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Rooster 2025

Introducing the GBR Cadet Worlds Team 2018

by Neil Collingridge 5 Jul 2018 10:30 BST
GBR Cadet Worlds Team 2018 © Neil Collingridge

In late July, fourteen of the Best of British junior sailing set off to Bodstedt over on the far east flank of Germany to contest the Cadet World Championships. With boats coming from as far afield as Australia, Argentina and all across Europe it promises to be a truly international affair. 12 countries, 57 boats in the Worlds fleet with a further 50 entered for the promotions, regatta. It's #cadetfest!

This year there will be a sole representative helm and crew from Cuba where against tremendous adversity the Cadet Class is re-establishing itself. They will return to Cuba with a shipping container full of donated cadet treasure - masts, booms, sails, foils to supplement their ageing fleet. Somewhat unexpectedly already 10 whole cadets have been donated and will be shipped back as well - boats which perhaps aren't the latest race prepared thoroughbreds but will nevertheless be like gold dust in a country where resources are hard to source. Just a small example of the friendly nature of this extra special junior class where friendships made last a lifetime.

Back to Team GBR, the 7 boats were selected after a qualifying series at Weymouth. Stone and Pevensey Bay and have been training hard ever since. At a recent UK cadet Class Training regatta at Alton Water we caught up with them all to get them to reveal the secret source of their success. In sail number order the team are as follows:

She Who Dares GBR9028

Crew: George LITTLE, 10

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
Two years - I started sailing just after an Oppie course, and crewed on Teen Spirit for Jess Pearson and then on Lethal Menace for Finbarr Wormwell.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Sailing into the World Team at Pevensey Bay!

And the one you'd most like to forget?
The selector at Burnham where we just missed out on the World Team in Lethal Menace.

Chocolate or haribos?
Haribos, obvs...

Upwind or downwind?
Upwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is....
To get into the World Team as a helm as well. Perhaps aim for National Champion?

Sailing hero?
I don't want to boast (but yes I probably am to some).

What do you want to tell us about your helm Eli Watling which isn't widely known?
She's trying to brainwash me by singing One Direction songs (I'm worried it might be working).

Helm: Eli WATLING, 15

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
Started crewing when I was 9!

What's your most memorable cadet experience?
Getting into GBR Team 2018....amazing!

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Missing national junior squad selection by 2 points :-(. Mucked it all up on the last race. Gutted!!!

Chocolate or haribos?
Both!

Upwind or downwind?
Upwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Doing well in Germany Worlds. I came 15th crewing... so aiming to beat that.

Sailing hero?
Mike Mac.

What do you want to tell us about your crew George Little which isn't widely known?
He's the one that's in charge of our boat! (Or so he thinks!!)

Execalibur GBR 9305

Crew: Toby BUSH, 12

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
Just over 2 years.

What's your most memorable cadet experience?
Getting into the world team.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Selectors at Burnham... Capsizing in windy and very tidal conditions. Took 10 minutes to right the boat. We were definitely last in that race!

Chocolate or haribos?
Haribos.

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Make the Worlds Team as a helm.

Sailing hero?
Ben Ainslie.

What do you want to tell us about your helm Connor Line which isn't widely known?
If I tell you I'd have to kill you!

Helm: Connor LINE, 14.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Sailing in Argentina for The Cadet Worlds Christmas 2016 as a Crew.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Capsizing in Rutland for a squad indicator. My pole sheared while reaching.

Chocolate or haribos?
Chocolate.

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Doing well in the 2018 worlds, Bodstedt Germany in my Boat Execalibur.

Sailing hero?
Niki Birrell.

What do you want to tell us about your crew Toby Bush which isn't widely known?
That Toby likes saying riddles.

Zat Bowt GBR 9754

Crew: Tom SHEPHERD, 9 (10 on the 25th of July)

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
I have been sailing for 1 almost 2 years.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Getting into the world team.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Turtled in no wind, I was under the boat.

Chocolate or haribos?
Chocolate.

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
To have fun and be the best I can be!

Sailing hero?
Ben Ainslie.

What do you want to tell us about your helm Charlotte Videlo which isn't widely known?
She likes to hum songs in the boat, especially downwind.

Helm: Charlotte VIDELO, 15

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
Since I was 8 (crewed for Livvy Bates in Flat Out). So 7 years.

What's your most memorable cadet experience?
Winning the Silver Fleet at Abersoch Nationals in 2017.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
As a crew, getting stuck under the boat when we capsized at the Weymouth Nationals in 2014 (tail end of a hurricane).

Chocolate or haribos?
Chocolate.

Upwind or downwind?
Upwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Represent GBR in an adult class.

Sailing hero?
My Dad!

What do you want to tell us about your crew Tom Shepherd which isn't widely known?
He didn't like chocolate when I started sailing with him. That problem is sorted now.

No Regrets GBR 9877

Crew: Ed FLETCHER, 11

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
3 years but not in a row as I did Optimists for a bit.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Helming at Abersoch.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
I was sailing with my Sister... at Waldringfield and we turtled and my sister said, "Go Get the sponge", so I swam to the sponge and the tide took me away up the river...

Chocolate or haribos?
Chocolate Crunchy bars.

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing...
To sail foiling boats.

Sailing hero?
My Dad.

What do you want to tell us about your helm Angus Collingridge which isn't widely known?
Angus swears lots every time we go sailing. He swears about 27 times and I only swear 2 times!

Helm: Angus COLLINGRIDGE, 15

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
Too long.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Falling out of the boat as a crew when Daisy and I were fourth at the windward at Parkstone.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Same one.

Chocolate or haribos?
I didn't know that was part of the RYA recommended diet...

Upwind or downwind?
Upwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Port hand flyer at the worlds.

Sailing hero?
Glenn Crawley (google him).

What do you want to tell us about your crew Ed Fletcher which isn't widely known?
Finds a way to swear more than I do, especially when being beaten by his sister, or for that matter anyone.

Sorcerer GBR 9983

Crew: Gwen THOROGOOD, 10

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
15 months.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Getting stuck under the boat in a force 5 during the frostbite series at Alton Water!

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Nothing I'd like to forget – I always enjoy sailing in Cadets.

Chocolate or haribos?
Chocolate – unless rhubarb and custard haribos are on the menu!

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind – my legs get tired if I have to hike out for too long.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
I'd love to have a shot at the Olympics one day.

Sailing hero?
Ben Ainslie.

What do you want to tell us about your helm Hazel Whittle which isn't widely known?
She likes all chocolates except Snickers.

Helm: Hazel WHITTLE, 14

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
7 years.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Coming 2nd as a crew in the 2015 Riva World Championship.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
My first event helming where I came last in the first race and got protested in the second race.

Chocolate or haribos?
Chocolate unless it's tangtastics.

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Helm in a World Championship.

Sailing hero?
Ellen MacArthur.

What do you want to tell us about your crew Gwen Thorogood which isn't widely known?
She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Welsh nursery rhymes.

Pushing It GBR 10001

Crew: Oscar BUSH, 10

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
1 year.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Jellyfish hunting at the nationals last year.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Getting very cold at winter training.

Chocolate or haribos?
Definitely haribos.

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Win the Worlds!!

Sailing hero?
Ben Ainslie.

What do you want to tell us about your helm Faye Chatterton which isn't widely known?
Fake tan... Not really, its all natural!!

Helm: Faye CHATTERTON 15

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
I have been sailing a Cadet for 5 years now.

What's your most memorable cadet experience?
My most memorable cadet experience are all the opening ceremonies that I have been to.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
All the hours travelling in the car to get to events.

Chocolate or haribos?
I prefer chocolate.

Upwind or downwind?
Downwind.

What I would like to achieve from my sailing is...
Skills that I can use later on in life to help me succeed.

Sailing hero?
Saskia Clark as she brought the gold medal back to Mersea Island.

What do you want to tell us about your crew Oscar Bush which isn't widely known?
One thing about Oscar that many people don't know is that he likes to sing and hum going up the beats.

Joint Effort GBR 10012

Crew: Hamish COLLINGRIDGE, 11

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
Started when I was 6.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Winning a race at the Worlds in Argentina.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
Getting done by the jury for Rule 42.

Chocolate or haribos?
That's so random. Why is that in there?

Upwind or downwind?
I like them both. Reaches are the best.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing is...
Going to the Youth Worlds in a Laser just like my big sis.

Sailing hero?
Grandad.

What do you want to tell us about your helm Lia Fletcher which isn't widely known?
Really hates being beaten by my brother Angus because his crew Ed is her brother and doesn't let her forget it.

Helm: Lia FLETCHER, 14

How long have you been sailing a Cadet?
Since 2012.

What's your most memorable Cadet experience?
Getting into the Cadet Worlds Team this year.

And the one you'd most like to forget?
When I got a nose bleed whilst sailing and it's happened twice.

Chocolate or haribos?
Chocolate.

Upwind or downwind?
Upwind however when it's windy reaching.

What I'd most like to achieve from my sailing...
I would like to sail a 49erFX.

Sailing hero?
Hannah Mills.

What do you want to tell us about your crew Mish Collingridge which isn't widely known?
Mish is amazing at table tennis.

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