The UK Cherub is a two-person 12 foot racing dinghy with asymmetric spinnaker and twin trapezes. Just twelve feet long, weighing around 70kgs fully rigged for sailing, the UK Cherub combines spectacular performance with the “on the edge” handling characteristics only found in true lightweight skiffs.
The UK Cherub rules are simple and allow for maximum flexibility for designers, allowing boats to be created to incorporate sailor's own ideas. Also meaning the class develops over time as techniques, materials and ideas improve. All this makes the Cherub one of the most interesting and innovative of all dinghies: The challenge extends from the sailing skills to setting up the boat to suit the sailor, and maybe even designing and building, too.
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Weston Cherub Open
Saturday June 14th saw 7 Cherubs make the trip to Weston for the 4th round of the travellers trophy. (or maybe a little pre nationals practise) Also a welcome return to the scene for Fuzzy Logic after some major TLC by new owners Ade and Joe. Wind guru had a northerly wind at 6 knots gusting 13 and was surprisingly accurate. Race one had the start up by the shipping channel with a beat towards the shore, where the already challenging conditions were made worse by some serious direction changes just prior to a gust hitting. At one point Eleanor managed to tack twice without changing direction. Clive and Alex set the pace for the weekend with a race win followed by Dean and Simon then Andy and Jill.
Race two saw much of the same with an abandonment as the Cherubs were twin wiring at the windward mark and the 4000's were becalmed on their start. When the race was restarted Andy and Jill showed why they are the current national champions with a win relegating Clive and Alex to 2nd. Dean and Simon had what could only be described as swimming lessons and were indeed very lucky to end up 3rd.
Race three saw Clive and Alex back on top, Andy and Jill 2nd and Dean and Simon again 3rd although somewhat drier this time
The evenings entertainment was provided by the B14 fleet and a large amount of alcohol. The games involved limbo on space hoppers then spinning round and round a B14 pole before throwing a hoop over a man with a rubber unicorn mask on and downing a drink of your choice. (non alcoholic for the youngsters of course) this was run as a relay with teams from the Cherubs and B14's
Sunday dawned with slightly more breeze although it was still a gusty northerly. Clive and Alex carried on where they left off in race 4 with Dean and Simon in 2nd and The hobbits in 3rd. Race 5 saw a return to the top 3 for Andy and Jill and although it was clear that Clive and Alex had this open won it was down to the last race for 2nd place with Andy and Jill sneaking it by 1 point from Dean and Simon.
Weirwood Open
Saturday brought sunshine an outside broadcast team from local radio(meridian FM) and five Cherubs to the first Weir Wood Sprint Cup Challenge. Sadly no wind. The bad news for those who paid attention to wind guru and stayed at home is you have just missed the nationals. The radio team said it was the Cherub nationals. It was on the radio so must be true.
The 2 races on Saturday showed the way things would be for the weekend with tight racing and everyone getting a turn at the front. Dean and Simon in Eleanor had the edge with a first and second while Phil and Dave stole their first place from the much more deserving Banshee Ambulance who lost it at the last bottom mark.
The Cherub fleet were well looked after by the Jenkins Family in the evening with accommodation, BBQ a drying room and some space to build some new carbon bits.
Sundays racing had more wind. We managed to fit in 6 short 25 minute races and if we listed every place change or interesting moment you would still be reading this next week, so here is a summary of each teams weekend from first to fifth. Eleanor deserving winners with great consistency in the light breeze(even after much complaining how they hate light wind). Cool Beans took an all or nothing approach and achieved both (sometimes in the same race) to finish second overall. E numbers showed potential before running out of steam towards the end of the day. Banshee Ambulance probably spent more time at the front than the others, just not across the finish line (learning that timing is everything). Atom Bom required more wind but never too far out of the hunt.
The message from the weekend is sometimes you’re in front, sometimes your behind, so whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either, your choices are half chance, so are everybody elses. Oh and wear sunscreen. Best open in years, thanks Paul