (Frensham) 20pts
4th Hot Rocks, Katherine Kimber & Stevie Green (Stone) 22pts
5th Point Blank, James Harley & George Somers (Otters) 28pts