International Cadet Australian Nationals at River Derwent - Day 3
by Peter Campbell 31 Dec 2018 16:40 NZDT
Bow 48 Sparkle (Emma Kelly and Will Farnell, Vic) leading bow 42 Impulse (Laura Cooper and Isabelle Wilcox, Tas) - International Cadet National Championships © Pete Harmsen
The sailing pedigrees of the young Sandy Bay Sailing Club crew of Hugo Allison and James Gough are coming to the forefront at the International Cadet National championships.
After six races for the 52 boat fleet on Hobart's River Derwent, Hugo (13) and James (12) have established a firm grip on the championships, yesterday notching up a first and second place.
Hugo, a former International Cadet World champion crew (to Sam Abel) is now showing his skills as a helmsman.
His mother, Felicity, is Commodore of the host Sandy Bay Sailing Club, is currently the Australian women's champion in the SB20 sportsboats. She also represented Australia at Cadet Worlds as a teenager.
James' father Rob Gough has been a world champion sailor in sailboards and foiler Moths, and is also a prominent helmsman in SB20s.
After six races, two Sandy Bay Sailing Club boats head the 12 race series, with Hugo and James sailing Shmoken to a 17 point score.
On 21 points, is Little Devil, sailed by Archer Ibbott and Sam Hooper, followed by Victorian boats Sparkle (Emma Kelly and Will Farnell) on 45 points and Hyper Hyper (Tom Johnston and Kate Thompson) on 49 points.
Yesterday's two races were sailed on a sparkling River Derwent with the sea breeze building to 18-20 knots.
Race five went to Little Devil from Shmoken and Sirocco (Emily Nichols and Noah Hass) all three from SBSC.
Race five saw the breeze freshen, with Allison and Gough revelling in the conditions, particularly spinnaker work, and win from Cheeky Monkies (R Huezko and J Griffiths) from Largs Bay Sailing Club in South Australia.
A highlight of the day for SBSC sailors was the performance of relative newcomers to Cadets at Sandy Bay, Aya Gibson (15) and Rosie Salmon (10), in race six the excited girls sailed a great race to finish third, following a sixth in race five.
Today is a lay day for the hundred plus Cadet sailors.