Fuente info Yachtsandyachting
Team GBR shine on day 1 of the Cadet World Championships in Buenos Aires where races 1 and 2 were completed for the World fleet.
Racing was very difficult throughout the day in a variable breeze of 3-7 knots with large wind shifts. A strong adverse current on the upwind legs made conditions even more challenging for the fleet as they battled to find clear and favourable wind in the choppy waters.
In race 1, European Champions Chris Brewer & Ollie Alcock in GBR 8997 started strongly by quickly getting clear of the fleet and into clean wind, making the best use of the shifts on the leg to round mark 1 in the lead. AUS 4887 (Alec & Samantha Bailey) rounded 2nd followed by UK National Champions Arthur Henderson & Matthew Currell in GBR 8561.
At the start of the 2nd beat, two Argentinean boats, ARG 8023 (Clara Cosentino & Cristobel Billoch) and ARG 4551 (Maria Agustina Toscanini & Sebastian Toscanini) began to make a strong challenge. Chris & Ollie decided to cover these two boats leaving an opportunity for Arthur & Matt to get past and take the gun on a shortened course.
In race 2, Chris & Ollie made another clean start and used their excellent technique to again lead at the windward mark. BEL 8909 (Toon de Munck & Eline Spittaels) was 2nd round followed by Will Kennedy & Rhos Hawes in GBR 8539. As rain and thunder clouds moved all around the race course the wind swung one way and then another whilst dropping to almost nothing. Again the race was shortened after 5 legs and the 1st two positions remained the same. AUS 4887 (Alec & Samantha Bailey) managing to drift past Will & Rhos for 3rd.
It was a great start for Team GBR with some strong and consistent performances in testing conditions. Chris & Ollie posted 2,1 to lead overall, Will & Rhos posted 5,4 for 2nd, and Arthur & Matthew are 5th with 1,13. Sophie Dingwall & Chris Sycamore were consistent with 11,12 to lie in 10th place after day 1. Abigail Croft & Matthew Shorrock are 20th, Jess Quinlan & Alex Warrington 31st and Max & Francesca Ingall, 33rd.
The Promotional Fleet only managed one race in the difficult conditions with Mary Henderson & Ben Shorrock in GBR 7630 finishing 5th in the swinging and disappearing wind.
Full results can be accessed at www.cadet2009.yca.org.ar/Section.aspx?Id=1142
Photographs can be accessed at www.cadet2009.yca.org.ar/Section.aspx?Id=857
