FRENSHAM Pond Sailing Club’s open meeting for Cadet Class dinghies took place last Saturday.

The Cadet is a small sailing dinghy, designed over 50 years ago especially to train children in competitive racing. All the big names on Frensham’s honours board started their childhood competitive sailing in Cadets.

The latest event was greeted with almost zero, or 2-4 mph winds, which probably deterred a number of visiting crews. Frensham’s directional wind shifts kept the competitors alert, but these contrary conditions have helped produce so many champions over the club’s 60 years.

There was the Gold fleet for experienced crews and a Regatta fleet for those in their first year of racing.

Twenty-three boats came to the start line for the first race, with the home fleet joined by five boats from South Cerney SC.

Although the conditions were barely sailable, the youngsters’ enthusiasm put pressure on race officer Keith Videlo. In the end, three races were completed in less and less wind before he called a halt.

Phoebe Bradshaw/Monty Slump, Amy Goult/Zac Hardie and Toby Slump/Will Shepherd were the winners.

Wisely, the race officer decided that was enough in such conditions and the fleet paddled home.

A frustrating day, perhaps, but great experience for the future.

Overall, it was a day for consistency and Frensham’s own Rosie Targett with Sophia Sfaxi in Tantrum secured the series victory with two second places, just ahead of Amy Goult and Zac Hardie, with nine other overall finishers from the home club.

The Regatta fleet was fiercely contested by the Goult twins, Ben and Sam, crewed by two other siblings, Alex and Sarah McEwan.

The South Cerney contingent competed bravely in totally alien conditions, with Max Buswell and crew Monty Hampton finishing a creditable 11th.

Frensham Cadets were grateful to sponsors Sailing Chandlery for providing prizes and supporting the event.