Cadets at West Kirby

by David Elliott on 12 Sep 2011 After an absence of two years, the West Kirby S C Open Meeting is back on the Cadet calendar. Under the guiding hand of Cadet Class Captain Paul Colquitt, numbers have increased steadily this season and ten local boats took to the water on Saturday 3rd September at the Wirral-based club.

With low water on the River Dee, racing took place on West Kirby’s 52 acre marine lake. To reflect the status of the day, Race Officer and West Kirby Sailing Secretary, Paul Jenkins, laid an Olympic course rather than using the permanent marks on the lake. Four races were scheduled; two in the morning and two after lunch.

A southerly F4 wind blew consistently during the morning. Dark clouds surrounded the estuary and rain fell throughout the morning in Wales, on the other bank of the river. Alex Colquitt and Ella Marston in 9084 Time Warp, Octavia and Hector Owen sailing 8289 She’s Electric and Henry Hughes and James Colquitt in 8405 Splinter started Race 1 from the Committee Boat end of the line, taking the right hand side up the beat.

Ruby Riggs and Hebe Hemming in 8441 Pixie followed, together with Holly Marston and Amber Riggs in 6901 Dolly Rocker, who had started from the pin end and Hettie and Monty Dunlap in 6312 Canajoharie. By the windward mark, Henry and James had established a useful lead over Octavia and Hector, with Ruby and Hebe third.

Hettie and Monty lay fourth, followed by Holly and Amber, Alex and Ella and Emily Pulford and Rebecca Lawrence in 8412 A&E. Robin Lowndes and Ross Atkinson in 7612 Once A Blue came next, with Jess Pulford and Isabel Flemins in 7605 Taylor Maide and Ellie and Billy Moore in 7436 Surface Tension close behind. As the race developed, Henry and James and Octavia and Hector opened up an extended gap and maintained their respective positions at the finish. Ruby and Hebe finished third, Alex and Ella fourth, Holly and Amber fifth and Hettie and Monty sixth.

Race 2 started with Alex and Ella, Octavia and Hector and Henry and James once again close to the Committee Boat and keeping right. Emily and Rebecca went left, along with Holly and Amber and Robin and Ross. Henry and James led at the windward mark from Alex and Ella and they steadily pulled away from the following fleet to finish in this order. Holly and Amber were third, Ruby and Hebe fourth, Octavia and Hector fifth and Ellie and Billy sixth.

Over lunch, the wind dropped and brighter weather prevailed. It was still raining in Wales. Lauren Price joined Emily Pulford in 8412 A&E. Race 3 was abandoned with a combination of light and shifty wind leaving the fleet stranded across the length and breadth of the lake. After regrouping ashore, and allowing time for the wind to fill in, Race 4 began mid-afternoon with Holly and Amber accelerating off the line to lead up the beat from Octavia and Hector, Ruby and Hebe and Hettie and Monty. Octavia and Hector took the gun from Henry and James, who were followed home by Ruby and Hebe.

With two bullets and a second, Henry and James were presented with the Jubilee Trophy, first awarded in 1977. Octavia and Hector were second with eight points and Alex and Ella third on ten.

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