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.
Latest news
Sheppey Open
Welcome back dear readers to the penultimate event in the Cherub Travellers Series. After a windy and wavy nationals, our competitors could have been forgiven for wanting a more relaxing event, no such luck. Instead, a very challenging shifty on shore breeze and lumpy waves, even made launching a high skill manoeuvre.
Day 1
Race 1 Eleanor and Green Bananas broke clear of Poppy and EJ. Eleanor took the lead until the final tack, when disaster struck and Eleanor's crew inspected the boom a little too closely. This let Green through for their first win, while Eleanor limped home in second.
Race 2 saw close racing between all the boats with place changes a plenty. Eleanor managed to find a path through the Ospreys (great fleet to share an event with by the way) to claim the win from Green.
Race 3 had EJ finally put her obvious boat speed to good use and lead Green home to a much-deserved win.
Day 2 welcomed our fine competitors with slightly less wind.
Races 4 and 5 proved that a good night's sleep and a T total lifestyle is definitely not required for Poppy's crew, who finally showed the skills they had been showing all year to challenge the Green Bananas. The only problem was those Bananas are slippery and found a way through to win the first two races of the day.
With the event won, Green slowed down enough to let Poppy through for a much-awaited win, followed by Eleanor.
Yet another event with close friendly racing, with four winners from six races.
Well done to Green Bananas who showed strong pace to win on their return, with Poppy coming a close second. A special mention should go to Ronin's new crew for learning new skills in conditions not ideally suited to a new team.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat name | Sail No | Club | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts | Net Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Bananas | 3217 | Netley SC | Nick Pratt | Jamie Taylor | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | (3) | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | Poppy | 3216 | Grafham Water SC | Jamie Pearson | Martyn Denchfield | 4 | 3 | (DNF) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 12 |
| 3 | Eleanor | 3208 | Poole YC | David Ching | Oliver Goolden | 2 | 1 | (DNS) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 12 |
| 4 | EJ | 3206 | Stokes Bay SC | Jimmy Ruddiman | Oliver Morrell | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | (DNF) | 22 | 15 |
| 5 | Anitdote | 2699 | IOSSC | Dean Ralph | Simon Jones | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 42 | 35 |
| 6 | Ronin | 2698 | Poole Yacht Club | Nathan McGrory | George Bender | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 42 | 35 |
UK Cherub National Championship at Mumbles Yacht Club 2022
A tale to last the ages of mighty winds, wild waves and some pretty little Cherubs.
Day 1
Started with a forecast of 12 knots and calm waters. Little did they know what was to meet those plucky Cherubs. Race 1 started with 20 knots and lumpy waves. This would build over the next three days. Oh do I need to mention the rain? That's enough of the weather report, on to race 1.
Race 1 - EJ and Eleanor spent the first lap trading places, while Marmite and Usagi recovered from bad starts. Marmite finally went on to win while the others fought it out for second. Eleanor managed to knot a halyard on the last hoist gifting a close fought second to EJ with Usagi in third.
Race 2 - A & E stopped wobbling long enough to claim her first victory of the week. Eleanor ran out of excuses to gain 2nd. Behind, Usagi held off the rapid Ducks for 3rd.
Day 2
Race 3 - EJ took an early lead but was soon overtaken by the close duelling A & E won out from Marmite and EJ came in a close third.
Race 4 - A & E were locked in such an intense battle with Marmite that Dan's Boat slipped through unnoticed for the win from A & E and Marmite.
Race 5 - A & E stretched out an early lead to be convincing winners. Marmite second and Eleanor held on for third.
Race 6 - Your intrepid reporter decided that starting a fourth race in the fifth hour of sailing wasn't as inviting as ice cream. It was good ice cream. A & E won from Marmite and Ducks Third. If you feel this kind of reporting isn't good enough then I suggest you try and come to the events. Trust me, if you don't, you are missing out on much more than results.
Day 3
The class took advantage of the local tourist spots, as the wind increased and waiting for the slower fleet to finish for an hour. After 40 min races felt less appealing.
Day 4
Lighter winds at last, with a mild 10 to 18 knots and with flatter, almost soothing waves.
Race 10 -
A & E bolted off again, while the battle between Marmite, Usagi and Eleanor carried on as before. Usagi came out on top with Marmite leading Eleanor across the line.
Race 11 - It was much the same, but this time Eleanor led the chasing pack after another epic battle with Marmite and Usagi. Yet again only seconds between them.
Race 12 - A & E bored of winning, went in for the famous ice-cream. This left first up for grabs. Dan's boat took advantage of a great start to lead Eleanor around the course, followed by Marmite. So much happened at this event I could write a book. I didn't even mention the “Captain's hat” or the “If not duffers will not drown” incidents. If you want the full Cherub experience you could use the class Cherub at an event, or jump straight in and buy new from £12k (class assisted) to £15k fully professional. Special mention this year goes to Poppy's crew, who after showing great speed all year, caught Covid the night before. Better luck next time.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R10 | R11 | R12 | Pts | Net Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | A&E | 3215 | Jonny O'Connor | Alex Harris | Dee Sailing Club | (5) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | 35 | 7 |
| 2nd | Marmite | 3212 | Paul Croote | Andy Whapshott | Chew Valley Sailing Club | 1 | (DNC) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | (4) | 3 | 42 | 16 |
| 3rd | Eleanor | 3208 | Dave Ching | Oliver Goolden | Poole Yacht Club | 4 | 2 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 3 | DNC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 61 | 43 |
| 4th | Usagi Yojimbo | 3202 | Andrew Peters | Jill Peters | Queen Mary Sailing Club | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 2 | 3 | DNC | 63 | 45 |
| 5th | Duck wars | 3209 | Guy Rivington | Joseph White | Mount Batten Centre | (DNC) | 4 | (RET) | DNC | 4 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 73 | 55 |
| 6th | Dan's Boat | 2700 | Luke Hartley | Oliver Morrell | Stokes Bay Sailing Club | (DNC) | (DNC) | 5 | 1 | RET | DNC | DNC | 7 | 1 | 80 | 62 |
| 7th | EJ | 3206 | James Ruddiman | Chris Haslam | Stokes Bay Sailing Club | 2 | (DNC) | 3 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 5 | 6 | DNC | 82 | 64 |
| 8th | Poppy | 3216 | Jamie Pearson | George Bender | Grafham Water Sailing Club | (DNC) | (DNC) | 6 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 7 | 5 | DNC | 95 | 77 |
| 9th | Rossa | 3219 | Roland Trim | Kevin Robert Jausseran | Monaco Yacht Club / Club de voile de Roq | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNF | DNC | DNC | DNC | 8 | 9 | 5 | 99 | 81 |
| 10th | Slippery When Wet | 2657 | Nick Hankins | Sophie Hankins | Cardiff Bay Yacht Club | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 110 | 92 |