150 Cadets Take to the Water

Blackwater Sailing Club Cadet Week

The Blackwater Sailing Club’s Cadet Week which took place from 3-8 August is an annual six-day extravaganza of racing, RYA training and onshore fun and games. This year was no exception with 150 cadets enjoying a packed timetable of onshore activities in the morning followed by the hotly contested racing for trophies on the river and then the evenings’ entertainment.

This week gives cadets, aged from 8 to 18 and of all sailing abilities, the opportunity to have fun and enjoy being on the water whilst building confidence, friendships and sailing skills. Under the supervision of the highly experienced and well qualified instructor team, they attain their different RYA levels as well as learning to race.

Typical British weather presented daily challenges to the sailors from glorious sunshine with little or no wind when beating the tide became the focus to the strong gusting force 6 winds and rain by the end of the week. The skilful safety boat teams were kept busy.

Jess Haigh, the cadet commodore said: “We had an amazing week. With six fleets and 11 races there was some fantastic competitive racing on the river including our plucky young cadets in their opis and toppers.

Our cadet committee laid on an exciting programme of events for everyone - with team building games on land and the training lake, ice-cream relays on the river, the tractor pull which was won by the adults although they were subsequently disqualified for cheating! Also fancy dress competition and film and curry night – an exhausting time was had by all, it is huge fun though and really one of the best weeks!”

Sheena Berney, vice commodore, said: “Organising our cadet week is a mammoth task and it’s all thanks to the army of volunteers, some 130 people who give up their time to make it happen so smoothly. We are hugely grateful. I’d like to particularly thank Rob Carver our Cadet Skipper as he steps down after his final cadet year at the helm – his energy and hard work has been inspirational.”

At the prizegiving the worthy winners across all the fleets were:

Optimists: 1st Daniel Hall, 2nd Isabelle Miller, 3rd Evie Truman

Toppers: 1st Austin Edwards, 2nd Thomas Doggett, 3rd Natasha Adkins

RS Feva: 1st Flo Evans & Katherine Carver, 2nd Hattie Garlick & Hector Johnson, 3rd Alice Ruston & Isabelle Foy

Lasers full/radial: 1st Hugh Andrews, 2nd Dominic Carver, 3rd Osea Evans

Lasers 4.7: 1st Jess Welch, 2nd Stanley Johnson, 3rd Mara Thomas

General handicap: 1st Jess Haigh & Lucy Shelter, 2nd Sam Glover & Charlie Bourne, 3rd Hermione Cook & Bella Elderton

Pink Flag Tankard: Best results in a handicap fleet not winning the first prize - Dominic Carver

Evans Endeavour Goblet - Oliver Keeble for his perseverance

Challenge Trophy: Best points for the week - Hugh Andrews

Blue Flag Tankard: Girl’s best points for the week - Jess Haigh and Lucy Shelter

Heron Spoon: Most Resolute Cadet - Natasha Adkins

Best crew Medal: Katherine Carver

Cock of the Cadets: 1st Hugh Andrews, 2nd Jess Haigh, 3rd Dominic Carver