Report by Tony Bull.
Well, the World Championship for the International Cadet Class 2022 has been completed. It ended up being a success for Team GBR with Toby Bush and Kemmel Thorogood winning with a race to spare! Runners up were Will and Annabel Shepherd also from Team GBR. Rounding up the Podium finish was AUS pair Luca Grove and Adela Thomas whose first race together was the Invitation race prior to the Worlds, amazing effort to jump straight in and do so amazingly well. Next best Australians were Evie McDonald and Jack Jones following on from their win in the Australian Championship the week prior. Evie also took out the trophy for the best performed female helm at the World Championship.
With such a large contingent of Australian team members (14 boats, a double quota as home country), I will not go through individually but suffice to say as a coach any regatta with a group of sailors under your charge it is always a bittersweet scenario! As I came alongside each boat on the way in after last race, there was a combination of cheers and tears. Success, last race as a cadet sailor or as a crew combination and disappointment at performance were all factors. But be proud you got the right to represent Australia at the highest level (the Cadet class has a selection process; you must qualify for the team with results). There is no doubt you are all good sailors, and one bad regatta does not change this “form is temporary, class is permanent”.
The last days racing comprised of one race, after a delay ashore waiting for the southerly front to arrive. Racing got underway in a medium breeze on a Windward leeward course, a departure from the trapezoid course usually preferred. It was a good note for the Australian team to finish on with Luca/ Adela winning and Lily Johnston/ Dillan Barnes and Evie/ Jack making it a stacked podium. All crews who have future in the class (the Cadet is an under 18 class). Future looks bright!
In these troubled times with war and covid, it was great to see overseas sailors make the effort, a large party of English along with Germany, Poland, and Belgian competitors. We look forward to seeing fleet sizes grow again as the world returns to normalcy.
Thanks to Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and all the amazing volunteers who made this Worlds happen. The race committee led by Steve Aulich and assistant Dave Le Roy who did a great job to get a full quota of races in testing conditions. The jurors who attended were very good, making a big difference with their thoroughness and explanations to participants (and coaches).
Personally, I would like to thank Drew Malcolm, my fellow coach. Drew filled in for me on one of the training camps and was so well received he was seconded into the big dance and did a fantastic job. A wealth of knowledge and information. Simon Willcox our team manager, who was very supportive and ran the team so well. Ed Johnston the treasurer and Monika Suda who did a great job organising the uniforms also deserve a special mention.
To our team sponsors Musto Australia and Discount Yachting, a very big thank you, junior sailing is so important to the future of the sport.
The World Championship was the selection process for the next World Championship in Nieuwport Belgium 2023. Congratulations to all those who qualified!
For full results, please cick here.
