UK Cherub Nationals at Pwllheli Sailing Club - Overall

by Phil Alderson 3 Sep 2012 12:59 BST 21-24 August 2012

• 23 boats
• 5 father-son teams
• 8 husband-wife teams
• 1 pair of brothers
• 1 pair of brothers-in-law
• Lots of good friends

Whilst big breeze might have been on most of the Cherub fleet's wish list for the Nationals, big waves were probably not - but that's what they got for the first two days. The race officer managed to get 5 races in, but for many it was survival sailing and it was the '97 rules boats with slightly smaller sails which were really enjoying themselves. After day 1, Phil and Carol Alderson (AKA Team Scotland) were lying in first place, Clive Everest and son Alex in second and Graham and Eddie Bridle, last year's father –son winning team in third. With further success on day two, Clive and 11 year old Alex were leading, the form book had apparently gone out of the window and the challenge was laid. However conditions on days 3 and 4 were much more benign and it turned out that Graham and Eddie had just been teasing everyone after all - they found their groove and won the last 6 races to take the championship in style and retain the Simpson Cup.

There was intense racing between the '97 rules fleet (smaller sails, generally speaking single wire and no t-foil) all week. Born Slippy reveled in the windy conditions under the experienced hands of Stu Hopson and Ben Howett. Comfortably Numb and Madge both crewed by husband-wife teams were in the mix, Madge sporting more than just a smart new paint job – she had fittings and a mast for the first time in years. Ade and Joe White, yet another father-son team, enjoyed their first nationals and showed some good speed in the beautifully refurbed Sweet Dreamz. The gentler conditions of days 3 and 4 allowed the speed of Pasta Frenzy to shine through, but despite their late surge, Stu Tinner and guest crew Becky Goodwin couldn't overhaul Born Slippy in the final results.

It was a tough week of conditions for crews and boats. The boats stood up well, and the crews did their best, but unfortunately some extreme Welly Wanging during Pwllheli Beach Olympics resulted in a badly dislocated shoulder for Paul Clements.

Pwllheli Sailing Club provided excellent hospitality all week and the fleet particularly enjoyed the prize giving dinner. The Welsh weather had still not finished with us and made its presence felt with a thunder storm that almost drowned out the cheering, and rain that threatened the integrity of the marquee. The traditional Cherub prizes were awarded alongside the standard glassware. The Davey for the most spectacular capsize of the week was hotly contested given the sea state, but was ultimately awarded to Tim and Kate Noyce in Comfortably Numb for the reaction elicited from the nearby rib driver "I thought you were going to land in my boat". The prize for the most beautiful boat went to Marmite, built by Aardvark and owner Paul Croote, and the Phoenix for the best restoration to Ade and Joe White for their superb job on Sweet Dreamz. The spanking paddle was returned to its rightful home with Stu Tinner, administered by Matt Kiddle gallantly stepping in for his absent brother.

More photos can be viewed at greensea.zenfolio.com/p998604808

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Cherub nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Boat Name	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	Pts
1st	RIOT VAN	3204	Bridle	Bridle	Brightlingsea	-3	-3	3	2	-5	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	13
2nd	The Subtle Knife	2693	Everest	Everest	Hayling Island	1	2	1	1	2	-5	-4	-5	4	4	2	3	20
3rd	Eleanor	3208	Ralph	Jones	Isle of Sheppey SC	(DNF)	(DNF)	4	3	1	3	2	4	-5	2	3	4	26
4th	Pocket Rocket	2683	Alderson	Alderson	Largs Sailing Club	2	1	2	(DNC)	(DNC)	4	-8	8	6	5	5	5	38
5th	Atum Bom	2688	Rushton	Rushton	Hayling Island SC	4	(DNC)	6.0 RDG	6	3	6	6	-7	-8	6	6	6	49
6th	Marmite	3212	Croote	Hole	Chew Valley SC	5	(DNF)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	1	7	2	3	3	4	2	51
7th	Born Slippy	2674	hopson	Howett		7	(DNF)	5	4	4	-14	12	-15	13	9	8	8	70
8th	Comfortably Numb	2648	Noyce	Noyce	Netley SC	6	(DNF)	(DNC)	7	6	10	11	12	15	10	11	(DNC)	88
9th	Pasta Frenzy	2660	Tinner	Goodwin	UKCCOA	(DNF)	(DNC)	10	(DNF)	DNC	9	10	9	9	7	7	7	92
10th	Madge	2646	Pratt	Pratt	RCYC	8	(DNC)	8	(DNC)	(DNC)	13	13	13	14	11	9	9	98
11th	Flat Stanley	2705	Coomber	Barnes	Weir Quay Sailing Club	(DNS)	(DNC)	6	5	(DNC)	12	14	11	12	8	10	DNC	102
12th	Ronin	2698	Jenkins	Jenkins	Weir Wood SC	(DNF)	(DNC)	11	(DNC)	DNC	OCS	3	3	2	DNC	DNC	DNC	139
13th	Usagi Yojimbo	3202	Peters	Peters	Queen Mary Sailing Club	(DNF)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	7	5	6	7	DNC	DNC	DNC	145
14th	sweet dreamzzz	2663	White	White	Notts County	(DNF)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	16	15	10	11	12	DNC	DNC	160
15th	This Way Up	2661	Whapshott	Hole	Hawley Lake Sail Training Centre	(DNS)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	15	DNC	DNC	DNC	13	12	10	170
16th	E-Numbers	3203	Kirk	Kirk	Thornbury SC	(DNS)	(DNC)	9	(DNC)	DNC	8	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	185
17th	Evo	3213	Trim	Trim	Thornbury on Chew	(DNS)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	17	DNC	14	10	DNC	DNC	DNC	185
18th	Anataephobia	3209	Lee	Still	Whitstable YC	(DNS)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	9	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	201
19th	Loco Perro	2685	Modern	Modern	Bartley SC	(DNS)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	11	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	203
20th	E J	3206	Ching	Gonzalez-Ruiz	Poole Yacht Club	(DNF)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	216
20th	Slippery When Wet	2657	Butler			(DNF)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	216
20th	Shiny Beast	2676	Clements	Clements	Chew Valley SC	(DNS)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	216
20th	Banshee Ambulance	3201	Nock	Streeter	UKCCA	(DNC)	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNS	DNC	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	216