Please select your home edition
Edition
J Composites J/99

Blackwater Sailing Club Cadet Week 2024

by Gay Ayton 18 Aug 21:15 PDT 3-8 August 2024

The Blackwater Sailing Club's Cadet Week which took place from 3-8 August is an annual six-day extravaganza of racing, RYA training and onshore fun and games. This year was no exception with 150 cadets enjoying a packed timetable of onshore activities in the morning followed by the hotly contested racing for trophies on the river and then the evenings' entertainment.

This week gives cadets, aged from 8 to 18 and of all sailing abilities, the opportunity to have fun and enjoy being on the water whilst building confidence, friendships and sailing skills. Under the supervision of the highly experienced and well qualified instructor team, they attain their different RYA levels as well as learning to race.

Typical British weather presented daily challenges to the sailors from glorious sunshine with little or no wind when beating the tide became the focus to the strong gusting force 6 winds and rain by the end of the week. The skilful safety boat teams were kept busy.

Jess Haigh, the cadet commodore said: "We had an amazing week. With six fleets and 11 races there was some fantastic competitive racing on the river including our plucky young cadets in their Opis and Toppers.

Our cadet committee laid on an exciting programme of events for everyone - with team building games on land and the training lake, ice-cream relays on the river, the tractor pull which was won by the adults although they were subsequently disqualified for cheating! Also fancy dress competition and film and curry night - an exhausting time was had by all, it is huge fun though and really one of the best weeks!"

Sheena Berney, vice commodore, said: "Organising our cadet week is a mammoth task and it's all thanks to the army of volunteers, some 130 people who give up their time to make it happen so smoothly. We are hugely grateful. I'd like to particularly thank Rob Carver our Cadet Skipper as he steps down after his final cadet year at the helm - his energy and hard work has been inspirational."

At the prize-giving the worthy winners across all the fleets were:

Optimists
1st Daniel Hall
2nd Isabelle Miller
3rd Evie Truman

Toppers
1st Austin Edwards
2nd Thomas Doggett
3rd Natasha Adkins

RS Feva
1st Flo Evans & Katherine Carver
2nd Hattie Garlick & Hector Johnson
3rd Alice Ruston & Isabelle Foy

Lasers full/radial
1st Hugh Andrews
2nd Dominic Carver
3rd Osea Evans

Lasers 4.7
1st Jess Welch
2nd Stanley Johnson
3rd Mara Thomas

General handicap
1st Jess Haigh & Lucy Shelter
2nd Sam Glover & Charlie Bourne
3rd Hermione Cook & Bella Elderton

Pink Flag Tankard: Best results in a handicap fleet not winning the first prize - Dominic Carver
Evans Endeavour Goblet - Oliver Keeble for his perseverance
Challenge Trophy: Best points for the week - Hugh Andrews
Blue Flag Tankard: Girl's best points for the week - Jess Haigh and Lucy Shelter
Heron Spoon: Most Resolute Cadet - Natasha Adkins
Best crew Medal: Katherine Carver

Cock of the Cadets
1st Hugh Andrews
2nd Jess Haigh
3rd Dominic Carver

For further information about visiting and joining the Club, contact membership secretary or visit www.blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

Related Articles

Blackwater Snipe Open
12 Snipes for the 2024 South Eastern Championships 12 Snipes came together at Blackwater SC on the River Blackwater to compete for the South Easterns on the 5th and 6th October. The weather was kind with a southerly force 3 to 4 on the Saturday generated perfect conditions for the time of year. Posted on 10 Oct
Blackwater Wayfarer Open
Craftinsure National Circuit resumes over the weekend After a short gap following the double header of National Circuit opens at Arun YC and Aldeburgh YC and the Northerns at Leigh and Lowton, the Craftinsure UK Wayfarer National Circuit resumed over the weekend of the 5-6th October at Blackwater SC. Posted on 9 Oct
Optimist Open and Training at Blackwater
A bumper entry list in the East Last weekend a fleet of almost 70 Optimist dinghies descended upon Blackwater Sailing Club, for a full weekend of sailing. The weather gods played in our favour as we hung on to, what still felt like, Summer. Posted on 27 Sep
Wayfarer Craftinsure National Circuit final events
The fleet is set for Blackwater and Bough Beech in October and November As the UK Wayfarer Association Craftinsure National Circuit draws to a close for 2024, the excitement is palpable for the final two events at Blackwater Sailing Club and Bough Beech Sailing Club. Posted on 14 Sep
Glorious Race Weeks
Bumper participation is an indicator for the health of sailing It would be so easy to write about the Olympics and America's Cup this week in my newsletter but, in all honesty, we're writing and talking enough about those on Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com already. Instead let's focus on Race Weeks. Posted on 3 Sep
Blackwater Sailing Club 125th Anniversary Regatta
285 members, 92 boats, 13 commodores, 7 families of 4 generations & 2 of 5 generations Founded in 1899 the Blackwater Sailing Club was delighted to host a special regatta as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 20th July. Posted on 29 Jul
125 Years for Blackwater Sailing Club
Formed in 1899 by twelve local men, the club has expanded to over 1000 members 2024 sees Blackwater Sailing Club celebrate its 125 year anniversary. Formed in 1899 by twelve local men, the club has expanded over the years into one of the biggest on the estuary. It now has a steady membership of around 1100. Posted on 15 Jul
90th anniversary of the Sprite class
Blackwater SC runs Sprite Week for the coveted Heron Cup Celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year, the Blackwater Sailing Club was also delighted to be able to celebrate the 90th anniversary of its own classic racing fleet the Sprites with a 'World Championship' sailed at the club. Posted on 13 Jun
East Anglian Maritime Awards
Blackwater Sailing Club's Charlie Dixon and Callum Marshall shine The Blackwater Sailing Club are proud to announce that two members, Charlie Dixon and Callum Marshall have been honoured in the proficiency category of East Anglian Maritime Awards 2024 (EAMA). Posted on 17 May
Successful Open Day at Blackwater Sailing Club
Celebrating 125 Years of Sailing Despite the cold wind and threat of rain, 158 visitors braved the overcast weather and visited the Blackwater Sailing Club's Open Day on Saturday 27th April to discover sailing and experience the wonderful facilities on offer. Posted on 2 May
J Composites J/99SOUTHERN-SPARS-MISSY-FURLING-BOOMS-728-X-90 BottomSavvy Navvy 2024