Day one couldn’t have seemed more perfect due to a good steady force 3 breeze and warm sunny weather. And as usual there was a strong turn out of cadets from all different sailing backgrounds, those who have never sailed before, to cadets who have represented their country. The day began with unlocking all the club boats and equipment which was carried out by a very committed crew of instructors who came down early everyday making sure everything was ready for cadets. As usual, there were the three groups, tadpoles, dolphins and sharks, all of which had to register for the week. A new addition to club week was the issuing of fluorescent bibs, loved by the youngsters but deemed to un-cool by the older cadets. As well as a large attendance from inexperienced cadets, there were a large number of confident sailors, familiar and unknown, all boasting a wide range of different vessels, ranging from single handed lasers, a Buzz, Vago, Dart 16 and even a very nice wooden Enterprise. Sailing got underway at around 11:30 and you could tell immediately that the wind conditions were trickier then first expected. The direction of the wind decided to do 90 degree shifts and when the wind had apparently died completely, it was shifting so much the direction was undeterminable. Luckily, before sailing was abandoned, the wind decided to pick up and racing could resume. The tadpoles were happy sailing wayfarers and enjoying blasts in the rescue boats and the dolphins were tackling the Pico’s and Feva’s, as well as looking after some tadpoles eager to sail themselves. At around 1 o’clock, all boats went in for lunch and as soon as that had past, the coke race began. Sailing boats and retrieving balls from the water is always fun but is a recipe for disaster and as usual, that was the case. Alice Golton’s team won first prize after collecting 52 balls. The last activity of the day was to have a well deserved swim and try out the floating trampoline. A good end to a fine start to club week.
Day two was more interesting than day one weather wise as the wind was stronger, and even more unpredictably breezy, and from the off, boats were going over left right and centre, especially Alice and I in the Laser Vago and we eventually retired due to tiredness and cold. Even the catamarans were capsizing. Those who managed to endure the wind ended up practicing starting, a skill which needs patience and lack of speed before the gun, something which still evades Henry in his Dart 16 who flies up and down at a hundred miles per hour and struggling to set up a perfect start. Nick in the Hobie decided to go for a detour, into the dolphin, and all of this was caught on camera. Unfortunately, the camera is now at the bottom of the sea, still intact and ready for someone in East Anglia to send the clips to You’ve Been Framed. After lunch, the sharks took the dolphins and tadpoles on a cruise to the beach past the Pier Pavilion, all the cadets receiving an ice cream when they arrived. The second day saw big and shifty southerly winds, a more challenging and enjoyable day for any cadet eager to tackle more competitive conditions.
On day three, it was down wind training for the sharks and sailing a triangular course for the Dolphins with the Tadpoles cruising around the pier. The conditions were very similar to the day before and tiredness was showing over the three days with James and Tom in the Buzz struggling and some going in early due to getting too wet and cold. Even though many struggled, it showed the resilience and gung ho attitude of the cadets. The big event of the week followed lunch as the cadets finally got a chance to get their hands on all the trainers and staff, and as usual, the cadets triumphed, with ease. The sharks got a chance to properly introduce Tim the trainer into the club by dunking him into the sea. After the BBQ, prize giving started and prizes were given to the cadets who improved and enjoyed themselves from each skill group. James Bray (Sharks), Jasmine Bentley (Dolphins) and Abby Greenhall (Tadpoles) won the prizes and a special prize of calamity of the week went to Nick for diversion straight into the dolphin. Special applauds and cheers was given to all the helpers from the cadets and special thanks went to Dai for all of his advanced planning, as well as the two stand in trainers Tim and Ana. Another successful club week which saw good winds, testing conditions and a fantastic enthusiasm from all the cadets.
Elliot Jiwani-Brown
