PHOTO: Doublehanded youth trainer

Published on May 28th, 2013

The international Cadet, designed by Jack Holt in 1947 for children ranging from the age of seven to 17, is one of the world’s most successful youth dinghies with over 9,000 boats built worldwide.

Holt’s idea was to produce an all-encompassing, smaller version of an adult racing dinghy that would provide a good training base for youngsters. Many of today’s Olympic medalists including British sailors Keith Musto, Rodney Pattisson, Joe Glanfield, Stevie Morrision, Ben Rhodes and Pippa Wilson, all started their careers in the Cadet class, proving its pedigree as the ultimate youth trainer.

The Cadet is a highly popular doublehanded class for training and racing at club level as well as regional and internationally. Through their worldwide connections at home and abroad, youngsters have opportunity to establish lifelong friendships within the class, and build confidence as they progress through the ranks.

Large fleets are raced throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and South America in at least 18 different countries. Although the UK, Australia and Argentina are among those countries with the strongest fleets, the Ukrainians are currently leading the field. Ukrainian sailors Oleksandr Izarov/Andriy Kalinchukwere, and Danyil Martynov/Pavlo Merezhko took first and second place respectively at the 2012 world championship in Tasmania and are among the favourites for the 2013 world championship which takes place in Nieuwpoort, Belgium from 25 July – 3 August.

Statistics
Length (loa): 3.2m (10ft 6in)
Beam: 1.27m (4ft 2in)
Hull weight: 54kg (120lb)
Rig: Bermudan sloop with spinnaker
Sail area
Main: 3.9sq m
Jib: 1.26sq m
Spinnaker: 4.25sq m (50sq ft)

For further class information about the Cadet class please visit: http://cadetclass.org.uk.

Photo credit: Sue Pelling

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