Cadet Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club
by Jim Morley 2 May 2011 14:40 BST
1 May 2011
Cadets at Frensham © David Elliott
Frensham Pond is better known for light summer breezes and continual wind shifts. Sunday 1st May was a shock. An easterly wind accentuated by the shape of the surrounding hills hammered down the lake. By midday the wind meter registered gusts rising forty knots accompanied by breaking waves. None of this was going to deter the helms and crews of fifty three Cadet dinghies who contested the four race open meeting. There were capsizes and the flotilla of safety boats was busy but no serious incidents, and the standards of boat handling, tactics and mark rounding impressed the big gathering of families and supporters ashore.
The two morning races began in a wind speed around force two to three, but this rapidly increased with some gusts over thirty knots and short breaking waves. It seemed that local knowledge still counted, as both races were won by Frensham’s Matt and Ben Shorrock who sailed a faultless course. Not far behind them in race two were Frensham’s national champions Andrew Smith and Rory Burdock. Second place in race one went to Frensham’s Ben Hazeldine and George Bridge. In race two third place went to visitors Oliver Palierkis and Rob Keen from Fisher’s Green SC.
During the meal break in the crowded clubhouse the wind increased with two recorded gusts in excess of forty knots. A slightly reduced fleet took to the water for the two afternoon races. There were more capsizes and some crews were clearly tiring but the series was clinched for Matt and Ben Shorrock with a second place and a decisive first in the fourth race.
Crews, families and friends packed the clubhouse for the prize giving and the Frensham free tea. Chris Granger of sponsors Guildford Marine produced a range of tempting prizes.
Frensham’s Commodore Judith Young thanked Chris Ellis and his race team along with Ian Philpott whose safety boats had been busy. Also Paul D’Arcy who computed the results race by race. Finally Judith thanked Sala and Erin who worked the galley and kept the one hundred plus happy competitors fed.
Asked for his impressions of the day winning helm Matt Shorrock said, ‘It was a fantastic event, it was tough but it was fun…’
Overall Results:
1st Master Mariner, 8352, Matthew & Ben Shorrock (Frensham)
2nd & TR trophy, Blue Sting Pudding, 9243, Andrew Smith & Rory Burdock (Frensham)
3rd Salt Air, Oliver Palierkis & Rob Keen (Fishers Green SC)
4th Vanguard, 7627, James Turl & Chris Turl (Exe SC)
5th Nasty Tern, 8844, Nick Sutton & Hattie Sexton (Otters SC)
1st helm & crew under 14: Bladé Runner, 9390, Alex Philpott & Megan Fergusson (Frensham)
1st girl helm: Wave Rider, 7274, Abigail Croft (Frensham)
Spot prizes
For Endeavour and persistence, Attitude, 8370, Joe Barr & Jake Terry (Otters SC)
13th place “unlucky for some”, Mostly Harmless, Maddie Harris & Ed Harris (Waldringfield SC)