Zhik Cadet Worlds Qualifier at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham
by Ian Harris 4 Jun 2016 21:49 BST
28-29 May 2016
Zhik Cadet World Team Selector at Burnham © Roger Mant Photography
The Clemenson Nautilus Trophy
The final qualifier for the 50th Cadet World Championships to be held by Club Náutico Albatros, Buenos Aires, Argentina, was hosted this weekend at the traditional home of the Cadet, the Royal Corinthian YC Burnham on Crouch. Ten teams were fighting to make the squad from the 100 sailors who took part in the series. Tensions and tears ran as strongly as the Crouch tide, and emotions shifted like the north easterly winds sweeping across the river. Each race for these sailors was vital in the contest for a place.
With the Saturday briefing from Race Officer Arky Wainwright completed, the Cadets were lovingly launched by the RCYC ramp crew to journey up to the mouth of the Roach.
Race 1 - With the tide just on the turn and the breeze more easterly than expected, the first race began. The fleet split into 2 from the start line, north bank and south. With Jamie Harris GBR 9985 and Harry Chatterton GBR 10001 showing well on the south bank, and Ellie Wooton GBR 9876 and Anna Wooton GBR 10006 on the north, it was silver fleets Anna, crewed by Imogen Mayhew, who sailed the perfect lay line across the tide to lead at the first mark by 100m from Jamie on the south.
It took one lap for the fleet to catch Anna; Cara Bland GBR 9962 led that chasing pack with Jamie Harris, Issy Speirs GBR 9984 and Finbarr Wormwell GBR 8847 all overhauling Anna before the line. Just behind her was Freddie Pitcher, new to the Cadet fleet, showing himself as one for the future in 6th place with great pace to windward but a few too many tangles on the run.
Race 2 - Jamie won the starboard end of the line and sailed away on his own. The chasing pack was led home by the soaring Cara Bland who was having the most amazing morning. Superbly crewed by Ines Green, Cara finished in front of Hattie Collingridge GBR 9877, Ellie Wooton and Issy Speirs, pushing Harry Chatterton back into 6th.
Race 3 - From a great start, Ellie Wooton crewed by Amelia Mayhew, led from start to finish with an excellent display of team work and tactics. Yet again it was Cara Bland just behind her in second place ensuring an overnight lead with a very impressive 1, 2, 2! Hot on her heals though were Jamie, Hattie and Harry who had a battle all the way round. Daisy Nunn and Robert Stewart led the silver fleet home in 16th from Hazel Whittle and Charlotte Leigh.
Once ashore there were as many beaming smiles as there were brave tears being choked away. With Cara's awesome day putting her in the lead of the event, there were some tears of fear in the dinghy park as teams had time to reflect and work out the scores for the series.
So after what must have been a sleepless night for some, a strong, cold and gusty northerly met the fleet in the dinghy park on Sunday morning. Arky changed the course to add an extra close reaching triangle which was going to prove to be either fun or challenging depending on where you were when the biggest gust stuck.
Race 4 - Harry and Faye Chatterton 10001, popped from the start showing the pace and form that had dominated the Weymouth qualifiers. With Jamie Harris buried near 20th place after "not the best start" and Cara OCS, they grabbed their opportunity. With the 2 tight triangles and building breeze in warm sunlight the fleet looked awesome, planing up and down the Crouch led by the bright green and yellow spinnaker of the Chatterton's in a haze of rainbow coloured spray. Alas, the tight angle was a challenge too far for some, allowing the experts to pass though and an intense battle to develop behind the leaders, with Finbarr, Megan Ferguson, Issy Speirs and the now flying Katie Sparks joining the fight for places. Like a magician, Jamie Harris somehow passed them into 2nd place but, when the really big gust happened, it happened just where he was. Capsized 10m from the line he was passed in turn by Finbarr Wormwell and Oscar Ferenczy for 2nd, Megan for 3rd, Issy for 4th. Katie Spark in 5th showed that she was about to have a better day, Ellie Wooton consistent again with 6th.
With the realisation for some that it was all too late to make the team, the heartbreak in earnest. Who would it be in the final run in to the finish?
Race 5 - Jamie Harris and Antonia Wilkinson 9985, showed their class off the line of the penultimate race to take an early lead, but were overhauled by Megan Ferguson and Yasmin Sfaxi who showed serious speed and textbook sailing as they extended to take the win. Staking a claim for a Worlds team place was Katie Spark crewed by Connor Line, again superb skill on the reaches saw them take 3rd place from Harry and Faye in 4th.
Race 6 - Jamie and Antonia led from start to finish with Harry and Faye behind them all the way.
The Royal Corinthian is a stunning building, and, as the results were counted for the Clemenson Nautilus Trophy the sailors and parents gathered on the upper balcony to enjoy the views in the evening sunlight all with one burning question; who was in the team?
The results for the Clemenson Trophy were announced by Howard Warrington the Cadet class Chairman after a warm and welcoming speech from RCYC Commodore Annie Reid. Jamie Harris and Antonia Wilkinson had won the event. Only 5 points separated 2nd to 5th, and it was Harry and Faye Chatterton on 18 points who took 2nd, Ellie Wooton and Amelia Mayhew on 21points 3rd, with Megan Ferguson and Issy Speirs separated on countback for 4th and 5th on 23 points. Cara Bland had dropped to 6th and Katie Spark up to 9th. Silver fleet had been won by Anna Wooton and Imogen, with Hazel and Charlotte 2nd. But what did that mean for the final team?
At this point the tension rose. The places were read out from the 1st place qualifier counting down. Howard commented on the performance of Jamie and Antonia as he couldn't personally recall when all 3 Worlds qualifiers had been won by one boat. Indeed not only were they consistent, Jamie and Antonia didn't count a result worse than 4th place throughout the series. In second spot Issy and Emily Speirs who have worked hard and improved all winter. Harry and Faye Chatterton in 3rd, Ellie Wooton and Amelia Mayhew in 4th, Megan Ferguson and Yasmin Sfaxi 5th were consistent throughout the series. The joy on the faces of Katie Spark and Connor Line, 6th showed how pleased they were with their selection which was richly deserved, as it was too for Hattie and Hamish Collingridge. As the places available dwindled, the emotions heightened. Joy on the faces of Cara Bland and Ines Green, they had packed up to go home but had made it in 8th place and a day of team training to follow; confidence and some relief as Ryan Wilkinson and Eliza Jones were announced in 9th place; and then onto 10th, perhaps the most joyous and also the most painful. Anna Morgan and Jemima Hill gained the 10th spot; after a terrible Saturday Anna had pulled herself back together to claim that last place in the team. Her beaming smile and joy contrasted completely with the pain on the face of Ben Barr, the unlucky one who missed by a place.
Full Results:
Our thanks go to the Royal Corinthian YC who not only welcomed us with open arms but who made so many difficult things easy, and who made every one of us feel at home. This is a thank you not only to the officers of the club but also to the sailors in the RB's, the Elites and all passing yachts who shared the water with Cadets and showed them nothing but complete respect. For that we thank you all.