Cadets third World Selector at Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club, sponsored by Vaikobi

Cadet third Worlds Team Selector at Isle of Sheppey © Corinne Whitehouse / UKNCCA

The Cadet fleet arrived at Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club for the Clemenson Nautilus trophy, the third and final Spring Series event.

At the end of the weekend, the seven boats making up the British Team for the Cadet World Championships would be known. Spreadsheets were being updated and numbers being crunched throughout.

Race 1 started in occasional sunshine, with a 6/7kt easterly. After a clear start, those on the left hand side gained massively. And it soon became apparent that the windward mark was very long, and 20 degrees off, with boats rounding the wing mark instead (the traditional triangle - sausage - sausage course being used). Race was abandoned to frustration from some and relief from others.

Cadet third Worlds Team Selector at Isle of Sheppey - photo © Corinne Whitehouse / UKNCCA

The mark was relaid and Race 1 was restarted. The tide was pushing boats back and some were visibly struggling to get up in time - stay switched on between races, folks. The boats were line-shy and a clear start was given. The left was paying again, massively. (By the time your correspondent's safety boat reached that part of the course, it was clear there was a massive back eddy inshore, with the main tide following expectations, and a clear tide line separating the two. Afterwards the locals, inc a commercial pilot, said they hadn't seen that in 20 years.) At the top mark, with the current against, Tom Shepherd and Joe Mycroft in 9994 rounded first, with Sam Nee and Audrey Giumali in 9028 and Sophia Sfaxi and Evie Boddy in 9964 following after. On the second beat, those that had understood the tide line were taking advantage of it, with guest Belgium team of Loic Schoonooghe and Hanna Kerre in 10055 jumping to the front. Kudos also to Evan Harris and James Vellacott in 10007 for massive tactical gains upwind. Some odd downwind lines were being sailed, with helms forgetting the tidal impact works on all legs. By the finish, Tom+Joe crossed first, with Sam+Audrey second and Sophia+Evie third.

In the Regatta Fleet, smaller than before with two boats promoted to Silver following their wins at Burnham and Weymouth, Benjy Bullock and Oscar Ward in 8447 lead convincingly up the first beat, with Mave Parry-Shield and Immy Sherwood in 10006 following them and Mimi Windibank and Rose Little in 8537 third. They finished in this order too. On the water coaching for regatta fleet was care of Toby Bush and Will Shepherd - holding current World, European, UK national and Australian national champion titles between them.

Cadet third Worlds Team Selector at Isle of Sheppey - photo © Corinne Whitehouse / UKNCCA

Race 2 - The wind was up to 11kts, and the fleet was crowding round the committee boat end, despite them knowing that only a handful will win from that tactic. Further along the line, Tom+Joe had a good start, along with Loulou Mayhew and Clara Vellacott in 9400 and Monty Hampton and Wilf Kingsnorth in 7231. Sadly Monty+Wilf tacked to the right, with the left still paying. By the top mark, Rhona Enkel and Sophie Ringland in 9982 rounded first (with a self-imposed turn for touching the mark) followed by Alex Enkel and Jude Baldock in 10012 and George Little and Hugh Voysey in 8533. The fleet was more evenly spread on the second beat, with Tom+Joe moving up into third, but Alex+Jude extending their lead impressively. By the finish, Tom+Joe had moved to second with the remaining order unchanged. In Regatta fleet, Benjy+Oscar established an early lead and extended with confidence, showing great spinnaker work throughout all kite legs. Mave+Immy held off Holly Jones and Bruce Ward in 9634 to finish third.

Race 3 - A swell was developing; not quite breaking waves but enough of a slop for sailors to warrant moving body weight to minimise the impact. The Main Fleet start again saw a large bunch at the Committee Boat end, with Tom+Joe and Loic+Hanna getting good starts, leading a big bunch to the left-hand side. They led at the top mark followed by George+Hugh, then Alex+Jude and Hettie Thorogood and Eliza Card in 10032. These places remained unchanged on the two reaches, but the tide at the second top mark caused havoc, with several boats missing lay lines and losing places - a hard way to learn a valuable lesson. By the finish, Tom+Joe took line honours with Loic+Hanna second and Alex+Jude third. The regatta fleet perhaps hadn't spent their five minutes observing the main fleet, as most of them went to the right off the startline. Mave+Immy led at the first top mark, followed by the Stamp sisters, Olivia and Sophia in 8378 and Mimi+Rose third. But Benjy and Oscar fought back magnificently to come from fourth to first by the second top mark, leading Olivia+Sophia and Mimi+Rose over the line.

Cadet third Worlds Team Selector at Isle of Sheppey - photo © Corinne Whitehouse / UKNCCA

Racing over for the day. IOSSC laid on some fabulous entertainment for the sailors, including top-quality fish'n'chips and pig racing (no animals were harmed in the making of this event).

Sunday brought bright sunshine and a similar easterly. By this stage sailors were eyeing up their personal goals: a race win, perhaps; a world team place for some; or to get ahead of a friend or friendly rival. Nerves were definitely evident, amongst parents and sailors alike. Sunday also brought World Team coach Alex Page down to observe. But he maintained a near-monastic silence - he wasn't being rude, kids, just 100% impartial for a significant day's racing.

Cadet third Worlds Team Selector at Isle of Sheppey - photo © Corinne Whitehouse / UKNCCA

Race 4 - Bright sunshine and a 7kt easterly. The committee boat was further out today, avoiding any risk of a freak back-eddy. On the first start, the fleet was excited and the tide running strong - result being a general recall. With three races to get in, Arky went straight for the U flag, which brought order to the restart. The Cadets fanned out across the racecourse, Josh Davidson and Rosie Hancock in 7274 doing well. Was there a hint of the left-hand side paying? Evidence grew up the beat. At the top mark, boats were pushed high of the buoy - Evan+James and Sophia+Evie showed real intelligent sailing by going very deep to counteract the tide on the first reaching leg, both picking up several places. At the gybe mark, Amelie Whitehouse and Maddy Sherwood in 10076 rounded first, followed by Loic+Hanna and Tom Krailing and Ella Edwards in 9984. Tom+Ella had a brilliant second beat to gain first place - a big gap had opened up after the top three. And Tom+Ella showed great boatspeed to take the win, followed by Loic+Hanna and Amelie+Maddy third. In regatta fleet, Holly+Bruce were OCS and returned to restart, allowing Benjy+Oscar to lead at the top mark, followed by Mave+Immy and Olivia+Sophia. But Olivia+Sophia didn't fly their kite on the reach, allowing Mimi+Rose to overtake them. The top three held these positions to the finish.

Race 5 - 6/7kts. U flag again. A massive pack developed at the committee boat, and when the gun went three boats were over. Alex+Jude had a food start, but the fleet was tightly bunched up the beat and rounded the top mark as a pack. By the wing mark we could see that Amelie+Maddy were leading ahead of Alex+Jude and Loic+Hanna. The sea began to get a slight swell on for the second beat. Long-game tactics were starting to come into play, with sailors covering competitors for world team places. At the second top mark, Alex+Jude had jumped ahead of Amelie+Maddy. These two kept these positions to the finish, with Sam+Audrey going hard left on the beat to overtake Loic+Hanna and secure third. In regatta fleet, Benjy+Oscar assumed their now-traditional place at the front to lead all the way to the finish, with Mave+Immy second. Holly+Bruce and Mimi+Rose swapped places around the racecourse, with the two girls eventually snapping third.

Cadet third Worlds Team Selector at Isle of Sheppey - photo © Corinne Whitehouse / UKNCCA

Race 6 - The last chance to affect standings. Tensions were high, including on our RIB, with the World Team coach heard to mutter "This is stressful as anything, and I'm not even a parent." Arky stuck with the U flag. A big sag developed in the line, but George+Hugh won the pin end and went hard left. Most of the fleet followed out to the lay line, but once they tacked were lifted on port, meaning some overstood and had to bear away a little for the mark. First rounding was Tom+Joe, followed by George+Hugh then Loic+Hanna. Places changed throughout, with those going left generally gaining. By the finish, Rhona+Sophie had jumped ahead of Loic+Hanna to take third. In regatta fleet, sailors were still overstanding the top mark, but by less than before. Benjy+Oscar continued their very impressive winning streak, followed by Mave+Immy and then Mimi+Rose, who fought well to overcome kite problems.

And so it was all done. Winners of the Clemenson Nautilus trophy were Tom Shepherd and Joe Mycroft, completing a clean sweep in the Spring Series. Loic Schoonooghe and Hanna Kerre were second, and an impressive performance by Alex Enkel and Jude Baldock secured them third. In the Silver fleet, Hettie Thorogood and Eliza Card came first, with Tom Krailing and Ella Edwards second and Kemmel Thorogood and Georgina Loader third. In Regatta fleet, Benjy Bullock and Oscar Ward won in superb style, with Mave Parry-Shield and Immy Sherwood second and Mimi Windibank and Rose Little third.

The final moment of tension - announcement of the World Team, the seven boats selected to represent Team GB at the Worlds:

• Tom Shepherd and Joe Mycroft
• Sophia Sfaxi and Evie Boddy
• Sam Nee and Audrey Giumali
• George Little and Hugh Voysey
• Alex Enkel and Jude Baldock
• Gwen Thorogood and Primrose Denny-Pickess
• Amelie Whitehouse and Maddy Sherwood

A great achievement by these young sailors. Sacrifices will have been made along the way, along with dedication and commitment throughout the years - winter training, travelling to far-flung places for competitions, and building their own two-person team through thick and thin. But Belgium 2023 will have the Promotional Fleet as well, with British Cadet sailors seeking success there too. So we will go as one team, under one flag - just with two start times.

The Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club were fantastic hosts - they exceeded our expectations in just about every way possible. But the stand-out factor was the warmth, dedication and commitment of their volunteers, which was wonderful. Thank you, IOSSC.

A final thanks to all those on the Cadet class committee for making this Spring Series such a success - a classic in anyone's book. And particular thanks to Frank Thorogood, the committee Chair, who is going a fantastic job with the million-and-one things that go on behind the scenes - trust me, it feels like a full-time job! And so on to the next events - the RYA regional championships on 17/18 June and the brilliant South Cerney open meeting on 24/25 June. Bring it on!

Overall Results: