Tony Bull (Bully) has been coaching our Australian Cadet team for some time now, and this year, it was off to Lake Garda for our teams from Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. It is great to see such a big team heading off to major regattas around the world with solid support from coaches and parents alike. To see them perform so well is an added bonus. Congratulations to all the kids, Bully and all his support team. Below is Bully’s last report from Garda.
Well, the 2026 International Cadet World Championship has been run and we just missed taking out the top honour, that went to the very well sailed Ukrainian team David Guttiiev and Katrina Butenko. Plaudits to them on a very well sailed regatta. But we did manage to dominate the regatta with 4 boats in the top 7.
Australian results were:
2nd – #10140 Kachow – Will Garner & Jack O’Brien
3rd – #10072 Ringo – Jack Benyan & Farrell Meegan
5th – #9552 Executioner – Olive Hooper & Haran Thani (winner of top female helm)
7th – #10011 Never Mind – Archie McQuillen & Thomas Pitt
12th – #9551 Sea-Ya – Islay Smith & Ella Scarr
16th – #9281 FOTO – Calin Went & Rohan Turaga
21st – #10089 Incognito – Alex Ashbolt & Harriet Hogan
37th – #9922 Mischief Managed – Walter Howard & William Smith
39th – #9628 It’s Pink – Hogan Hunter & Lachlan Young
43rd – #10087 End Game – Olivia Young & Alexandra Young
Over on the Promotional Fleet Course Australia also faired well with Matilda Groves and Poppy Loftus winning overall, other Australian teams placed well:-
Lachie Prior and Archie Hunter 4th
Leo Loftus and Manon Lay 9th
Jarvis Coyle and Louis Ridgeway 31st
So, a great regatta for Australia, when we first started this campaign, we concentrated as always on being very venue specific and training along those lines. With a focus on the skill set to sail in the famous afternoon Ora breeze. One of the best winds in the world and so regular you could set your clock by it. This was reinforced by our first week of training in the Ora and getting acclimatised. But alas as is often the case, we found ourselves sailing predominantly in the morning in the Pele wind. Twice the fleet was pounded by the very rare Ponale wind that struck, with 40-45 knots gust tearing through the fleet, forcing abandonment on both occasions and necessitating urgent and broad rescue response.
But the Australian Sailors stuck to their guns, adapted and reassessed and got on with the sailing with fantastic results.
So, onto the thanks. First a big slap on the back to assistant Coach Nick Neale and Promotional Coach Grace Hooper. Both did so well in their respective roles. Nick integrated himself in with the kids and was very popular with the team and all who came across him. He even has a smoothy named after him after getting to know the proprietors of the local shop! Thank you to you both personally and on behalf of the sailors too, top effort.
Parents play a huge role in the logistics and well being of the team and this year we excelled in this area as well. Under the guidance of Team Manager Dave McQuillen things went so smoothly and precise, we were the envy of other teams and made the coaches roles so much easier. Special mention to Dan and Cat Coyle, Brendan Garner, Siobhán Murphy, Jen Benyan and Chris Went who really helped make a great team in their respective roles. Plus, everybody else, we (the coaches) and the sailors owe you a huge amount of gratitude for a job superbly done. Culture and a nurturing environment went a long way to the team success. Can’t also let the opportunity to thank Alex Nicolaus as our friend and helper, love you Big Alex!
Finally, the sailors – you were amazing and all as a group regardless of your placing contributed to the success of the team. I find your ability to cope with situations, take the punches and get back up again remarkable and inspiring! I was so proud being your coach and thank you for your confidence and acceptance. No dropping the bundle with this group, the support and camaraderie across the entire group was great to see! Thank you one and all.
Finishing up this last post as I meander on through the Tuscany landscape on the way to Rome for a day before I head home. Italy is a beautiful country.
The whole team appreciates the support and well wishes from all out friends. It really does help motivate the team.
To the sponsors and the help from the home clubs, your assistance was so helpful in creating such a good experience for so many great kids
Signing off with humble gratitude – Bully
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