Waldringfield April 2023 Update

Waldringfield Easter Egg 2023 by Alex Enkel

Nine Cadets arrived at Waldringfield on Easter Sunday for the annual Easter Egg open.

Day one of racing started off with very little wind despite the forecast, so in an attempt to get all 3 races completed race 1 was started. With a struggle to get to the line due to the flooding tide the start was postponed. A helping hand was given by the rescue fleet to get the dinghies closer to the course and the 3 minute sequence began again. With Lulu and Clara making it first across the start line, as the rest of the fleet were drifting backwards in the tide, the abandonment flag was displayed. Lunch was the order of the day as the waiting game for wind started.

After lunch, a course change, more wind and still lots of tide, it was back out onto the water for race 2. A clean start and Lulu and Clara led the pack again to be first at the windward. Confusion then ensued with the lead two boats not 100% sure of the next mark, this led to George and George taking the lead with Alex and Jude and Lulu and Clara dropping back down the fleet. A long downwind leg and another beat let Oscar and Emily take the win with Tom and Ella in second.

Race 3 gave the fleet a second chance to sail the course with a bit more wind and a slack tide. Alex and Jude took the win with LouLou and Clara in second, closely followed by Kali and Clementine in third.

Day 2 started with James and Jasper and Imogen and Jemima missing, but with a new addition of Freddie and Rory. A breezy day with strong gusts got race 3 off to a start with LouLou and Clara and Alex and Jude battling it out, with Alex taking the win. The call was taken for lunch and the fleet returned to shore. Race 4 was then started using the same course further down river, leaving the fleet to concentrate on managing the gusts. Alex and Jude took an early lead closely followed by LouLou and Clara. After a swim by Alex and Jude, LouLou and Clara took the win followed by Kali and Clementine and George and George.

After a review of the points Alex and Jude won the event on count back with LouLou and Clara in second and Oscar and Emily in third, and for his first event helming James vellacott and primrose finished in 8th place after a long 2 day battle with wind and gusts. Proving himself a promising and resilient upcoming helm. We’ll done to Rory and Freddie for their first event and to Jemima for stepping in and crewing for Imogen. We look forward to seeing more of them on the water soon. Thanks to Alexis Smith for the photos.