Cadet Open at Waldringfield Sailing Club sponsored by Neil Pryde & Anglia Factors
by Ethan Davey 1 Jul 2019 23:22 PDT
29-30 June 2019
The 2019 Waldringfield Cadet Open saw Cadets from Stone, Frensham Pond and Waldringfield enjoying a gentle breeze with a strong tide presenting some challenging conditions.
In the first race, a pin end bias start led to many sailors struggling to make the line, however, Daisy Nunn and Oscar Bush (9994) took a committee boat start and tacked off early to the opposite shore, out of the tide. This led to them rounding the windward mark in 1st maintaining a comfortable lead all the way to the finish line with Cally Terkelson and Pippa Smith (8352) in second, Hazel whittle and Gwen Thorogood (9983) in third and Ethan Davey and Alex Enkel (10051) in fourth. Cally and Pippa were ruled OCS meaning everyone moved up a place in the rankings.
Race 2 led to many surprises. Tacking into the shore to avoid the strong tide was the obvious option to get to the windward first, but Hannah Carruthers and George Cox (10076) had other ideas. A start at the pin end in the middle of the tide, carried Hannah and George all the way to the windward mark, lee-bowing the tide to secure a 20 second lead over the second boat. They maintained their lead all the way to the finish line securing a huge round of applause for their first race win.
Race 3 led to many other competitors daring to try what 10076 had previously done, with the tide now weakening. As the windward moved more and more into the tide as each course was reset, this became the more favourable option. The top two boats 8352 and 9983 fought a close battle together in the tide. Meanwhile Ethan Davey and Alex Enkel (10051) in 3rd place spent most of the race away from the main fleet, staying way too long close to the shore allowing Ben Goult and Alex McEwan (9984) to sneak 3rd from them. Day 1 ended with Hazel Whittle and Gwen Thorogood (9983) in first place with Ethan Davey and Alex Enkel (10051) just one point behind in 2nd place.
Day two brought a but more wind but there was little water for Race 4 and so the course was moved to 'Galleons' in the lee of the trees. This led to some very tactical and shifty conditions that were perfect for the 'Pondies'. After a general recall, the second start Sam Goult and Sarah McEwan (9977) and Ben Goult and Alex McEwan (9984) dominated their way round the course but Cally Terkelsen and Pippa Smith (8352) kept snapping at their heels and just managed to take line honours from them.
Race 5 saw an increasing wind speed and more water so the course was moved to the 'Tips'. Ethan Davey and Alex Enkel (10051) took a committee boat start and were the first to tack off from the start line on Port whilst the rest battled to make the pin. A header on the port tack lifted 10051 above the fleet putting them in 1st place. Emilia Mayhew and LouLou Mayhew (10032), Daisy Nunn and Oscar Bush (9994), Hannah Carruthers and George Cox (10076) and 10051 all battled it out on a tight 1st reach however a quick gybe from 10051 lead to the boys sailing over the top of the group and catching a convenient gust that propelled them in to the lead that they continually built on to take a comfortable win. Hazel Whittle and Gwen Thorogood (9983) followed in 2nd with Daisy Nunn and Oscar Bush (9994) in 3rd.
Race 6 followed a similar pattern with the same course and conditions. Ethan Davey and Alex Enkel (10051) maintained a comfortable lead from the start with Cally Terkelsen and Pippa Smith (8352) following closely behind. A great game of cat and mouse developed as 10051 pulled away on the reaches with 8352 closing in on the beats. In the end they each chose different sides of the beat to the finish line. In the end it paid for 8352 to go left winning the race by the smallest of margins from 10051 with Daisy Nunn and Oscar Bush (9994) following in 3rd.
After two days of great racing, Ethan Davey and Alex Enkel in 10051 emerged as deserved winners and had the pleasure of being presented with the prestigious 'Harris Salver' by Gordon Harris who instigated the event back in 1984.
The prize giving was made even more special with the presence of Karl Terkelson, the first ever winner of the 'Harris Salver'.