Cadet class Inland Championships at King George Sailing Club

Cadet class Inland Championships at King George SC © UKNCCA

September 17th and 18th saw the Cadet Class descend on King George Sailing Club in East London for their Vaikobi Inland Championships. Conditions were ideal; force three gusting to top of four at times, shifting through about 25 degrees from a settled WNW.

Race 1 got under way after a challenging launch into the stiff onshore breeze, and the racers soon got to grips with the conditions. The main fleet tussle started with Monty Hampton and Wilf Kingsnorth popping out in front at the first windward, a lead they held right through the triangle-sausage-sausage course.

That is, in the brutal way of dinghy racing, until Gwen Thorogood and Primrose Denny-Pickess shunted them low during the 60 yard run in from the final mark to the line to finish in first place. Monty and Wilf's chagrin can only have been intensified by seeing Robbie Stewart and Dylan Mcardle bring up a strong gust and pipping them to second spot right on the line.

The Regatta fleet took some time to get used to the conditions, with a few capsizes even before the first race. Alex Enkle and Oscar Patten were soon into their stride however, keeping great boat speed through the course to take the win from Tom Krailing and Ella Edwards in second. Daniel Ringland and Joshua Booth had an excellent race, finishing third in their first ever Cadet event.

Into race 2, and the main fleet had the first ominous glimpse of the stern of Cadet 8420, sailed by Sophia Sfaxi and Evie Boddy. Robbie and Dylan pushed her hard through the race but could find no way through. Evan Harris and James Vellacot came through a tight bunch to gain third place.

Regatta fleet were left chasing Alex and Oscar again, with Kemmel Thorogood and Georgina Loader just holding Tom and Ella to cross in second.

Conditions stayed consistent into race 3, where the main fleet honours were taken by Zachary Windibank and Jude Baldock. To chalk up their first open event win from such a strong field was a great achievement for these two. Evan and James notched another third, while the two front runners, Sophia and Evie and Robbie and Dylan, both decided there was no point being given a discard unless you used it!

Spectators enjoying the excellent viewing at King George SC were diverted from yet another dominant display from Alex and Oscar in the regatta fleet by the sight of two boats retiring following a solid collision at the first gybe mark. Kemmel and Georgina and Tom and Ella all kept their cool and their sportsmanship despite the disappointment of retiring from such a competitive race. Kali Karaskas and Lewis Walker put in a great performance to cross in second, with Benjy Bullock and Bruce Ward taking a comfortable third.

Cadet class Inland Championships at King George SC - photo © UKNCCA

Day two presented very similar conditions, although the wind had backed slightly into the west. Some chunky gusts were still coming through, making sure the skills required for inland sailing all had to be in evidence to keep the boats moving fast.

Main fleet race 4 saw Sophia and Evie hit the front, and in a dominant display they didn't relinquish this position in any of the day's three races. What had looked like anyone's champs at the end of day one soon become a race for second, as these two Frensham Pond sailors showed the rest of the fleet how it should be done.

Monty and Wilf also enjoyed another good day, logging a second and third in races 4 and 5, before having to retire in race 6. A really strong regatta for them saw them take the prize as best boat helmed by an U15. Robbie and Dylan stayed consistent with a 2nd and 3rd of their own, with the other podium places on day two taken by Gwen and Primrose second in race 5 and Amelie Whitehouse and Gregory Boddy third in race 6.

While Sophia and Evie were churning out their bullets in main fleet, Alex and Oscar all of a sudden had a battle on their hands in the regatta fleet. Having won all three races on day one they had to settle for second in race 4. Kemmel and Georgina held them off by 30 metres to register their first win, despite their boat being held together by a big splodge of tape and vinyl.

Alex and Oscar turned the tables in race 5, slipping over the line just a couple of boat lengths in front of Kemmel and Georgina before K and G scored another win in the final race. Tom and Ella had crossed in third in races 4 and 5, before manging to get past Alex and Oscar for a really hard fought second in the sixth and final race.

Cadet class Inland Championships at King George SC - photo © UKNCCA

Final results showed Sophia and Evie with a very well deserved and convincing win, and they were awarded the trophy as Inland Champions. Robbie and Dylan finished in second, with Monty and Wilf third.

Regatta fleet was won by Alex and Oscar, Kemmel and Georgina second and Tom and Ella third.

The main fleet included silver fleet boats sailed by teams with less experience of open events. Alex Mcewan and Amber Giumali took first place in this fleet, with Rhona Enkle and Clara Vellacot second and Ned Fairhurst and Sam English third.

All winning sailors were thrilled to receive some excellent sailing gear from the event sponsors Vaikobi.

King George SC were excellent hosts for the weekend, and if conditions are anything like the same their King George Gallup event on 21st January will be a highlight of the winter! Thanks to them and to all the volunteers for making the Cadet Inland Championships so successful.

Age-related trophy winners:

U15 - Monty Hampton & Wilf Kingsnorth
U14 - Sam Nee & Audrey Giumali
U13 - George Cox-Oliff & George Letts
Youngest Crew - Oscar Patten

Regatta Fleet Results:

Main Fleet Results: