The South Australian Sharpie Class has joined forces with the state’s local International Cadet fleet to help encourage junior sailors to get involved in senior classes at their local clubs as they get older.
The two classes paired up at the annual West Lakes Regatta yesterday, a sprint series-style event hosted by the SA Sharpies that takes place on the shifty, yet spectator-friendly West Lakes venue.
Cadets sailing in the 2017 West Lakes Regatta.
Hosted and sponsored by the Lakes Resort Hotel, the event provides one of the most exciting spectator environments on the South Australian sailing calendar as members of the general public and the sailing community gather inside the hotel for the day.
The Cadets kicked off the day at 10am with a short training session, followed by seven windward-leeward sprint races.
Jack and Archie Kretschmer in ‘Tacktical’ were the first-placed Cadet.
Brothers Jack and Archie Kretschmer in ‘Tacktical’ hailing from the Largs Bay Sailing Club sailed consistently to take out the overall victory, their first regatta win since joining the International Cadet class.
While in the Sharpies the newest boat in the national fleet, SA 934 ‘Sideshow Bob’, took the overall honours in its first ever sail.
All International Cadet sailors received a Sharpie pennant as an award for participating.
Helmed by Luke Stephens with Matt Hansen in the middle and David Snoad up front, Sideshow Bob had a dominant display with three wins from the six races, setting themselves on track for a great result at this year’s national championships in Yeppoon, Queensland at Christmas time.
SA Sharpie Association president David Snoad said the International Cadet class was a junior class that did a great job of promoting inclusiveness and enjoyment while also producing very talented sailors.
He said it was a class the Sharpies were really keen to get involved with and promote as it was also a great feeder into local senior sailing.
‘Sideshow Bob’, skippered by Luke Stephens with Matt Hansen and Dave Snoad, were the first Sharpie overall.
“Some of the best Sharpie sailors in South Australia today have come up through the International Cadets,” Snoad said.
“It’s a class that shares very similar values to ours and we want to do whatever we can to get involved in a longstanding relationship between the two classes.”
Sharpies racing at West Lakes.
The International Cadets recently hosted the national championships at the Largs Bay Sailing Club over the Christmas/New Year period last summer and this year will head to the Metung Yacht Club in Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes region in a few months.
For more information about Sharpie sailing around Australia, head to www.sharpies.com.au
For more information about the International Cadet Class of Australia, head to www.cadetclass.yachting.org.au
‘Spank’, skippered by John Weigand with Joe Kelly and Tom Alder.
