LLANGORSE Sailing Club's cadet week for training youngsters took place once again during the summer half-term holiday.

This was the 14th year the event had been held, but on this occasion the Princess Royal came to the club in her role as President of the Royal Yachting Association to present RYA certificates of competence to the children.

Fifty-nine children from eight to 16 were out on the lake for five days under the watchful eyes of 20 qualified instructors, backed up by a large contingent in safety boats and on-shore helpers.

The newcomers to sailing and least experienced were in Optimist dinghies, while the more experienced two groups were in Toppers.

The most experienced, many of whom had been at cadet week for several years, sailed in a variety of boats in the racing group.

That group ranged from eight-year-old Hugh Nunn, who has been training with the South Wales training squad over the winter in his Optimist, through to some in two-man Mirror dinghies and single-handed Lasers, which are Olympic class dinghies.

The week began with a cold, wet blustery day, which challenged even the most experienced sailors.

However, the beginners coped well with the adverse conditions and by the end of the week had acquired enough skills to sail with confidence.

The racing group were put through their paces by Nick Taylor, the club's senior instructor, Welsh national coach Mal Jones and Eddie Ramsden, the RYA Chairman. Of the nine boats in the racing group, six were sailed by youngsters from Herefordshire.

The weather over the second and third days improved, but there was still plenty of wind with many spills and thrills, but no problems.

The final day saw all the groups out racing in a quite stiff breeze.

The overall winner of the three handicap races in the racing group was Ellen Brookes from Cardiff sailing a Laser. Second home was Hugh Nunn from Ledbury in his Optimist and his 10-year-old brother Jack was third, also in an Optimist.

Katherine Taylor, crewed by her brother Richard, was fourth in their Mirror, with Harriet Orr from Breinton finishing in fifth spot in a Laser, one place ahead of her brother Charlie in a Topper. He was followed by Edward Aston in another Topper, just ahead of Alice Lattey in a Laser.

The last afternoon saw everyone, including many of the parents, enjoying the now traditional prizegiving and barbecue.

Overall Racing Group results: 1 Ellen Brookes (Laser), 2 Hugh Nunn (Optimist), 3 Jack Nunn ( Optimist).