It was third time lucky for Solway Yacht Club’s Cadet Week after two years of coronavirus restrictions.
Fifty cadets plus a similar number of volunteers, instructors, safety crews, race officers, galley staff and pier helpers were rewarded with a great week, all but one day in warm sunshine and mostly favourable winds.
Day one started early but, despite the poor forecast, the early arrivals were greeted with a light wind and clearing skies. Further out the Kepis Noir racers were soon manoeuvring to get the perfect start to race one, run by the expert team of principal race officer Stewart Biggar.
Onshore, the coached racers, the Kepis Bleu, were thinking about race craft with plans for timing practice starts, mark rounding in close company and learning tactics. The improvers group, Kepis Blancs, were soon picking up where they left off in the previous year’s beginners’ group. Split into two age groups, the Kepis Rouge beginners were excused the early start, letting the pier clear before starting their basic training.
Racing was split into fast and slow handicap fleets. Despite little or no wind at the start/finish line, James Bishop got the first fast handicap win in his Laser with Oliver Bennet winning both the slow handicap races in his Laser Pico. Race two for the fast fleet rewarded Sam Bennet with his first win in the Laser Radial, getting the better of Bishop.
After tea in the clubhouse, dozens of squeaky-clean cadets couldn’t wait to get covered in Solway mud in Mudlarks 2022. Sliding into the incoming salt water down the high mud bank isn’t everyone’s idea of fun but thanks to the brave adult safety supervisors, not least SYC cadet officer, Joanne Harris, and after the tug o’ war and capture-the-flag games ended, more muddy fun was assured.
Day two saw more warm sunshine and light winds at Kippford as the racing and training resumed. With the race officers switching to a committee boat in the bay, making the best of the wind, it was race wins for James Bishop and Oliver Hardman in the fast fleet with Toby Iglehart winning twice in the slow handicap races.
After non-starting on day one in the powerful Fireball dinghy, Ellie Rowand and crew Lilli Bell, getting her first taste of trapeze sailing, were rewarded with third in the first race. Visitors from the Royal Yachting Association Scotland were treated to observing cadet sailing at all levels. A barbecue at the clubhouse with parents and friends followed by a treasure hunt ended the day in a lovely evening.
Day three brought a pleasant sea breeze and a crew from ITV Border as well as the return of the RYA Scotland officers. Creating much interest and excitement, several of the trainees were interviewed on camera before reporter Natasha and cameraman Mike boarded a high-speed RIB for a tour round the on-the-water activities.
The stars of the show were Katie Bishop and Nicola McColm in their RS400 and Ellie Rowand plus her crew Lilli Bell on the Fireball trapeze.
The coached racers now had their own committee boat starts, getting their first experience of race action.
Games and quiz night brought the days activities to a close.
Thursday saw not such good weather, wet and windless. After a delay, conditions improved enough for activities to resume.
The evening parents-prohibited cadet dinner, served to the cadets by the club commodore and committee followed by the ceilidh, led by caller and DJ Ross Kennedy, guaranteed a great night.
The final races on Friday were sailed in the best winds of the week, including several capsizes but all recovering, even though, by now an expert on her trapeze, Lilli Bell managed to lose her harness in the process.
Later in the day the trophies and prizes were awarded, training certificates presented and then the Cadet captains’ novelty prizes, brought proceedings to a close for another year.
Special thanks go to Emma McRobert, the club’s training officer, and Joanne Harris, the club’s Cadet officer, who both did a tremendous job in organising the whole week, together with their great team of volunteers and instructors. Thanks as well to Stewart Biggar and his race Management team, successfully completing the race programme.
Results:
Fast 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.
Slow 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.
