Cadet World Championships in Argentina - Practice Race

29th Dec 2001

At last after all the wait, the problems getting the containers through Customs, the training in the very specialised conditions on the River Plate (light winds and a big random chop), the heat and the measuring... we were off!

After 2 general recalls and a Black Flag the practice race was sailed in a 12-15 knot sea breeze and a heavy random chop. It was a bit shorter than expected at about 50 minutes and few seemed interested in being on the right side of the start line but at least it was a race.

A wind shift shortly after the start favouring starboard tackers saw the majority of the British boats slide to the middle of the fleet of 43 boats with the exception of Ian Watson & Ed Thomas in 8528 and James Hughes & Anna Graves in 8846, who rounded the windward mark 3rd and 5th, following an Australian Alex Burke & Michael Sorrell (5593) and an Argentinean. A swarm of Argentineans followed.

By the end of the second beat the Argentineans were in command after Burke & Sorrell went right. The rest of the British Boats were rapidly moving up through the fleet, with Laura Wade & Jenny Sudell leading.

A number of Argentinean boats ducked the finishing line, whether because they were black flagged or superstitious is unknown. Finishing positions were:

Practice Race: