International Cadet World Championships day 4 - Aussies bounce back

11:41 AM Thu 4 Aug 2011 GMT

'Sam Hannah - Race 5 - International Cadet World Championships 2011' Mariji Sasson Click Here to view large photo

International Cadet World Championships 2011 are being held at the German seaside town of Kuhlungsborn, on the Baltic Sea, from 27th July to 5th August.

Victorian brothers Anton and Julian Sasson have bounced back five placings to be third overall after day four of scheduled competition.

Race officials ran three heats, making up for the sailing lost on day two, with the brothers from Sandringham Yacht Club placing 10-3-5 to lift them up the overall standings.

After discarding their two worst races, they are on a net 50 points. However, the first placed Russian crew is on 23 points, followed by a Polish crew on 29 points. However, both have big scores as their discards so cannot afford any bad results over the final couple of days.

Anton and Julian placed second overall in last year's Cadet Worlds in Poland, but after a good start here (four-eight) they slipped back down the fleet on the second day of racing with a 19-16-33 scorecard.

Tasmanian brothers Jonathon and Thomas Cooper from Sandy Bay Sailing Club are back in the top ten, placing 12-14-28 on the third day to be on a net 83 points.

However, it was a mixed day for the other crews from Australia.

The all-girl crew of Ashleigh Dyer and Georgina Hughes from Port Lincoln Yacht Club are 28th overall, followed by Samantha Bailey and Hannah Chadwick from Sandy Bay SC, 35th, Cameron Philcox and Cody Groat from Largs Bay Sailing Club, 38th, Oliver Burnell and Sam Abel (SBSC) 39th, and Sean Keen and Oscar Mitton (Adelaide Sailing Club) 42nd. Ashleigh and Georgina had a 17th place in heat eight while Samantha and Hannah finished 16th in heat seven.

Team spokesperson Marija Sasson sent the following edited report:

To get things back on track, three races were scheduled for day four. The breeze was expected to pick up as the day went along, and many in the Australian team were hoping for just that. There was about six knots coming from the east and the water was once again choppy.

The RO was ready to start the race exactly at 11am and he certainly wanted to get three races in so he hoisted the Z flag, thinking that the sailors might keep under the line. However, this was not to be and the first attempt was postponed with only a couple of seconds to go. At the next attempt, up went the black flag and then a general recall.

Many of the sailors knew something was up and the word spread amongst the fleet and the spectator boats that the black board with sail numbers was being prepared to identify the boats that had been black flagged. There were about 15 numbers on the black board and unfortunately for the Australians, Samantha and Hannah and Oli and Sam were up on the board. They sat that race out.

On the third attempt, all but one CZE boat stayed as far from the line as possible and the race was finally under way.

At the top mark for the first time, the Sasson brothers popped their spinnaker up in eighth place, followed by the Cooper brothers in 11th place. Ashleigh and Georgina were in 27th and Sean and Oscar in 37th. Cameron and Cody were working their way through the fleet. POL9803 was leading, followed by a Spanish crew and then another Polish crew. POL9803, whilst having some great results, has been scored with a DNE, which we believe is for several breaches of Rule 42 in race five. He cannot drop this and so will find it difficult to challenge for any of the places.

At the top mark for the second time, the Cooper brothers rounded in 11th place, followed by the Sasson brothers in 13th, Ashleigh and Georgina in 23rd and Sean and Oscar in 28th.

At the finish of race six, the Sasson brothers managed to finish in 10th place, followed by the Cooper brothers in 12th. Ashleigh and Georgina finished in the high 20s, although the official results have her down as a BFD. This has been queried and the latest, after a scoring query, is that her initial result will be reinstated. Sean and Oscar finished 36th, with Cameron and Cody in 58th. POL 9803 was first, followed by ESP 9717 then POL 9607.

The wind was building and it was now between eight to ten knots with some heavy gusts coming through sporadically. The Black flag went up immediately for race seven and the Australians all had a clear start, although there were three BFDs.

At the top mark for the first time, the Sasson brothers came around in 13th place followed closely by Samantha and Hannah in 15th, the Cooper brother in 19th, Sean and Oscar in 27th, Ash and Georgina in 28th and Cam and Cody in 30th. Oli and Sam were picking off boats one by one as they made their way back up the course. RUS 9811 was first, followed by UKR 9731 then ESP 9717.

At the top mark for the second time, Anton and Julian made the right call on a wind shift and popped their spinnaker up in fifth. Jonny and Tom Cooper were in 14th, Samantha and Hannah in 18th, Ash and Georgina in 26th, Cam and Cody in 28th and Sean and Oscar in 35th.

Final results for race seven were: Anton and Julian fifth, Jonny and Tom 14th, Sam and Hannah 16th, Ash and Georgina 22nd, Cam and Cody 23rd, Sean and Oscar 36th and Oli and Sam 42nd. RUS 9811 was first, followed by UKR 9731 then POL 9803.

It was now a steady 10 knots with gusts and shifting winds. Race eight began on a black flag and for once no-one was over the line.

At the top mark for the first time, Anton and Julian came around in eighth, followed by Ash and Georgina in 14th, Jonny and Tom in 25th, Cam and Cody in 35th, Samantha and Hannah in 38th, Sean and Oscar in 41st and Oli and Sam in 53rd. HUN 9770 was leading followed by UKR9731 and POL 9755.

At the top mark for the final time that day, Anton and Julian picked up a spot and were now in seventh, Ash and Georgina in 17th, Jonny and Tom in 26th, Samantha and Hannah in 29th , Cam and Cody in 32nd, Samantha and Hannah in 34th, Sean and Oscar in 41st and Oli and Sam in 51st.

Final results for race eight were: Anton and Julian seventh, Ash and Georgina in 16th, Jonny and Tom in 27th, Cam and Cody in 34th, Sean and Oscar in 44th and Oli and Sam in 49th. POL 9755 was first, followed by HUN 9770 then UKR 9731.

After eight races, the AUS team is positioned as follows:

3rd AUS 5509 - Anton Sasson and Julian Sasson (SYC) - 50 pts
10th AUS 5758 - Jonathan Cooper and Thomas Cooper (SBSC) - 83 pts
28th AUS 9747 - Ashleigh Dyer and Georgina Hughes (PLYC) - 121 pts
35th AUS 9778 - Samantha Bailey and Hannah Chadwick (SBSC) - 158 pts
38th AUS 9777 - Cameron Philcox and Cody Groat (LBSC) - 168 pts
39th AUS 9561 - Oliver Burnell and Sam Abel (SBSC) - 169 pts
42nd AUS 9551 - Sean Keen and Oscar Mitton (ASC) - 189 pts

Over on the Promotionals course, Alice and Eliza had a fourth, fourth and 20th. They are currently in eighth position on 48 pts. Grace and Matilda scored a 20th, 25th, 24th and are in 30th position and on 145 pts. Unfortunately, the British dominated the top few positions in a hotly contested battle.

Marija, who is reporting for the second time on a Cadet World championship, also added a voice of criticism of club officials and coaches who try to move sailors out of Cadets too early:

I would just like to make a comment that many of the leading boats have very tall and sometimes heavy skippers. So to all those naysayers (particularly those who do not understand the International Cadet class and don't really bother to) who keep pushing our Cadet skippers out of Cadets and into the other youth classes too early, citing their size as the reason, you should have a really good look at the size of the skippers here.

Size has nothing to do with how well they sail. In the end, it is the sailing ability of each individual that makes the difference, as well as time on the water. There are skippers here who last year were in the bottom 20 and this year are in the top 10-15.

It is so great to see these young sailors grow and develop and achieve in this class. When they are ready they will move on to the next class.

Now, the forecast for tomorrow according to Guido Moritz who is in charge of this Championship is that the winds should increase, although it will be cloudy. However, as we have learnt here in Kuhlungsborn, we will get whatever the weather gods dish out!

International Cadet Championships website

by Mariji Sasson and Peter Campbell