Epigen 2010/11 International Cadet National Championships wrap up.

by John Curnow on 7 Jan 2011 71 crews recently completed their International Cadet national titles, hosted by Sandringham Yacht Club on the shores of Melbourne’s Port Phillip. Of the 142 competitors taking part, it was fantastic to see that 49 of them were girls, seven of whom are now also part of the National team, as a result of their on-water efforts.

Sean Keen and Oscar Mitton sailing, Sea Ya, won the 12 race series. Like the overall winners from both the Sydney and Melbourne to Hobart (Westcoaster) races this year, the young lads hail from South Australia. In second place were Anton and Julian Sasson from the host club, in their boat, Samaran. The Sasson boys were second in the Cadet World Championships in Poland in 2010. Finally, then, Tasmania’s Ollie Burnell and Sam Abel, in Winning Edge, took out third place.

These are great achievements, but the regatta was also highlighted by great competitiveness, determination, camaraderie and support. Smiles were everywhere, from first to last place and no more so than for the top ten crews who all received invitations to form the Australian Cadet Sailing Team to take on the world’s best in July this year at the Cadet World Championships, which will be sailed in Germany.
The kids were also fortunate enough to have the prizes on Day One presented to them by Australian yachting legend, Lou Abrahams, where he commented after observing the Cadets in action, that he felt the future of sailing was in great shape.

In such a large fleet, there was always going to be the need to do running repairs, and this is where the support factor really comes in. The sponsors, Epigen, were hands-on with the event and were on-site doing the repairs themselves, to ensure all could continue sailing.

Support also came in the form of one of the RIB crew diving in, fully clothed, to put their centerboard back in to the keelbox, for the Cadet crew to then right it. Once righted, the huge hole in the bow was discovered, which was the reason for the boat turning turtle in the first place. The skipper, Hannah Purcell, was somewhat devastated, as she had spent the whole Winter lovingly restoring her boat. ‘Never fear’ was the call made by officials in another RIB, who with the aid of several yards of duct tape, had them back competing in the second race of the day, which ended up being windiest of the whole regatta. Yes.

They did stay afloat for the whole race, too…

In the final wrap up, there were a variety of conditions and all had a great time. Full results from the Epigen 2010/11 International Cadet National Championships can be found at: http://www.syc.com.au/raceresults//2010/otb/IntCadetsNats2010/SGrp3.htm

The Cadet is the only ISAF International Junior, two-handed class. Next year the Australian International Cadet family travels to NSW, where the 2011/12 Cadet Nationals will be held at the Belmont Sailing Club on Lake Macquarie, from December 27 to January 4.

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