It looked promising for much of the competition, but in the end skipper Christopher Volkers and crew-mate Stewart Clark had to settle for silver.
Volkers of Comox and Clark of Victoria crossed the line first in their Wednesday race at the National Sea Cadet Sailing Regatta in Kingston, Ont.
The team was holding down the interim points lead Thursday when racing was cancelled due to inclement weather. When competition resumed Friday, the only team to pass Volkers and Clark in the points lead was skipper Evan Bower and crew Chelsea Collicutt from the Atlantic region.
Volkers, 15, trains with the 189 Port Augusta Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps. He and Clark were among eight B.C. cadets in the regatta. A maximum of 25 teams competed in a minimum of 12 races over four days on a modified Olympic triangle course in Lake Ontario. Each day held up to five races. Teams were awarded 'points' based on placing in each race. The overall winner had the lowest number of points at the end of the event.
The regatta tests seamanship, strategic skills and physical endurance. It’s the culmination of years of training provided in part by the Sea Cadet program.
Following a provincial qualifier where Volkers scored among the top 20 sailors, he and Clark advanced to the national qualifying regatta in conjunction with the Spring Training Camp at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. The team finished first overall at the latter.
This was Volkers' second visit to the national championship. Last year, he also won a silver medal.
"It feels good to be a competitor here again at the national regatta," Volkers said by email. "There's a real sense of accomplishment being selected to represent your province at a national-level competition.
"I not only appreciate the sailing skills, but also the teamwork and teaching skills that I have gained through the Cadet Sailing Program."
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet program is offered to youth 12-18 years.
Volkers and Clark spent the summer at the HMCS Quadra Cadet Summer Training Centre.
Youth interested in learning to sail as part of sea cadet activities are invited to attend 189 Port Augusta’s registration night Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.
The corps is located at HMCS Quadra, Goose Spit, Building 46A. There is no cost to join.
To learn more about the Comox Valley Sea Cadets, visit www.189portaugusta.ca.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com