MDL Cadet Nationals at Royal Torbay Yacht Club Overall

The MDL Cadet Nationals were being held at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club. Fifty-six boats were entered in the A fleet and forty-one boats in the B fleet, with the A and B fleets racing together. Twenty-two boats contested the C fleet series after two days of training.

Sunday saw day one of the race series begin. The wind was a South Easterly force 3 to 4, creating a very large swell. The sea was also very disturbed with waves coming from different angles down the course. As the day progressed the wind strengthened and the swell lessened, much as the locals had suggested. The weather was changeable, sunny and cloudy with the odd squall coming through.

Race 1

The Race Officer set a trapezoid course and got the fleet off at the first attempt. Those boats that went up the left hand side gained significantly, with those on the right losing heavily. At the first windward mark Iain Watson/ Ed Thomas (Sacre Bleu) rounded first followed by Toby Harris/Chay Atkins (The Grim Reaper), Pippa Wilson/Charlie Hatfield (White Stuff) and James Hughes/Anna Graves (No Fear). The first reach was very tight and Sam Pearson/Sophie Pearson (Who dares Wins) gained many places by not putting up their spinnaker until nearing the next mark. The second beat saw a number of boats who hadn’t learnt the lesson of the first beat go left, and, who therefore lost places. By the next windward mark Toby Harris had broken clear and stormed home to win. Second went to Iain Watson, with Pippa Wilson third just in front of James Hughes and Simon Lambert/David Brewer (Omega).

Race 2

The start sequence was quickly underway after the first race and again the fleet got away first time on the same course. At the gun the RIB’s and spectator craft were treated to the sight of Pippa Wilson completing a man overboard drill as Charlie Hatfield missed the two straps and vanished over the side! At the first leeward mark Matt Summers/Will Rushden (Genesis) led the fleet with Oliver Gray/Tye Wichard (Pan Galactic G Blaster) second, Simon Lambert third, Iain Watson fourth, followed by Toby Harris and Mark Bartlett/ Zoe Atkins (Dangerous Buoyz). At the next leeward mark Matt Summers still led, with Oliver Gray second and Mark Bartlett had come through to third. Significant gains were observed as Pippa Wilson and James Hughes ploughed their way through the fleet. Matt Summers held on to take the gun with Ian Watson second, Simon Lambert third and Pippa Wilson fourth, just beating Oliver Gray.

Race 3

After lunch on the water and the wind picking up, the fleet had the first general recall of the day. The second windward mark found Iain Watson and Pippa Wilson racing very closely, with a good lead over the fleet. The next bunch was led by Sophie Harrison/Jenny Sudell(Stress), with Thomas Makey/James Harley (Point Blank) from the B fleet fourth. Julia Cornah/Oren Richards (Northern Exposure) were fifth and Matt Summers sixth. At the finish line Iain Watson led Pippa Wilson home. Thomas Makey posted a brilliant third with Toby Harris fourth and Sophie Harrison fifth.

Race 4

Listless conditions and variable winds greeted sailors on day 2, with races 4 and 5 scheduled to comprise the day:s races. After a three and a half hour wait lunch on the water, race 4 finally commenced with a general recall and seven top contenders being Black Flagged. The fleet finally got away with those going up the right hand side of the course gaining a substantial lead at the windward mark. The lead boats here were David Ellis\James Wall (Crème de la Crème) Stephen Videlo\Oliver Pollard (Forty Two) (B Fleet) and Richard Moss\Katherine Bartlett B Fleet (Sail on the Wild Side).The wind then proceeded to blow from each point on the compass giving the fleet the opportunity to use their spinnakers at various times on the same leg! The variable winds gave several boats the opportunity to regain creditable positions with Iain Watson gaining pole position at the penultimate mark followed by David Ellis, Julia Cornah\Oren Richards (Northern Exposure) and Laura Wade/Harry Harris (Executrix). The wind finally filled in providing the lead boats with excellent sailing to the finish, giving David Ellis their first win of the championship, followed by Iain Watson, Pippa Wilson and Chris D Arcy\Edward Impey (Pontoon) 4th.

Race 5

Race 5 got quickly underway in superb conditions, a clean 12 – 15 Knot wind from the South East. A clean start saw James Hughes with Simon Lambert getting clear air at the windward mark, with Toby Harris and Simon Wheeler/Katrina Brewer (Shock Waves) heading the chasing pack. After 6 hours on the water the race officer called a shortened course, (a relief for many!). James Hughes held first position with Iain Watson second, Toby Harris third and Simon Lambert fourth.

Race 6

Following a very windy lay day, day threes racing finally got underway after a lengthy postponement for the wind to arrive. The race officer got them started first time in a force 1 to 2 occasionally. Three lesser boats were over at the start. The head of the fleet stayed close together and went in shore to find the coastal breeze. Some of the B fleet headed in the opposite direction and caused surprise with their placings at the first windward mark, in particular Richard Moss/Katherine Bartlett(Sail on the wild side) in seventh. First of the pack was David Ellis with Andrew McKay/William Ayre(Black Otter) second, John Elphinstone/Clare Dallimore(Flirting with Danger) third, Pippa Wilson fourth, Julia Cornah fifth. The wind then started veering round and by the time the lead boats reached the leeward mark the windward mark had been relaid. The first two boats had swapped positions, Andrew McKay having sailed the second reach high and David Ellis sailing low. Julia Cornah was next round closely pursued by Pippa Wilson. With the wind still veering the back of the fleet ended up almost beating to the leeward mark. When the lead boats returned to the leeward mark they were again greeted by a moved windward mark. David Ellis led, followed by Pippa Wilson. Matt Summers were third closely followed by Andrew McKay, Julia Cornah and Simon Lambert. With the wind still shifting, positions were changing right up to the line with Pippa Wilson finishing first, David Ellis second, Julia Cornah third and Simon Lambert fourth. It was a credit to the Race Officer in keeping the beats true by moving the mark.

Race 7

After a wait for the end of the fleet to finish, race seven got underway first time in a steady wind of about force 2. By the first wing mark four boats were clear of the fleet. Toby Harris led Thomas Makey from the B fleet. Pippa Wilson was third with Laura Wade fourth. There was a long gap to Sam Pearson/Sophie Pearson(Who Dares Wins) who had just broken clear of a bunch of about twenty boats. By the second leeward mark the first three had shaken of Thomas Makey who was now a distant fourth. Toby now led Pippa with Laura third. Toby led Pippa home with Sam Pearson overhauling Laura up the final beat for third and Laura holding on to beat Julia Cornah.

Race 8

After waiting for the wind all day, the race finally got underway late in the afternoon in a force 1. The first beat proved to be the key. Boats went extreme left and extreme right and all points in between. At the windward mark those who went left gained significantly. First round was Simon Lambert with a sizable lead. Thomas Makey from B fleet was second, James Hughes was next followed by Simon Wheeler then Sam Pearson. From this point on the race was more of a procession with the boats maintaining station at each mark to the finish.

Race 9

The last day dawned to find a sunny S.W. force 1-2. This surprised a lot of the competitors as they were convinced the boats would only launch so they could return and collect their own trolleys! The first start sequence was postponed due to the wind backing 30 degrees. The next start was successful and all boats were clean. At the first windward mark Will Lyon/Adam Butler (El Nino) arrived first having gone hard right down the course. James Hughes was next followed by Simon Lambert, David Ellis, Ian Watson and Mark Bartlett. At the second windward mark Will Lyon just rounded in front of Simon Lambert. There was then a bit of a gap to James Hughes, Pippa Wilson and David Ellis. On the third beat Simon Lambert went right up the course whilst the rest stayed in the middle. He rounded first with James Hughes second, Will Lyon third and Pippa Wilson fourth. At the finish after the last beat James Hughes was first across with Pippa Wilson second and Thomas Makey from the B fleet third. Fourth was Simon Lambert.

C Fleet Day 1

A great days racing for the C fleet, managing to get in three races with positions chopping and changing all the time and the lead boats involved in the protest room at the end of the day! Race 1 saw Naomi Erskine/Zaffie Cox (Wild is the Wind) go right up the beat and the rest go left. Needless to say they led at the first mark with Jonathon Moss/Sophie Dingwall(Cutting Edge) second and Sam Brearey/Claire Proffitt(Shadow) third. By the next windward Jonathon Moss led Richard Newby/Edward Lane(Harum Scarum) second and Naomi Erskine third. By the line Johnathon Moss led Richard Newby and third went to Rebecca Law/Sarah Law (Aqua Star). Richard Newby lost this position in the protest room afterwards.

Race two saw Richard Newby storm away and lead by two legs after the first lap! Second was Hannah Mayhew/Clare Larkman(Flower Power) at the first leeward mark. Third was Johnathon Moss. Apart from Richard Newby the rest of the fleet were very close right up to the line, with spinnakers raised and places lost and not raised and places gained and lots of interesting racing. At the finish Richard Newby crossed first by miles followed by Jonathon Moss and Hannah Mayhew third. Race three saw two boats break clear, Richard Newby and Simon Green/Lee Argent(Lady in Red). Three boats had then broken clear of the bunch to pursue them. By the close Richard Newby crossed first with Simon Green second and Johnathon Moss third. Sadly Richard was to be disqualified again in the protest room afterwards.

C Fleet Day 2

After a late start due to lack of wind Race 4 finally got underway at 3 o’clock in 2 knots of wind. The fleet were equally split up the first beat with Jonathon Moss reaching the windward mark first closely followed by Sam Breary and Jasmine Husband/Victoria Rostand (Grapefruit). Jonathon then extended his lead and Hannah Mayhew came through to third by the leeward mark. By the second leeward mark Hannah was second behind Jonathon with James Borg/Ben Goodrum (Challenger) third. The last beat was very close with Jonathon Moss holding on to win with Hannah Mayhew second and James Borg third.

Race five continued in light winds with a clean start. Richard Newby led at the first windward mark followed by Rebecca Law in a dying breeze. The Race Officer shortened the course at the 2nd windward mark. Richard and Rebecca initially sailed the wrong course letting Sam Brearey and Johnathon Moss into the lead. There was quiet a scrap to the line with Jonathon Moss just beating Sam Breary with Rebecca Law third.

C Fleet Day 3

With a S.W. force 2 and the prospect of two races before lunch the fleet got away first time. James Borg had a good start and led up the beat rounding the windward mark clear of Jonathon Moss second and Catherine Hough/Jemima Riley (Jasmine) third. Fourth was Louis Fitzsimmons/Paul Fleming (Legend). At the second windward mark Jonathon Moss led followed by Louis Fitzsimmons and Richard Newby. The last beat saw a great deal of excitement with Jonathon Moss just crossing ahead of Sam Brearey who had been ninth rounding the leeward mark. Louis Fitzsimmons was third with James Borg fourth.

The seventh and last race quickly got underway. One boat was over at the start. At the first mark Jonathon Moss had a good lead from the chasing bunch led by Richard Newby and Louis Fitzsimmons. This lead had stretched by the second windward mark. At the final leeward mark Richard Newby had caught the leader up. Louis Fitzsimons was third with Alex Beddoes/Penny Beddoes (Sevenoaks 1) fourth. In the dash to the line Johnathon Moss crossed in front of Richard Newby with Alex Beddoes beating Louis Fitzsimmons.

Overall it had been a wonderful Championships with Pippa Wilson and Charlie Hatfield crowned MDL UKNCCA National Champions. The B Fleet had been dominated by Thomas Makey and James Harley who actually had top two finishes in the A fleet. The C fleet was totally dominated by Jonathon Moss and Sophie Dingwall.

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Cadet Page