Cadets open meeting at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

Cadets open meeting at Frensham Pond © Steve Gregory

The Frensham Pond Sailing Club Cadet Open Weekend kicked off with a morning of training. With 30 boats participating, the fleet was split into three. We were fortunate to have an outstanding coaching team of former Cadet sailors: GBR Cadet National Coach Alex Corby, Frensham's own Bruce Hill—fresh from securing second place in the European 2.4m class—and Fiona Nee, a former GBR Cadet member and World Team Coach.

A cold, brisk northeasterly breeze greeted sailors as they rigged their boats. Unusually for Frensham - surrounded by trees - the wind remained at forecast strength. Having experienced relatively calm Saturdays so far in 2025, both the Frensham and South Cerney Squadrons were taken by surprise, especially the regatta fleet's new helms. Notably, the regatta fleet outnumbered the other two fleets, signalling a strong future for the class.

Cadets open meeting at Frensham Pond - photo © Steve Gregory

By lunchtime, everyone was feeling the chill, with some having taken an unexpected swim. The strong onshore breeze made landing swift but challenging, with parents anxiously trying to catch boats before they sailed at speed up the beach.

During lunch, we were privileged to hear from Alex Corby about his Olympic skeleton racing career. He shared how his formative years sailing Cadets had prepared him well for hurtling down an ice track at 90 mph representing Team GB.

Saturday Racing

The blustery morning led to a number of lunch time crew changes, and the afternoon club race saw fewer boats on the water than the morning training session. Local sailors had a distinct advantage in the pursuit race, knowing it would start at precisely 14:07:30, whether people were ready or not. At the scheduled start time, only six boats were on the water, though they were soon joined by over 20 others.

Mia Stanislaus and Ava Stoddart (8529) reached the top mark first, followed closely by Sam English and Minnie Palmer (9292), who had recently been promoted from regatta fleet, and Hugh Voysey and Hannah Muir Wood (8855), just half a boat length behind. These three battled for position over the next few legs. A wind shift to the east strengthened conditions, allowing late starters George Cox-Oliff and Evie Winchester (10128) to charge into second and, at one point, even take the lead.

Cadets open meeting at Frensham Pond - photo © Steve Gregory

Several capsizes later, as the fleet was being overtaken by the other club faster boats, the duel for first and second intensified. Ultimately, Mia and Ava secured victory, with George and Evie finishing about 50 meters behind. A significant gap of over a leg followed before Emily Krailing and Jemima Cox-Oliff claimed third, Olivia Stamp and Sebastian Baer took fourth, and Sam and Minnie finished fifth.

The fleet then retired to the clubhouse to warm up, where a fantastic South African Braai awaited.

Sunday Racing

Sunday featured the main racing event, with four round-the-buoy courses set by our excellent race officer, Martin Goult. The wind remained from the northeast—Frensham's best direction—though slightly lighter and marginally warmer than the previous day.

The first race saw intense congestion at the committee boat, shutting out latecomers trying to squeeze into last-minute gaps. A battle ensued to tack onto port, with George Cox-Oliff and Evie Winchester (10128) emerging victorious and reaching the top mark first. Sam English and Minnie Palmer (9292), having positioned themselves well at the pin end and maintained a strong pre-start hover, followed in second.

However, by the top of the second beat, Will Hancock and Alvy Jones (10094) had taken a commanding lead, with Noah Sauven and Polly Kornicka (10131) in second and Monty Slump and Amelia Stamp (8845) close behind.

Despite their lead on the reach, Will and Alvy faced fierce competition, with Alex Enkle and Jude Baldock slipping into second place at the next mark, pushing Sam and Minnie into third. As the race progressed, George and Evie executed a strategic early tack, climbing into third just ahead of Sam and Minnie. The top three positions remained unchanged, though Alex and Jude showcased superior boat speed—even pausing to ask Will and Alvy to confirm the course on the penultimate leg.

Will and Alvy held their nerve and defended their lead, securing victory in a close spinnaker finish. The final standings were Will and Alvy first, Alex and Jude second and George and Evie third. Monty and Amelia were forth, and Sam and Minnie (the first silver fleet boat) in fifth.

In Regatta Fleet, Sofia Stamp and Aveline Almquist (8378) led the first beat, closely pursued by Annabel Shepherd and Lillia Jones (9378), with Finn Sullam and George Ring (8333) in third. Sofia and Aveline maintained their lead for most of the first lap until the final downwind leg, where Annabel and Lillia, along with Maddy Sherwood and Nia Mortimer (10076), overtook them.

The race remained close to the finish, with Annabel and Lillia securing victory, while Sofia and Aveline reclaimed second place just before the line.

Cadets open meeting at Frensham Pond - photo © Steve Gregory

The wind had shifted for Race 2, requiring a relaid start line with minimal bias (which not all sailors had realised). Alex and Jude led off the line, followed by the majority of the rest of the fleet. Noah and Polly who had started further up the line took an early tack, and kept on the right hand side of the first beat.

In spite of sailing two fairly different courses, the clear air worked for Noah, and he was only just behind Alex and Jude at the top mark. They were closely followed by Mia Stanislaus and Sophie Baer in 8529 in third, and Sam and Minnie in fourth. By the top of the second beat, Alex and Jude now had a commanding lead, and Noah and Polly and Mia and Sophie continued to fight it out for second and third.

By the time we got to the finish Alex and Jude were now a long way in front, and Mia and Sophie had a commanding lead on Noah and Polly who were making the best of their spinnaker problems - ably demonstrating how to fly with no pole (they were also first silver fleet boat). George and Evie were 4th, and Sam and Minnie had a second fifth.

The regatta fleet start was very much won by Finn and George who got to the windward mark with a strong lead, followed by Sofia and Avelina in second and Harriet Davies and Gilbert Lewis in 9401 in third. Finn and George continued to extend their lead for the rest of the race, whilst Sofia and Avelina and Harriet and Gilbert continued to fight it out for the next two places.

Finn and George had fantastic speed, and by the end of the lap had even started to catch the back of main fleet. Finn and George finished in a strong first place, with Harriet and Gilbert second, and Frankie Sherwood and Eliza Gregory in 8403 pushing Sofia and Avelina down into fourth place.

After a break during which a mountain of pasta bake and rocky road had been consumed the fleet headed back out to race three. The start was very much owned by Monty and Amelia who led the way, identifying the favourable pin end of the line. The fleet split going up the beat, with those who kept left (and the pin end), very much favoured. At the top mark, Monty and Amelia had the lead, with Will and Alvy second, and Mia and Sophie third, and George and Evie in forth.

However Monty and Amelia sadly started the next close spinnaker reach heading towards the wrong mark, and after trying to drive the kite too far upwind, in the gusty conditions they capzised and retired from the race. Will and Alvy therefore took over the lead, closely followed by George and Evie in second, and Mia and Sophie now third. These three boats continued to fight out the positions.

They were followed by Emily Krailing and Jemima Cox Olliff in 9984 who were having a fantastic race, followed by Sam and Minnie and Alex and Jude. Alex and Jude having had a poor start, were now powering through the fleet, and by the top of the next windward mark they had pulled up into forth.

This led to a final exciting beat to the finish, Mia and Sophie went right and slipped back, George and Evie, Will and Alvy and Alex and Jude came left, and this looked like the final positions, until with just five boat lengths to go, Alex and Jude caught Will and Alvy on a simple port/starboard infringement, leaving Will and Alvy doing turns, and handing Alex and Jude first place, George and Evie second, Mia and Sophie third, and Will and Alvy following in fourth. Emily and Jemima kept their position and followed in fifth as first silver fleet boat.

Cadets open meeting at Frensham Pond - photo © Steve Gregory

In regatta fleet up the top of their first beat Maddy and Nia had a nice lead over Frankie and Eliza in second, and Evelyn Boddy and Alice Boddy in 9159 in third, and Finn and George in forth. These four boats competed closely over the next few legs as a number of strong gusts came through, and various regatta fleet capzised.

At one point Fin and George led, at the top of the next beat Evelyn and Alice led, however it was Finn and George who were ahead on the line, closely followed by Evelyn and Alice, Maddy and Nia, and Frankie and Eliza, who capzised two boat lengths from the finish line, but managed to get back up quickly and keep their place.

The wind continued to hold, allowing for a forth race, the start of which was dominated by Will and Alvy and Alex and Jude. However it was George and Evie who led at the top mark, with Mia and Sophie following in forth. However on the next down wind leg Alex and Jude and George and Evie decided to fight it out in a spinny luffing battle, allowing Will and Alvy and Mia and Sophie to creep up.

This meant all four arrived at the bottom mark together with Alex and Jude coming out ahead. However on the next leg Alex and Jude capsized, allowing George and Evie, Will and Alvy, and Teya Brezan and Harriet Dearsley on 10130 all to slip through. These positions stuck until the final beat, when Alex and Jude started heading to the wrong mark, pushing them further down the fleet (fortunately there was a discard).

This meant race 4 was won by George and Evie, followed by Will and Alvy in second, Teya and Harriet in third (and also first silver fleet boat). Sam and Minnie and Noah and Polly took fourth and fifth respectively.

In regatta fleet race 4 was dominated by Frankie and Eliza, who led throughout the race and finished ahead of Finn and George, who stayed second throughout the race. Third place had more of a fight, being held by both Harriet and Gilbert and Sophia and Averlina at certain points. However at the finished where it counted, Maddy and Nia took the third position.

Cadets open meeting at Frensham Pond - photo © Steve Gregory

Final Wrap-Up

As the boats reached shore, sailors—cold but satisfied—warmed up with hot dogs before the prize-giving. Final results are listed below.

A massive thank you goes to Dom Stanislaus, who, as Cadet Captain at Frensham Pond, led an exceptional team to deliver a fantastic event. We now look forward to the next two events on the Cadet circuit: a Grafham residential next weekend, and the first selector in Weymouth in early April.

Main Fleet Results:

Regatta Fleet Results: