Cherub Inland Championship at Queen Mary Sailing Club

Cherub Inlands at Queen Mary © Roland Trim

Cherub Inlands at Queen Mary © Roland Trim

Shorties and bikinis in October? Apparently so. The baking weekend of October 1st and 2nd beckoned a healthy entry of 12 Cherubs set to battle it out for the 2011 Inland title. The weather on the other hand had different ideas, bringing 30 degree temperatures but no wind.

On Saturday, after a long wait eventually the race officer got 2 races in around 5-8 knots of breeze. These light and testing conditions take real skill to manoeuvre modern narrow cherubs and Race 1 was a hotly contested affair with four different boats in first place. However in the end the Ellway 5 designs took line honours crewed by local talent Andy and Jill Peters, with Phil Kirk and Nick Pratt close behind.

In Race 2, another Ellway 5 design sailed by John Hamilton and Maff Kiddle joined the front runners as did current national champions Graham and Eddie Bridle in their Banshee design. However Peters and Kirk showed great consistency in the tricky conditions to take 1st and second respectively, pushing Hamilton and Bridle down to 3rd and 4th. With time drawing on the Race officer decided two races was enough for the day.

On Sunday the crews had to wait again for wind in hot conditions. With 10 minutes to go before the Race Officer’s deadline a steady and building 5 knots of breeze arrived getting the fleet underway for a third race. This time newcomers Paul and Peter Jenkins appeared to have had their three Weetabix, leading for a lap and eventually taking a cooling swim during the second hoist. This allowed E-Numbers and Riot Van through to battle it out, both eventually overtaken by the local Peters crew showing blistering speed once again.

Race 2 was started in nearer 10 knots of breeze and on the same short, light wind course the Cherub fleet immediately headed into a pack of downwind B14’s that had started 5 minutes earlier resulting in some interesting avoiding manoeuvres. This time E-numbers built up a comfortable lead from Riot Van and Usagi. With time ticking on and drives home beckoning the Race Officer again decided two races was enough and called it a day. Undeterred however and with a sunny 15 knots blowing, most Cherubs stayed out for another hour making the most of the flat water and warm breeze.

At the prize giving, 3rd was awarded to Graham and Eddie Bridle in Riot Van, 2nd to Phil Kirk and Nick Pratt in E-Numbers and the 2011 Inland Title for the 2nd year in succession to Andy and Jill Peters in Usagi Yojimbo.

It was very pleasing to see class newcomers at this event. Atum Bom crewed by Ben, Sam and Charlie (though obviously not at the same time) were learning loads from the fleet and this was clear in their improving performances on the water. Rob and Alex finally proved that the mythical Banshee Ambulance does exist and that it can sail at speed when they get it right. Paul and Peter Jenkins (just 12 years old) showed excellent consistency pulling in a 4th overall and on occasions worrying the front runners; definitely ones to watch. And new crew Katie Miller, Young Sailor of the year, with Tom Kiddle smiled constantly even if she wasn’t always attached to the boat. Born Slippy and Slippery When Wet showed just how fast and how much fun ’97 rules Cherubs can be when the breeze picks up.

This was the final event in the Cherub 2011 Travellers Trophy and the best attended outside of the nationals all season. President Graham Bridle said “We have had an excellent response to the class since we exhibited six Cherubs at the RYA Dinghy Exhibition in March, where the Cherubs also won the Concours d’Elegance award for the best looking boat in show. Since then we have several new crews in the fleet and more new boats being built, this is an exciting time for the Cherub fleet and 2012 looks set to be a cracker!”

The next event for the Cherubs is their annual sticky weekend. Held in Weston Super Mare this is a time for people to build carbon parts, previously masts, t-foil rudders, daggerboards and all manner of accessories have been made at this weekend and it’s a great place to learn the skills necessary to be able to build ideas over the winter from guys and girls that have been getting sticky all their lives. All are welcome to come and build, help, look on or make tea. Usually a beer and a curry are standard wind-down fare on Saturday night. For more information see the cherub website at www.uk-cherub.org. You can also follow us on Twitter @UK_Cherub and visit our Facebook page UK-Cherub.

Overall Results: