It was third time fortunate for Solway Yacht Membership’s Cadet Week after two years of coronavirus restrictions.
Fifty cadets plus an identical variety of volunteers, instructors, security crews, race officers, galley employees and pier helpers have been rewarded with an awesome week, all however sooner or later in heat sunshine and largely beneficial winds.
Day one began early however, regardless of the poor forecast, the early arrivals have been greeted with a light-weight wind and clearing skies. Additional out the Kepis Noir racers have been quickly manoeuvring to get the proper begin to race one, run by the skilled workforce of principal race officer Stewart Biggar.
Onshore, the coached racers, the Kepis Bleu, have been enthusiastic about race craft with plans for timing observe begins, mark rounding in shut firm and studying ways. The improvers group, Kepis Blancs, have been quickly choosing up the place they left off within the earlier yr’s learners’ group. Break up into two age teams, the Kepis Rouge learners have been excused the early begin, letting the pier clear earlier than beginning their fundamental coaching.
Racing was cut up into quick and gradual handicap fleets. Regardless of little or no wind at first/end line, James Bishop bought the primary quick handicap win in his Laser with Oliver Bennet profitable each the gradual handicap races in his Laser Pico. Race two for the quick fleet rewarded Sam Bennet along with his first win within the Laser Radial, getting the higher of Bishop.
After tea within the clubhouse, dozens of squeaky-clean cadets couldn’t wait to get lined in Solway mud in Mudlarks 2022. Sliding into the incoming salt water down the excessive mud financial institution isn’t everybody’s thought of enjoyable however due to the courageous grownup security supervisors, not least SYC cadet officer, Joanne Harris, and after the tug o’ warfare and capture-the-flag video games ended, extra muddy enjoyable was assured.
Day two noticed extra heat sunshine and light-weight winds at Kippford because the racing and coaching resumed. With the race officers switching to a committee boat within the bay, making the very best of the wind, it was race wins for James Bishop and Oliver Hardman within the quick fleet with Toby Iglehart profitable twice within the gradual handicap races.
After non-starting on day one within the highly effective Fireball dinghy, Ellie Rowand and crew Lilli Bell, getting her first style of trapeze crusing, have been rewarded with third within the first race. Guests from the Royal Yachting Affiliation Scotland have been handled to observing cadet crusing in any respect ranges. A barbecue on the clubhouse with dad and mom and buddies adopted by a treasure hunt ended the day in a beautiful night.
Day three introduced a pleasing sea breeze and a crew from ITV Border in addition to the return of the RYA Scotland officers. Creating a lot curiosity and pleasure, a number of of the trainees have been interviewed on digicam earlier than reporter Natasha and cameraman Mike boarded a high-speed RIB for a tour around the on-the-water actions.
The celebs of the present have been Katie Bishop and Nicola McColm of their RS400 and Ellie Rowand plus her crew Lilli Bell on the Fireball trapeze.
The coached racers now had their very own committee boat begins, getting their first expertise of race motion.
Video games and quiz night time introduced the times actions to a detailed.
Thursday noticed not such good climate, moist and windless. After a delay, circumstances improved sufficient for actions to renew.
The night parents-prohibited cadet dinner, served to the cadets by the membership commodore and committee adopted by the ceilidh, led by caller and DJ Ross Kennedy, assured an awesome night time.
The ultimate races on Friday have been sailed in the very best winds of the week, together with a number of capsizes however all recovering, though, by now an skilled on her trapeze, Lilli Bell managed to lose her harness within the course of.
Later within the day the trophies and prizes have been awarded, coaching certificates introduced after which the Cadet captains’ novelty prizes, introduced proceedings to a detailed for an additional yr.
Particular thanks go to Emma McRobert, the membership’s coaching officer, and Joanne Harris, the membership’s Cadet officer, who each did an incredible job in organising the entire week, along with their nice workforce of volunteers and instructors. Thanks as nicely to Stewart Biggar and his race Administration workforce, efficiently finishing the race programme.
Outcomes:
Quick handicap 1 James Bishop – Laser full rig; 2 Sam Bennet – Laser Radial; 3 Oliver Hardman – Laser Radial; 4 Monty Low – Laser full rig; 5 Katie Bishop & Nicola McColm – RS400; 6 Ellie Rowand & Lilli Bell – Fireball.
Sluggish handicap: 1 Toby Iglehart – Topper; 2 Oliver Bennet – Laser Pico; 3 Katie Harris and Sally Mackay – RS Feva XL; 4 Tamsin Wallace & Mollie Keiley – RS Feva XL.
Coached racers: 1 Lucy Leyshon – Topper; 2 Jack Vivers – Topper; 3 Murray Wilson – Topper; 4 Thomas McKendrick – Topper; 5 Callum McRobert & Finn Harris – RS Feva XL; 6 Breagha Johnstone – Topper; 7 Anastasia Yaoyao – Topper; 8 Hannah O’Dwyer & Maria McMiken – Laser Pico.