Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 sponsored by Seamark Nunn and Gill Marine

After what felt like months of cold weather, Waldringfield's Cadet Squadron felt totally blessed as the forecast developed in the run up to CW21 showed increasingly warm sunny days and gentle winds from the east which might allow some strengthening as sea breezes kicked in.

We were further helped by a bumper turnout: in the Cadet fleet 29 boats the best for years, boosted by multiple visitors from Stone, South Cerney, Rickmansworth and Frensham Pond. Whilst it came with some minor logistics challenges it was great to see the club safely used to maximum capacity after such a difficult 2020.

The RS200 fleet which sits alongside for recent ex-Cadets still of school age was small but select and settled nicely into its traditional laid back vibe including playlists on boom boxes - appropriately enough - hung from the boom.

The tides were reasonable too; initially early afternoon shifting back as the event progressed and meaning the race organisers didn't need to chase the schedule, as the later we finished the more water we had to play with.

On Saturday the fleet launched for three back-to-back races up towards Galleons Hard and moving more to the south east as the River Deben filled up and to keep well out of the way of club racing. The first race saw a welcome win from Jess Watling and Annabel Shepherd from Frensham, whilst races 2 and 3 saw a number of local boats make the most of the tidal escalator as the flooding tide turned North after The Rocks and pushed boats positioned mid channel hard to windward.

Go left too early and you were at risk of having to plug against the tide on a header and in the lee off the trees, go hard right and whilst in shallow water you missed the considerable lee-bow effect. Get it right and there were big gains to be made; Mish Collingridge and Rhona Enkel called it spot on in both races 2 and 3 to take two bullets and so go into an overnight lead ahead of Jess and Annabel.

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 - photo © Lorna Nee

Meanwhile in the RS200s Hazel Whittle and Fay Allen shared a win with two for Angus Collingridge and Connor Line and a strong Cadet Regatta Fleet were put through their paces by a member of the British Sailing Team who had two days to get them ready to join in with the races.

In the evening we held the ex-Cadet race; Cadets sailed single handed by ex-Cadet sailors (many of whom are now parents). Every year this is hotly contested and this time saw a epic battle between Angus Collingridge who was chased down by Alan Krailing who eventually prevailed to take the trophy. The commentary from the young sailors over the loudspeaker from the Crows Nest was no less cutting than in years gone by.

A much welcomed dinner from Heidi and team in the galley, marshmallows toasted on an open fire for the sailors, and Ghost Ship on tap for the parents, and everyone was very happy to get away for some shut eye. Many were camping in the car park as has become popular over the generations.

Sunday dawned yet sunnier and warmer. The wind was a bit punchier too and with a bit more from the left it looked good for some classic zigzag course racing in The Rocks with the committee boat sitting cross tide off Prettymans Point. Race 4 saw Mish and Rhona establish a big lead only to test the water temperature on the final tack to the finish. They were overtaken by Bridgitte Nee and Monty Slump as their waterlogged boat rolled in for a second time within yards of the line.

In the RS200s Angus and Connor relished the greater breeze and reeled off a clean sweep of wins for the day.

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 - photo © Lorna Nee

After lunch ashore the racing was moved up to the Tips area as the river was beautifully full, but the racing up towards a windward mark off The Hams proved trickier than a tricky thing as the gusts hit and disappeared from increasingly wide angles as the fleet got further towards the shore. The mark layers had set a couple of great close spinnaker reaches utilising the tide to maximum effect - is there any sight as good as a fleet of colourful cadet spinnakers flying downwind, flat out planing?

Race 5 was won again by Bridgitte and Monty before Mish and Rhona dug themselves out of a hole on the final round of race 6 which had until that point been lead throughout by Toby Bush and Kemmel Thorogood.... how hard it is to know who to cover when the wind is all over the shop and you've got two boats going left and two going right up the last beat?

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 - photo © Lorna Nee

Regatta Fleet continued their training with a long, long day on the water but made great strides and were ready to join in with the main event for day 3.

Evening activities involved more dinner, a 'mahoosive" treasure hunt which, sending the youngsters off all over Waldringfield for over an hour and a half, became a showcase for the organiser's more sadistic tendencies, but saw the sailors well occupied for the evening as parents came together for some socially distanced Ghost Ship served from a kettle and warmed by a fire pit up in the car park.

Day 3 revealed some weary sailors and some weary parents - but a relaxed start helped, as we waited again for the river to fill. Sailing kicked off with the crews' race. Always very competitive, this year we had a fantastic 24 boats competing.... parents' hearts in mouths as some near misses were clear to see, but good that there were no collisions either between boats or with moored cruisers.

Alex Enkel took the lead up the first beat and, whilst chased hard by his elder sister Rhona who clearly wasn't going to give up a year's worth of bragging rights easily, he held on for a well deserved win.

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 - photo © Lorna Nee

In for lunch, then three more races back-to-back before a late finish, again up towards the corner at Galleons Hard. Race 7 was led start to finish by Ines Green and Tom Krailing; they had learned the lesson of locking on to the lefty up the beat and taking a ride on the tidal escalator.

In Regatta Fleet Sarah McEwan and Marnie Musson took the win and followed it with two more in races 8 and 9 when they were also well placed amongst the main fleet boats. Mish and Rhona re-found their mojo for races 8 and 9 and took two race wins to end the day with a strong grip on proceedings overall. In the RS200s Angus and Connor took the first race of the day before Isobel Stewart and Chloe Morgan - clearly revelling in the gentler conditions - took race wins in race 8 and 9.

Evening activities involved our traditional open air movie night, although no-one had figured that it doesn't get dark at this time of year until 21.15! It became quite a late one but the outdoor bean bag vibe with endless popcorn on tap was as popular as ever.

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 - photo © Lorna Nee

And so it was that we made it intact to the final day. Mish and Rhona started with one hand on the overall trophy but looked to be making it hard work up the first beat of Race 10 as their nearest threat Ines and Tom got well away to take the win.

Undaunted, Mish and Rhona worked back through the fleet and into second which was more than enough to win overall with two races to spare. Ines and Tom won the second race of the day before Mish and Rhona sealed off the event with a final win in the last race.

In Regatta Fleet it was Daisy Adams and Imogen Bush's turn to shine with three back-to-back race wins ahead of Alfie Craigie and Jasper Bush, second in each of them.

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 - photo © Lorna Nee

So overall Mish and Rhona closed out first in the main fleet from Ines and Tom in second, and Toby and Kemmel in third. In Regatta Fleet the top three overall were Daisy and Imogen first, Annie Curry and Rosemary Fish second, and Alfie and Jasper third. And in the RS200s Angus and Connor were first from Isobel and Chloe, with Hazel and Fay third.

A big, big thank you to our sponsors Seamark Nunn and Gill Marine. Every competitor received a CW21 rash vest which will act as a superb reminder of a great event where the positive attitude of sailors and parents alike was a showcase of what the UK Cadet Class and Waldringfield Cadet Squadron is all about.

Onwards and upwards - the Brits may not be able to get to Garda for the Worlds but we have cracking events scheduled for Grafham, South Cerney, Brixham and Royal Corinthian at Burnham still to look forward to.

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 - photo © Lorna Nee

RS200 Results:

Regatta Fleet Results:

Cadet Results:

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2021 sponsored by Seamark Nunn and Gill Marine - photo © Tim Mycroft