Weekend Round Up: Cadets Brave the Broads & Whitsun Cup
Published 19:31 on 8 Jun 2025
It's been a busy weekend for Ely Sailing Club - depsite some typically grey and unpredictable 'summer' weather, we've had an incredible weekend.
Starting with Saturday - 4 intrepid cadets took on the broads. Taking Rebel Class 1930s half decker boats from Hunter's Yard in Ludham, we donned our waterproofs, packed lunches and flasks of tea and set sail. Despite some downpours on the journey there, we were rigged and ready in the dry. After a glowing endorsement from the Yard staff as to our boat rigging (go us!), we managed a slick journey out of the narrow waterway on to the open Broads. It started as a very practical demonstration of (lack of) wind against tide with more drifting back with the tide on the port tack than hoped making sure the cadets' helmship was tested to make the most of the light wind on the starboard tack. It seems Ely took the wind with us with 180 degree wind shifts from runs to beats and not always a lot of the in between - fortunatley, all the cadets took it well within their stride having got well used to 'Ely winds'.
The tides turned just gone 11 and we made good headway toward Acle on the tide with hoods only having to go up once! By then everyone had got the hang of making the most of the width of the Broad whilst also keeping as central as possible in the water (not an easy one to balance those 2 things!). We pulled off some beautiful mooring skill to park all 3 Rebels next to each other just by the bridge and stop for a spot of lunch and some yummy treats from the little cafe at Acle.
After plenty of chatter and sugar, we set sail again with the weather still holding out despite the Met Office's pessimism. The wind had certainly filled in for the return journey and our cadets helmed us with incredible skill back to Hunter's Yard, running and beating most the way - the boats truly were humming and there was certainly some 'competetive cruising' going on between ESC helms and crews.
We put all the boats to bed including a little paddle of them back to their proper place. A beautiful day and we managed to stay dry despite an ominious forecast!
But despite some sleepy heads by Saturday evening, the ESC weekend was only halfway through with the Whitsun Cup still to come on Sunday.
It was a nasty westerly with some fruity gusts for the trophy race and the Laser fleet were out in force, with an Enterprise to keep things interesting! To account for the wind, it was a committee boat start before a sail all across the lake, including right up the channel, and back over the A line to finish - plenty of wind shifts in that large a course to keep everyone on their toes. The first race, a certain yellow Laser, helmed by Phil made a clean breakaway on the first beat and, depsite some gusty conditions and fluky winds, he held his clear lead for the race, with the other competitors sailing in close company throughout.
The next 3 races saw incredbly close racing with limited space in water or finish times between boats and a variety of finishing positions throughout the day. There was plenty of excitement on the water with gusts coming from all directions and with little predictability, but with skill and competence in abundance, all the helms raced an incredible race with great sportsmanship, sailing and tactical decisions on display. And, with the exception of Edward what can only be described as 'slipping' out of his boat, everyone stayed mostly dry!
Well done to Phil for his overall win and to everyone who braved the gusts for a great day's sailing.
And not forgetting the duty crew - in particular those who set about keeping the club grounds in order with some bowling green quality lawn mowing, patio weed picking and shubbery hacking - we really do have the best members!
Last updated 19:34 on 8 June 2025