Frensham Pond Cadet Squadron Update Spring 2023

The new year, post-World Championship, has meant some changes to the cadet fleet at Frensham. We have lost some helms that have aged out of the cadets: Sarah McEwan, Will Shepherd and Tom Walker have all moved on to compete in different classes of boats at the pond and further afield. What is great about the cadet class is that, although they might compete in a different class, ex-cadets all come back to give back and train a new generation of cadet sailors. Already Sarah and Will have been teaching our regatta fleet at Saturday morning training.

January has also meant some new faces at the club and some new pairings - new crews joining the club and old crews becoming new helms.

What has not been such a joy in January is the terrible lack of wind and a very frozen pond. It has not affected turn out that much on Saturday mornings though, and the training team has improvised with on-land training and tactics so our sailors stay sharp for the season ahead.

Just when you thought there was nothing left for them to win, dream team Will, Annabel and Joe, winners of the 2022 Nationals, 2022 Europeans, first place in the 2022 Australian Nationals and runners up in the World Championship managed to squeeze in one last accolade at the start of February when the threesome were crowned Farnham Sports Council’s Young Sport’s Team of the Year! What a year these three sailors have had. They have made the club very proud.

Will Shepherd, Annabel Shepherd & Joe Mycroft crowned Farnham Sports Council’s Young Sport’s Team of the Year

FPSC was in charge of organising the first training weekend of the New Year at Itchenor Sailing Club. The event was well-attended with sailors from Waldringfield, South Cerney, Rickmansworth and Pevensey Bay. It was a great opportunity for the pondies and other inlands sailors to get some tidal experience and for all to hone their skills in some challenging and very windy conditions with the support and advice of ex-cadet super-trainers Jamie and Bettine Harris, Alex Page and Frensham’s own Bee Nee.

Next up for FPSC Cadets is the Frensham Open on 19 March. Please come to join us for a great day. It’s always sunny and there’s always loads of wind (hmmm, well hopefully!). Highlights as usual will be Al’s BBQ and the secondhand kit sale!