British Cadet Team set for the Worlds in Melbourne
by Neil Collingridge 27 Dec 2022 08:23 UTC
26 December 2022 - 2 January 2023
Boxing Day - Measurement and Opening Ceremony
After Christmas Day in 32 degrees, Boxing Day saw measurement for the worlds; often a frustrating and drawn out process when youngsters unwittingly fall foul of a bunch of old, odd Cadet Class measurements they didn't really understand in the first place and probably don't confer any speed advantage, however this year glad to say there was very little to tax us.
One or two boats needed some lead weight on rudders, a couple of battens were a couple of millimetres too long, some boats were temporarily ejected from the process whilst they dried (didn't take long in that sun) but we started after watching the Sydney Hobart start on mainstream telly and were all done in a couple of hours - good job everyone.
Thereafter the opening ceremony - Team GBR looked great in their kit. The Ceremony included the Yacht Club and the Hobson Bay Council acknowledging the Bunurong People as the Traditional Owners of the municipal lands and waterways, and paying their respects to Elders past and present (I hope I've got that correct). The sailors went up to take part in a Smoking Ceremony - a traditional Aboriginal custom which involves burning native plants just enough to produce smoke. The smoke cleanses the area and wards off bad spirits from the people and the land. So good to be a part of that.
December 27th - Practice Day
The heat has really kicked in for the practice race today. It was hotter than a very hot thing in a 300 degree oven out there. Even flat out in the RIB was like standing in front of a Typhoon jet engine revving up for take-off.
Team GBR took the view that whilst there was certainly merit in staying in the shade (well some thought that) with the wind in the North for the first time coming straight out of Melbourne's skyscrapers there was probably something to learn from experiencing what happened. On top of that our boats were in pieces for measurement yesterday, so a good opportunity to check everything had gone back together properly.
For the Worlds we are sailing in separate fleets for the Worlds and Promotional regattas. This means half the fleet size of what was experienced for the Aussie Nationals - suffice it to say that in spite of this the Brits were still looking on the pace. Will and Annabel rounded the first windward in the top 2 with Toby / Kemmel and Ed / Alex also in the mix. The impact of the skyscrapers was considerable both in direction and strength.
Up the second beat Mish / Rhona took advantage of a leftie and some better pressure and made some huge gains to round the second windward just behind Ed / Alex and an AUS boat; Will and Annabel not far behind. One or two boats were starting to peel away as the race progressed looking for an early return to the shade but at the front it remained pretty competitive.
The wind picked up for the bottom spinnaker reach and Ed / Alex and Mish / Rhona showed they are very comfortable in the breeze (I'm told some Aussies may have been sledging that this is their exclusive preserve) and rounded the final mark first and second. As they approached the finish though predictably, jibs started flapping... one after another after another - none of Ed, Mish or Will prepared to take the victory despite the warding off of evil spirits at the smoking ceremony yesterday. An AUS eventually took the win (no worries mate) and Team GBR returned home in the knowledge that they are still up there when they need to be.
So finally things get going at the business end of the event tomorrow. The week ahead looks interesting with a good range of winds. No room for complacency but bring it on.
More information on the event website, cadetworlds2022.com.au