By Adrian Cudmore

This year’s August Antics demonstrated that youth sailing is very much alive and kicking.

Sixty young sailors aged between 8 and 14 arrived with their parents on August Bank Holiday Saturday for 3 days of learning, fun, making and renewing friendships. It was very encouraging to see so many sailors returning from last year plus six previous sailors now joining the instructor’s team.

The sailors were split into 3 groups of Optibat sailors and 5 groups of Toppers. The experience ranged from complete beginners to old and bold SW Zone squad sailors to be instructed by the RYA coach. Following the safety and general briefings the groups named after sea birds retired to their nests for introductions and tuition.

It wasn’t very long before the sailors were on the water taking on the brisk breeze. Once again Chew Lake Association of Disabled Sailors (CLADS) kindly offered rides on their very fast trimarans to the Optibat and beginner Topper groups. This opportunity to experience something different and gain appreciation of the challenges faced by the CLADS sailors went down very well. Despite the gusty conditions and number of dagger board inspections and sail washing activities everyone came ashore with a big smile on their faces. Late in the afternoon the younger groups joined together to participate in relay races, tug of war and other fun activities.

Sunday’s forecast was for a similar amount of wind and during the briefing August Antics Ducks were awarded to those sailors who did particularly well in the trying conditions on the day before. The Optibat and beginner Topper groups were given the opportunity to crew on Tim Johnson’s RS700, helm Paul Karakusevic’s Laser, fly the spinnakers and try the trapezes on the RS Visions skippered by Paul Smalley and Angus MacDonald Taylor and trim the jib and drive RS Feva with Giles Vallis. I understand that a number of birthday and Christmas lists were amended that night to now include a RS700 or a Laser. I joined the Albatross group to observe the Topper polo competition. It was amazing to see how the sailor’s confidence grew in boat handling despite the healthy breeze. Although I do think half the players should have been given yellow cards for capsizing on the ball and the other half should have been sent off for barging and capsizing on top of the boats that had capsized and Guy Lawson Johns was definitely offside.

We arrived at the Club on Monday morning to find the wind had eased to a nice force 2-3 which was ideal for the groups to do their final preparations for the racing in the afternoon. This included flying the spinnaker on the RS700 by some of the Optibat sailors, a word search around the lake and topper polo and the Smalley Phalanx (Note to Josh next time remember Phalanx’s only work in low wind strengths).

With all the preparations completed, race officers Mike Pukey (Optibat Challenge) and Tim Johnson (Topper, Optimist and Pico regatta) provided briefings and then went afloat to set the courses.

Following a practice race for the Optibats, the fleet got off cleanly and sailed a very close race with Rosie Vallis winning the single handed race followed by Kate Sutton and Jago Lott. The girls were also successful in the double handed race with Lizzie Cooke and Sophia Karakusevic finishing ahead of the highly competitive team of Jack Johnson and Miles King. There is already talk of a re-match next year in RS700s. Group winners included Finn Wisloff, Finn Johnson and Jack Beeching.

Over 35 boats went afloat for the Topper, Optimist and Pico regatta. The committee boat start was hotly competed with a number of keen sailors finding themselves over the line. As the race developed it was clear that every place from first to last was being fought for, with significant places won and lost at the crowded mark roundings. One of the biggest battles was between Jess Harding and Ella Cudmore at the front of the fleet. Jess arrived at the first mark first but Ella managed to get the right side of a shift up the next beat to take the lead. This battle continued right to the end with Ella going for the pin end of the line and taking line honours, handicap win and therefore the Junior Regatta Trophy followed by Jess. Freya Cumpsty managed to recover from her challenging start and take third overall, giving a clean sweep for the Cormorant Group. Group winners included Oliver Minkley, Lousia Bell, Matthew Dillistone who at 4^th overall was the top non Cormorant sailor, Guy Lawson Johns and Issy Vallis.

Finn Smith won this year’s logo competition with the catchy phrase – “Sailing is always an option”

The famous water fight and complete the buoyancy test of an oppie followed the prize giving and thank you’s.

Over the weekend we also ran a 2^nd hand clothes stall with 10% of the proceeds going to CLADS.

Overall I believe everyone was very impressed with the level of sailing over the weekend and particularly during the racing. To see 16 Optibats all vying for position and the number of competitors in the Topper, Optimist and Pico race demonstrated for many that the youth programme at Chew is developing a large number of keen quality young sailors. As the list below shows the number of August Antics duck winners has grown substantially to the point that someone was sent to find more ducks.

August Antics 2011 Duck Winners

Jack Beeching, Jonathon Bell, Lousia Bell, Sophie Bell, Ismay Boissevain, Jack Bramwell, Samuel Bramwell, Lizzie Cooke, Ella Cudmore, James Cummins, Freya Cumpsty, Ayesha Cunio, Kira Cunio, Perry Cunio, Matthew Dillistone, Callum Haine, Mary Haine, Archie Harding, Jess Harding, Toby Harding, Oscar Haywood, Alice Hemming, Matthew Hemming, Barney Johnson, Finn Johnson, Jack Johnson, Madeleine Johnson, Oliver Johnson, Oliver Kane, Saskia Karahusevic, Sophia Karakusevic, Miles King, Guy Lawson-Johns, Jago Lott, Poppy Lott, Esme MacDonald-Taylor, Tom Matthews, Bryony Minkley, Oliver Minkley, Jack Mitchell, James Neale, Kyle Puckey, Shannon Puckey, Kirsty Scott, Murray Scott, Kate Scrutton, Tom Scrutton, Poppy Sidorowicz, Alastair Smith, Finlay Smith, Danni Sterling, Felix Sutton, Oscar Sutton, Becca Sutton, Issy Vallis, Rosie Vallis, Rafe Watson, Phoebe Wightwick, Helen Wilkie, Diarmuid Wisloff, Finnbar Wisloff, Sophia Woodiwiss,

This sort of event can’t be held without significant help from a number of people and organisations. Particularly, thank you to:

Portishead Sailing Club, Bristol Water, West of England Schools Sailing Association (WESSA) and Simon Cummins for the loan of boats.

CLADS, Tim Johnson, Paul Karakusevic, Paul Smalley, Giles Vallis and Angus MacDonald Taylor for providing such great fun in a number of different and exciting larger boats.

Topper specialists - Sailing Solutions for providing some of the prizes at a discount.

Stoneground for providing good quality food.  

Parents and guardians for supporting the sailors on and off the water and providing first aid cover.

Paul Karakusevic, Mandy Stirling and Aiden Bell for collecting and returning the borrowed boats.

Gordon and Ailsa Scott who managed the beach and the shore so efficiently.

And lastly and most importantly the following instructors and their assistants who gave up their time and delivered a healthy balance of instruction and fun: Lynn Billowes (RYA), John Smalley, Rob Mitchell, Josh Preater, Colin Walsh, Mike Pukey, Jamie Lott, Kit Lawson Johns, Jo Cudmore, Nick and Beth Matthews, Alison Woodiwiss, Hannah and Tom Walsh, Eleanor Hemmings, Holly and Zoe O’Grady, Jacqui Smith, Andrew, Nick and Julia Lawson Johns.

My last note is to all the sailors - I hope you gained a great experience and you will continue to develop your skills and friendships further during the remains of this year and into next year.

Adrian Cudmore

August Antics Co-ordinator