British team prepare for the Cadet Worlds in Argentina
by David Elliott 28 Dec 2009 09:12 GMT
26 December 2009 - 4 January 2010
The British Cadet team practicing over Christmas for the Cadet worlds © Andy Shorrock
This year’s Cadet World Championships are being held on the River Plate in Buenos Aires. Organised by the Yacht Club of Argentina, competitors have travelled from Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Russia. Yesterday saw the Opening Ceremony, which included a speech by Argentina’s first Cadet World Champions who won in Turkey in 1980. They spoke of their hugely fond memories of the class and the friends that they made.
In addition to the World Championship, a Promotional Championship is also taking place. Practice races are scheduled for both events today (Monday) with the Championship races starting on Tuesday. Twelve races are scheduled for each Championship, with no more that 3 races per event per day. The events finish next Monday, with Friday scheduled as a lay day.
Team GBR have been familiarising themselves with conditions on the River Plate since Christmas Eve under the guidance of RYA National Cadet Coach, Adam Bowers. The first day saw light winds and choppy water. The breeze strengthened for Christmas Day, with a torrential rainstorm delaying training on Boxing Day.
A full team of seven GBR crews are entered for the World Championships. Places were offered on the basis of the combined results from three Indicator Events held at Stone, Pwllheli and Parkstone. The series comprised twenty races with four discards. Top placed were Will Kennedy & Rhos Hawes from Fishers Green/South Cerney in Genesis 8539 with 58 points, 42 points ahead of second placed Sophie Dingwall & Chris Sycamore from Fishers Green in Le You You 5000. Will & Rhos scored four bullets and a further 5 podium places. In fact their worst result to count was a ninth place at Stone. Sophie & Chris achieved 3 victories and a further 4 podium places, but could not match the consistency of Will & Rhos.
Third place was taken by European Champions Christopher Brewer and Ole Alcock from Parkstone sailing Executrix 8997 with 96 points, with Arthur Henderson & Matt Currell from Salcombe/Parkstone in Bad Influence 8561 6 points behind in fourth. Chris and Ole took 3 first places with six other podium finishes while Arthur & Matt went one better with four bullets, but only three other podium finishes.
Jessica Quinlan & Alex Warrington from Corinthian Otters/Thorpe Bay in Fantasy 8407 were fifth, Max & Francesca Ingall from Fishers Green in Flirting With Danger 8855 were sixth and Abigail Croft & Matthew Shorrock from Frensham Pond sailing On The Edge 8363 took the final place.
Mary Henderson & Ben Shorrock from Salcombe/Frensham Pond sailing Pulling Power 7630 are GBR’s sole representatives in the Promotional Event.