International Cadet National Titles kicks off in style

by Troy Croft on 2 Jan 2014 The 52nd International Cadet National Titles, hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Williamstown, kicked off in style on the 28th of December 2013 with the Melbourne CBD as the backdrop. Racing will continue until the 4th January 2014, so there is still plenty of sailing action to come.

With over 120 kids competing, and countless support crews (parents and siblings), the event is providing a festive, family focused atmosphere, not only around the club, but also around Williamstown.

Unfortunately, not everyone can get out on the water for the day to watch the event on one of the numerous spectator vessels so this year the Organising Authority are trialing a GPS tool known as 'tack tracker' which is providing a real time feed to the clubhouse television. The racing can also be replayed at home, and is proving to be a powerful coaching tool. As long as you have internet access you can follow the race in real time. So you can be enjoying a coffee and still see what’s happening on the water.

Checkmate, sailed by Thomas Alexander and Sophie Alexander, is currently placed at the top of the leaderboard with competition for the top places strongly contested. Like all regattas however there are races within the fleet as boats and crews battle to get a few extra points to take them up the ladder a place or two.

Series scores to date can be found on the event website.

So with two days of racing to go the teams will be back on the water tomorrow focused on gaining those extra points to get them into the national team to compete at the World Titles later this year, or getting a few extra places up the ladder.