Cadet Scows

In the midst of all the activity over new classes there was a proposal to start a class for the cadets and in the spring of 1959 Commodore A. L. W. (Leslie) Stevens circulated parents but had a rather poor response. However, at a meeting in the Clubhouse on July 18, 1959, with the Commodore in the Chair, it was decided to adopt the West Wight Scow as a Class for Cadet members of the Club. Two parents, L. R. Billinghurst and L. C. Rowe, were elected Class Secretaries and charged with arranging a start during the current season. They found that because of other events it would not be possible to introduce a program until after Burnham Week. Races were then conducted on two successive Saturday mornings under a set of rules drawn up by the Secretaries and approved by the Commodore. The races attracted, respectively, five and four starters; both were won by Clare Rowe in CARLISON. and Michael Worthington in GEHENNA was second on each occasion.

As a result of this preliminary work the Class were able to get away to a good start in 1960. The Class ACM was held in January and the following were elected:

Class Captain David Booth

Vice-Captain Michael Worthington

Rear-Captain Clare Rowe

Class Secretary Paddy Booth (David’s father)

Seamanship Examiner Ellis Jacob

Class activities were arranged for Wednesday and Saturday mornings during the school holidays and it was decided not to arrange any activities during Otter or Burnham Weeks.

The program contained seven ordinary sailing races and a special seamanship race for a trophy presented by the Commodore. This was won by David Booth and places for the other races well distributed between him, Michael Worthington, Nicky Perren, Dare Rowe and Harry Bird, There was also a cruise, in company with the Commodore, to Cliff Reach for a swim and picnic lunch, and an afternoon regatta of rowing and swimming races. The closing event was a team race between cadets and parents in which 12 boats took part. The parents were resoundingly beaten but were able to cry Foul because, despite an elaborate arrangement to ensure an equitable distribution of boats between the two teams, it was subsequently found that no fewer than five of the six cadet helmsmen were sailing their own boats!

During the season the number of cadets taking part grew from 24 to 30 and the number of boats from 12 to 14. It was discovered that the cadet numbers had grown until they exceeded those authorised by the Articles of Association and it was decided that cadets up to the age of 16 would only be accepted if they had a parent who was a full member.