Alf Simmonds Memorial Trophy and world team selector event

Willow & Cara Bland from Waldringfield SC put in a storming performance on day 2 of the Alf Simmonds Memorial Trophy to win by 8 points and lead the World Championship team selection series.

Datchet Water provided challenging conditions on the first day, with a shifty and variable breeze making it hard for any of the 51 boats competing to produce consistent results, and only Ben Shorrock /Ellie Watling from Frensham Pond SC appeared in the top three more than once, scoring a 2nd in race 1 and winning race 2. Race 1 had been won by Sam Yale/Harry Chatterton from Waldringfield, whilst it was Dutch visitors Menno Baars/Zoy Cubas Barrios who took race 3.

By the end of the day Alex Warrington/Anna Wooton (Thorpe Bay SC), Tom Collyer/Francis Butterworth (Aldenham/Fisher's Green SC), Ed Harris/Faye Chatterton (Waldringfield), Louis Mellor/Rosie Targett (Frensham) and Lainey Terkelsen/Martha Jones (Stone SC) had all visited the podium, illustrating just how close the racing was in this competitive fleet.

On day two the breeze strengthened and steadied providing perfect conditions, and while many competitors still had mixed results, Willow and Cara Bland dominated at the front, winning all three races by impressive margins to move ahead in the overall standings. Ben and Ellie held onto 2nd place with Alex and Anna finishing third.

In the silver fleet it was a close battle between Tom/Francis, Louis/Rosie and Lainey/Martha, with Tom and Francis scoring a 4th and an 11th on the second day to win from Louis and Rosie. Lainey and Martha were unlucky to lose their mast in race 4 but showed impressive skill in re-launching their repaired boat and just making the start of race 5, where they finished 2nd. Notable too was how far up the gold fleet these three boats were, finishing 5th, 8th and 11th overall respectively.

In the Bronze Fleet the younger sailors coped brilliantly with the breezy conditions on day 2 and also enjoyed close racing throughout the weekend, with wins for Nathan Allen/Louis Lapage, Eve Turnpenny/Amy Allen and Henry Haxby/Jade McCarthy, all from Fishers Green SC. In the end Nathan and Louis won the event from Eve and Amy by just 2 points.

Club sailing continues for the Cadet Class over the Easter holidays before the World Team Selector Series resumes at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (the venue for the Worlds later in the year) on 3rd and 4th May. The complete schedule of Cadet events, including some exciting training opportunities for new helms and crews, can be found on the class website.

 

6/4/2014 18:14