Waldringfield Cadet Week days 3 and 4

by Melissa Cutting on 24 Aug 2012 On day three of Waldringfield Cadet Week action commenced under a clear sky, accompanied this time, after the windless conditions of day two, by a beautiful westerly breeze gusting up to 21 mph. The third day is traditionally a lay day as far as points races are concerned, but for those who want to sail competitively, there is still plenty of opportunity in the shape of a trophy pursuit race, the crew’s race, the ex-Cadets race (single-handed) and the Old Gaffers race (where both helm and crew must have a combined age of over 75, with the helm being at least 45).

For the Trophy Race, a fleet of 45 boats, split across two classes and seven starts, gave the RO a challenging morning. A sausage course was set on an incoming tide in the Rocks area of the river. Ellie Wootton and Jenny Hardwick (WSC) in Smartie 8335 had the best start in the silver fleet, joining in with the gold fleet for the first time this week. Other notable starts were made by Hattie Collingridge and Tom Mythen in Little Miss Trouble 8449, Megan Ferguson and Annabella (Frensham Pond Sailing Club) in Crisis 9032, Ali Goodhead and James Minchin (WSC) in Bashful 9046, and Ed Harris and Faye Chatterton (WSC) in Mostly Harmless 8514, with the committee boat end paying off best.

At the windward mark it was Ellie who rounded first, followed by Mary Sacker and Nathalie d’Enno (WSC) in silver fleet boat, Blue Boogie 9563. With boats spread out all over the course and positions changing regularly the challenge was now for Ellie to maintain her lead for the duration of the hour long race, a task which she managed until the last but one leg when Mary went into the lead at the windward mark. Hot on their heels now, however, was lead gold fleet helm, Angus Stone and his crew Amelia Vincent (WSC) in Great White 9156, despite having hit the mark and doing turns.

These three boats tussled for pole position, and as they approached the finish line, it was Angus who looked set to get the trophy. A last minute tactical call by Ellie to go inshore and get out of the tide paid off, however, and in the last few metres she pipped Angus to the post to win the race. Mary came in behind Angus to take third.

The laser fleet, meanwhile, had been split into two starts, and it was Freya Cooney (WSC) who got the best start in the first and Maddie Harris (WSC) in the second. Freya sailed a very good, tactical race and maintained her lead throughout to finish in first place, followed by Annie Knott (WSC) and Maddie in third.

Despite facing winds of up to 21 mph, a strong incoming tide and the challenge of moored boats, there was virtually no work for the rescue team – a testament to the skills of all the young sailors, especially the silver fleet who had been away from the main fleet for two days of training. One skipper of a moored yacht said that he was 'amazed at how good these kids are' – a view shared by all those involved in the organisation of the week.

Prior to the start of the afternoon’s racing there was a lull as many members of the club paid their respects at the funeral of a much-loved Waldringfield sailor, David Dearlove.

On an incoming tide and a gusty westerly wind, 13 boats lined up for the Crew’s Race. With lots of water to play with, the RO had set a box course, round the island, to test the aspiring helms. Angus and Daisy Collingridge in Mistoffelees opted for a beautifully executed port tack flyer while Sean Woodward and Gus Cooney in Wild Thing 9289 had the best start at the committee boat end.

At the windward mark it was Angus who rounded first, and sneaking inside several other boats, Tom Colyer and Henry Stone in Total Eclipse 9374 came through in second. As the boats approached the island and were able to bear off it was George Offord and Emma White in Great White 9156 who were first to put the kite up, staying in by the island to keep out of the tide. By the next mark it was Harry Chatterton and Sam Yale (WSC) in Out of the Blue 9369 who had sailed a great reach to round first, followed by Tom and then George.

As the boats approached the gybe mark the wind increased significantly and while Harry went through unscathed, Tom headed off down river towards Felixstowe as he endeavoured to embrace the gybe while George and Sean both capsized, leaving Harry in pole position, followed by Tom and Angus.

On the following beat, George took Angus to move into third while Tom moved up into first place through good tactical sailing. Both he and Harry then pulled away.

All three boats maintained their positions through the rest of the lap but on the following beat, Harry overtook Tom through some good tactical decision making, but through superior boat speed Tom fought back to cross the line in first position. Harry came through comfortably in second with George in third.

For the Ex-Cadets Race, 14 boats helmed single-handedly by former Cadet helms (all from WSC), including one world champion and one national champion, lined up for the start of what is probably the most competitive race of Cadet Week, and with the tide now having turned. Following the same box course, 30 seconds before the start they were all lined up on the start line eagerly awaiting the starting signal. Tim Carter had the best start at the pin end but it was Ian Davidson who got to the windward mark first, followed by Chris Woodward who promptly hit the mark, and then Tim. Doing his turns, Chris allowed Steven Videlo into third position. On the run, Tim, on the inside, rounded the gybe mark first, followed by Steven and Ian, but by this time, having had to do turns for hitting the mark, Cadet Week RO Neil Collingridge had set himself the hard task of coming through from last place.

Tim was on the plane up-front, showing true Olympic potential, and extended his lead while Will Branton stormed up to threaten at third position. Ian took Steven on the beat but then failed to duck Steven and had to do turns at the mark. Meanwhile, James Hayward pumped his way into fifth position and Chris Woodward parked on the windward mark once again! Further down the fleet, Johnny Cutting was the first ‘old codger’, who had snuck through the youngsters by judicious non-use of the kite.

By now Tim’s lead was unassailable, with Steven also having a considerable margin in second – but it was all to play for in third. At the same time, RO Neil had slowly come up the fleet to lie fifth from last but most importantly in front of Spunge Nunn, the week’s sponsor from Seamark Nunn. .

In the last two legs, Will fought off other contenders to come in comfortably in third, behind Tim and Steven.

If the Ex-Cadets is a hotly contested race, then the Old Gaffers is a combination of both strong competition and fun. With a combined helm and crew age of over 75, 14 boats lined up on the start line to complete the same box course. A controversial start by Matt White and Clare Gosling (WSC) put them first over the line with Paddy Cooney and Charlie Dearlove having to duck back over the line having been somewhat over-enthusiastic.

At the windward mark it was Matt who rounded first, but with the press officer Melissa crewing for husband, Johnny Cutting, in the race and having entrusted note taking to some highly excited cadets, the remainder of the race passed in a blur. Matt maintained his lead to finish in first, followed by Ian Videlo and Maddie Harris (WSC) and Thingy Ferguson (not the press officer’s notetaking!) and Steven Videlo, with Andrew ‘Drewman’ James and Alison Pilbeam in third.

Day 4

Bright sunshine greeted the young sailors on day four of Waldringfield Cadet Week, but the sun was also accompanied by a stop-start gentle westerly breeze. The RO started the gold Cadet fleet in the first race of the day at the Rocks area of the River, with Alex Page and Aaron Chadwick (Alton Water/Fishers Green Sailing Club) in Gnat 8521 over the line, but good starts being made by Cam Goodhead and Anna Vincent (Waldringfield Sailing Club) in Optimus Prime 9301 at the committee boat end and Daisy and Angus Collingridge (WSC) in No Regrets 9877 at the pin end.

With a strong incoming tide all of the boats headed inshore and much shouting ensued as they short-tacked along the left hand side of the course towards the windward mark of a sausage course. At this point the wind died completely and with cries of ‘abandon’ coming from the fleet, the RO considered his options.

Gus Cooney and Sean Woodard (WSC) in Wild Thing 9289 and Faye Gosling and Connor Line (WSC) in Cool Runnings 9041 managed to edge ahead of the rest of the fleet and as the wind then picked up they benefitted further and made it to the windward mark, confirming to the RO that the race was now well and truly on. Faye rounded ahead of Gus, followed by Henry Stone and Tom Colyer (WSC/FGSC) in Total Eclipse 9374. The wind continued to follow the pattern of dying then filling in gently causing much frustration within the fleet and on the Committee Boat. But with some of the boats making slow but sure progress the RO took the decision to send the fleet on another beat.

Gus, Faye, Henry and Daisy tussled at the front of the fleet for pole position as the wind continued to change while Emma and Josh White (WSC) in Zest 9876 capsized through an over-enthusiastic roll-tack. Meanwhile Ed Harris and Faye Chatterton (WSC) in Mostly Harmless 8514 were setting the kite and heading for the opposite shore in a desperate attempt to find more wind.

As the front runners approached the line, the wind died once more and the fleet started to go backwards, with the exception of Gus who was closely hugging the shore and managing to stem the tide and Ed who on the right hand side of the shore was also managing to find a small puff of wind. It was tough to call who was going to cross first, but in the end it was Daisy who got the gun, followed by Faye and Gus. The majority of the rest of the fleet either retired, were timed out or parked on the beach, with only 13 getting a finish.

Meanwhile, the silver Cadet fleet were finding the difficult wind conditions even more frustrating, with most of them failing to cross the line, floating backwards towards the Sailing Club. Rhiannon and Thomas Williams (Corinthian Otters) in Little Skipper 9291 had a great start at the committee boat on port but then had to start all over again having gone back over the line, but their determination and concentration paid off and they were first over the finish line, set at the end of the first beat, followed by Hattie Collingridge and Tom Myther (WSC) in Little Miss Trouble 8449. The rest of the fleet retired.

As the Laser fleet lined up for their start, the wind died mid sequence and as a result many of the boats were nowhere near the line as the flag came down. Annie Knott (WSC) had the best start but as the wind filled in it was Maddie Harris (WSC) who got it first and moved to the front of the fleet. At the windward mark, Maddie had pulled out a huge lead, followed by Annie and then Freya Cooney (WSC) but the vagaries of the wind meant that nobody could be sure of a win and out of nowhere, Charlie Linsell came up to the front of the fleet and took the win, followed by Annie and then Ollie Jones (WSC).

On the top of an incoming tide, and now with a beautiful sea breeze, the RO took the fleet to the Tips area of the River for race 2, a round the island course.

The silver fleet started first with William Palierakis and Guy Bartham (FGSC) executing a good port tack flyer. The fleet then headed over to the left hand side of the river and it was Lisa Rose and Lucie Nunn (WSC) in Buoy Racer 9633 who rounded the windward mark first with Lucie Offord and Molly Hardwick (WSC) in In Too Deep 9576 sneaking round on the inside of Ellie Wootten and Jenny Hardwick (WSC) in Smartie 8355.

Lucie then continued to sail smartly, overhauling Lisa to move into first place by the next windward rounding, with Ellie then spotting an opportunity herself to come inside Lisa and move into second. As the boats approached the finish the tacking battle continued, with Lucie just pipping Lisa, pushing Ellie back into third place.

The Laser fleet start saw Charlie Linsell fly across at the pin end in pole position and, keeping in front of the rest of the fleet on the beat, he rounded the windward mark first, followed by Maddie Harris and Annie Knott who came inside Ollie Jones in third but then hit the mark. Despite doing turns, she maintained her third position behind Maddie, while Charlie out in front pulled out a massive lead over the rest of the fleet. When he crossed the line first it was a full three minutes before Maddie came through in second, followed by Annie.

The highlight of the gold Cadet fleet start was an amazing port tack flyer by Willow Bland and George Offord (WSC) in Flying Scotsman 9030, which enabled her to pass across the front of the entire fleet. The fleet split across the river as they headed up to the windward mark at the top of the island and it was Alex Page who rounded first, followed by Faye Gosling and Emma White.

On the reach, Emma overtook Faye to move into second while Sam Yale and Harry Chatterton (WSC) in Out of the Blue 9369 also passed through to move into third. Further tussles took place on the beat and by the time the front runners reached the windward mark, Alex had pulled out a significant lead over Sam who turned in second with Faye in third. All three maintained their places to the finish line.

The third race of the day followed the same course and started with a general recall of the gold Cadet fleet. The RO then hoisted the black flag for the second start which resulted in everyone staying behind the line. Willow Bland attempted another port tack flyer but had to tack onto starboard straight away as she ran into the rest of the fleet. At the committee boat end it was Angus Stone and Amelia Vincent (WSC) in Great White 9156, Pip Dearlove and Jamie Goodhead (WSC) in Muscadet 7431, and Suzie Gosling and Issy Eaton (WSC) in Road Runner 9042, who had the best starts.

The fleet split across the River once again and it was Faye Gosling on the left hand side who reached the windward mark first, followed by Alex Page and Emma White. Special cheers were reserved for Sam Pilbeam, crewed by Katrina Themans (FGSC), the most inexperienced helm in the fleet, as he rounded the mark ahead of two other boats.

On the run, Alex once again took the lead, and Sam Yale moved up into third place, and by the next windward mark Alex had pulled away from Faye yet further. There was more cheering as Ali Goodhead and James Minchin (WSC) in Bashful 9046 rounded and Ali promptly jumped out of the boat (according to him) to answer a call of nature.

Emma White worked hard to pull herself up the fleet and edged into second position behind Alex who finished first, with Faye in third.

Maddie Harris had the best start in the Laser fleet at the pin end and led the entire fleet over to the left hand side of the course. Though the tide was now slack, the Lasers headed along the shore and Maddie maintained her lead to round the windward mark first, followed by Charlie Linsell and Annie Knott. Maddie’s lead was never threatened but Charlie and Annie continued to battle for second place with Annie ultimately crossing ahead of Charlie.

After a good silver fleet start, the fleet spread out across the river with Hattie Collingridge reaching the windward mark first, followed by Lucie Offord and Ellie Wootten. Through some excellent sailing all three boats managed to keep their positions throughout the rest of the race.

After four days of sailing in different wind strengths, it is Faye Gosling who leads the gold Cadet fleet with 21 points, having showed great consistency in her results. Daisy Collingridge lies in second with 28 points and Emma White in third, also on 28 points.

In the Laser fleet, Annie Knott lies in first with 13 points, Charlie Linsell in second with 17 points and Adam Leat with 26 points.

Hattie Collingridge leads the silver Cadet fleet with six points, while Lucie Offord is in second with 17 points and Rhiannon Williams in third with 19 Cadet Class website