Cadets & Otters Gets 2016 Off To A Great Start

The Cadets and Otters started the Gunfleet Sailing Club’s 2016 programme of events when they met last Saturday 16 January for the first SOS (Sailing On Saturday) which focused on sail training, and in particular – Tactics.  Cadet Officer Andy Dunnett welcomed a keen group of the Club’s younger sailors and explained how they can put themselves in the top half of the fleet, and conversely the reasons for finding themselves in the bottom half.  With the use of PowerPoint and models the technicalities became simple to follow, and a number of the “tricks of the trade” were eagerly received by the young sailors.  Looking at tides and wind direction, start line positions, and positioning of helm and boat, Andy explained how seconds could be made-up on each leg; seconds then equating into minutes, and minutes making the difference between winning and losing.

Having brought the Cadets and Otters up to the top half of the fleet Andy reminded those present that the next sail training session, on Saturday 20 February, would be focusing on boat handling.  The aim of this was to move the Cadets and Otters still further up the fleet, resulting in some of them snapping at the heels of the current seasoned sailors that presently walk away with so many trophies.