ABP Cadet class World Championship 2024 in Plymouth - Day 1

The 2024 Cadet World Championship opened with a spectacle of colour on Friday 2 August with over 200 sailors representing ten countries parading with flags flying and horns sounding from the breakwater to the activity centre in Mountbatten, Plymouth.

The event was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, with the raising of flags of the competing nations and the Cadet oath read by Emily Krailing, the youngest helm in the competition.

Sadly, for some sailors this will be their last event, due to reaching the age of 17. We caught up with Rhona, Gwen, Tom, Sam, George, Alex and Ned, some of the sailors for whom this will be their last Cadet World Championship, to ask what they were looking forward to most at the event. As you might expect they were looking forward to the competition, and the last chance to beat personal bests.

However, overwhelmingly, it was the opportunity the Worlds presented to socialise, have fun, catch up with old friends and make new friends from other countries.

Reflecting on their favourite memories from previous World Championships, highlights included sailing in the strong winds at last year's event in Nieuwpoort, Belgium and also off water fun in event tents as well as opportunities for new experiences such as sailing Wasps at the Worlds in Australia in 2022.

Thinking about the future, all the sailors are intending to continue sailing; with 420s, RS200s, National 12s and 29ers favourites on the list, these classes will be incredibly lucky to have such fantastic sailors competing in them. Some are also planning to pass on their skills and inspire future Cadets through coaching.

ABP Cadet class World Championship in Plymouth - Day 1 - photo © Paul Gibbins Photography

The first day started with much excitement as the BBC came to Mountbatten to film the Cadets in action and speak to sailors and members of the hard working organising team. The wind on day 1 started light, moving from the north to the south and picking up to 10 knots. Once HMS Somerset moved through the bay, the marks were laid under JennyCliff and race 1 started around 1.15pm. The plan was for three races and these were delivered excellently by race officer Arky and his team.

It was a tough first day for home nation sailors in the main fleet with Josh Garner and Jack Bunyan (Australia) picking up where they had left off last week during the UK Nationals to lead at the end of the day. In second were Uliana Postrelko and David Gujtiiev (Ukraine) and Sam Hooper and Thomas Pitt (Australia) in third.

ABP Cadet class World Championship in Plymouth - Day 1 - photo © Paul Gibbins Photography

Australian sailors also led the open promo fleet, Olive Hooper and Samantha Archer, with Jemima McMorris and Harriet Davies (Great Britain) in second and Mia Stanislaus and Jemima Cox-Olliff (Great Britain) in third. Racing continues tomorrows.

The Cadet Class are extremely grateful to the support of all our sponsors, in particular Associated British Ports, Minerva's Virtual Academy, Stubborn Mule, Pure Storage, NFU Mutual, Royal Hospital School, GOAT Marine, West System, Optimum Time, Exe Sails, The Cornwall Bakery, Stitchprint, Golden Duck, Indigo Concept, Clamcleat and Llandow Caravan Park. The event is being run by Plymouth Youth Sailing, at the Mountbatten Centre for Watersports.

You can follow the event live on the Sailracer Tracker via the link www.cadetworlds.co.uk/tracker and on Instagram and Facebook @GBRCadets. David Simmonds has been producing videos (see the Youtube Short 'Welcome') and Paul Gibbins has been taking photos.

Main Fleet Results after day 1:

ABP Cadet class World Championship in Plymouth - Day 1 - photo © Paul Gibbins Photography

Promo Fleet Results after day 1:

ABP Cadet class World Championship in Plymouth - Day 1 - photo © Paul Gibbins Photography