NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009 45
t low tide
together, but it sits in our patch so to competitors – 90 adults for 110
I and my team have taken a keen cadets – was indicative of the level
interest.” of supervision.
Lt Col Davies also paid Each competitor hands in a
tribute to the Scouts team, led tag as he or she goes out onto the
by administrator Sue Abbott at water, and these are returned to
Waterside Lodge, which acted as them as they come in at the end of
regatta HQ for the weekend. a race, ensuring no one is left out
The regatta featured four on the lake.
classes of dinghy – Open Bosuns, Not that the conditions were of
Junior Toppers, Open Picos and
particular concern, with the water
the catch-all Open Portsmouth
being no more than five or six feet
Yardstick (PY), which covers
deep (“if it’s not going well, you
other recognised Corps sailing
could get out of your boat and
craft and additional entrants from
walk back,” one adult remarked.)
other classes.
All looks serene as the boats
The windsurfers held their
circle for position on the starting
own competition on the southern
line, but move in a bit closer and
corner of the lake, well away from
it gets a lot more serious, with last-
the main race course.
second turns to avoid collisions
Dave Hanley said: “The event
(or not) and a constant chorus of
we organise here is the highest
warnings between boats.
event at which the cadets can
But once under way a sense of
show off their skills at sailing, and
relative calm returns and the fleet
my job is to get all the kit here and
stretches and bunches as further
staff on the water side.
classes join the fray.
“We bring it in from boating
The windsurfers, meanwhile,
stations and supply the kit, or else
are doing their own thing near
they can bring their own boat in
the Scout HQ in a competition
for the handicap race.”
organised by S/Lt (SCC) Emma
As the RAF Hawks flashed past
Ryder RNR, South West Area
the lake, Lt Cdr Hanley leaned
Staff Officer for windsurfing.
over and confided to Capt Mark
“Windsurfing has always been
Windsor, Captain Sea Cadets
a part of the regatta; we struggled
Corps: “I have to be honest sir, the
Best of
with equipment for a time and
Red Arrows was the hardest part of
many units didn’t bother, but it’s
the regatta to organise...”
been improving,” said Emma.
He continued: “There are 60
boats – that is a reasonable size.
“For some people it’s seen as a
“It is not a large regatta in
dark art – they do not appreciate
the best
the big wide world, but for this
how easy it is.
organisation that’s a reasonable
“We have ten entrants in the
WINNERS were declared in each of the four dinghy
amount of boats.
Open class and four in the Junior
classes and two windsurfing events; all except the
“And it will look magnificent
competition, and each area can
Portsmouth Yardstick result counted towards the
when they get going.”
only enter two in the seniors and
overall winner of the regatta.
All boats competed in four
one in the juniors so the maximum
The bosun class was won by Southern Area, with
races, with a handicap system and
we could get would be 21.
Eastern second, although the individual title went to
staggered starts meaning that the
“For some they are very
Taylor and Taylor of North West, who were sweating
slower Bosuns got off first, followed
inexperienced – just crossing the
on a ‘did not finish’ in round 3 but claimed a third win
by the faster dinghies, ensuring
start line is an achievement.
in round 4 to take the honours.
that by the mid point of the race
“But this year we have seen the
Eastern took the Pico title, followed by Southern,
the fleet would be bunching up
very best.”
and Eastern’s Copsey was the individual winner by
nicely for some interesting racing
After their four races on
dint of winning rounds 1, 2 and 3.
and manoeuvring.
Saturday the Sunday morning was
And Eastern also had a share of the Topper title,
And if such manoeuvring
given over to a coaching session,
tying with Northern, though Southern Area’s Brown
causes problems, a protest can
including freestyle techniques.
was the individual champion.
be registered, at which point the
During races those not involved
The non-scoring PY class went to London, from
Protest Committee steps in.
were able to sample the delights
Southern, and it was Chandler and Andrews in the
The relevant parties are spoken
of the bacon buttie stall and enjoy
London Laser 2000 who just pipped Southern’s Laser
to and forms filled in before
the smooth sound of the Rouge
Radial sailed by Kinsley.
managers can intervene.
Moodé roadshow – aka Lt Cdr
Eastern took the Open windsurfing title, thanks to
Committee members are aware
(SCC) Roger Moody RNR, HQ
the second and third places claimed by the Rixons –
that seasoned racers are competing
PA and Entertainments Officer
Sullivan of London was the individual winner.
against enthusiastic amateurs,
(Disco Officer for short) who
And the South West, runners-up in the Open class,
and they have no wish to nip a
has been supplying music and
took the Junior windsurfing title thanks to the efforts
growing interest in racing in the
announcements for such events
of Macklin, who beat Eastern’s Daldry.
bud, so protests are handled with
for years (cheese, apparently, is
When all the points were tallied it was Eastern
sensitivity, and there is a “softer”
still popular amongst discerning
Area who topped the table, comfortably ahead of
option of points deduction as well
clientele at Corps gatherings...)
Southern in second place, followed by South West,
as outright disqualification.
Capt Windsor, who took a
Northern, London and North West.
Four races were held – three on
keen interest in proceedings as
Saturday with one on Sunday – but
well as handing out medals and
only three results count for each
trophies, said: “Having now been
entrant, allowing competitors to
in post for two months and seen
discard their worst performance. the wide variety of activities of the
That meant the sailors returned Sea Cadets, from summer camps
to their accommodation at Altcar to unit-level boating to national
training camp, a few miles south, competitions and regattas, I have
on the Saturday evening with been incredibly impressed with all
everything to play for – and the that I have seen.
result of the fourth race was crucial “I think the Sea Cadets are
in the final placings (see right). offering brilliant opportunities to
Safety is paramount at such our young people and I am really
events, and the high ratio of staff enjoying the job.”
044–047_NN_nov.indd 2 20/10/09 18:20:56
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