Enterprise U21 Championships at Barnt Green Sailing Club

Prizewinners from the Enterprise under 21 championships © Paula Southworth

Matt Johnson and Rachel Jackson follow in fathers footsteps

A competitive fleet of 10 Enterprises competed in the Enterprise under 21 Nationals at Barnt Green.

Day 1

Race 1 conditions were dull with drizzle and a force 3/4 wind. Richard Pepperdine/Tom Keyes started from the leeward end of the start line, Matt Johnson/Rachel Jackson in the middle of the line with Greg Thomas/Bobbie Hopkins at the windward end. At the first windward mark Matt/Rachel were in the lead, with Greg/Bobbie 2nd and Tom Hewitt/Hannah Adams in 3rd. Matt/Rachel extended their lead on the run, 2nd Tom/Hannah, 3rd Greg/Bobbie. After the gybe a gust caught Dominic White/Joshua White out, creating the first capsize of the day. At the end of the first lap Matt/Rachel 1st but good sailing by Richard/Tom and Alan Roberts/Rob Lea gained them 2nd and 4th places with Tom/Hannah 3rd. Position stayed like this to gybe mark, and on the following run, positions closed up. Starting the best, Matt/Rachel had a small lead but Richard/Tom got the shifts right to lead at the windward mark, 2nd Matt/Rachel, 3rd Tom/Hannah, 4th Greg/Bobbie. Things stayed almost the same for another lap. Richard/Tom extended their lead on the run when Matt was tempted to go more to the left of the course. On the 3rd lap Richard/Tom extended his lead with Matt/Rachel 2nd. However, good sailing by Tom/Hannah and Alan/Rob allowed them to close down on Matt. On the run Alan/Rob overtook Tom/Hannah to start last beat in 3rd place. At the finish 1st 20518 Richard Pepperdine/Tom Keyes, 2nd 19876 Matt Johnson/Rachel Jackson, 3rd 21350 Alan Roberts/Rob Lea, 4th 22272 Tom Hewitt/Hannah Adams.

Race 2 started in light winds and moderate rain. Matt Johnson/ Rachel Jackson started leeward, Alan Roberts/Rob Lea the windward end. Matt/Rachel took the port tack approach and arrived first at the windward mark, 2nd Dominic White/Joshua White, 3rd Tom Hewitt/Hannah Adams, 4th Richard Pepperdine/Tom Keys. Greg Thomas/Bobbie Hopkins pulled through to 4th on the run. On the 2nd downward leg things got exciting with many place changes. At the leeward mark 1st Matt/Rachel, 2nd Tom/Hannah, 3rd Dominic/Joshua, 4th Richard/Tom. Matt/Rachel extended their lead on the following beat, with 2nd Tom/Hannah, and with good sailing 3rd Richard/Tom, 4th Dominic/Joshua being pushed hard by Alan/Rob. At the next windward mark Matt/Rachel were in the lead followed by Tom/Hannah and Greg/Bobbie. On the run Richard/Tom sailed very deep to gain 2nd place, 3rd was Tom/Hannah. Good sailing by Alan/Rob got them to 3rd place at the windward mark. Tom/Hannah were 4th, 5th Greg/Bobbie, 6th Dominic/Josh. During the next lap Matt/Rachel continued to increase the lead whilst an exciting gibing battle took place on the run closing the gap on 2nd place. At the final leeward mark it was Matt/Rachel, Richard/Tom, Tom/Hannah, Alan/Rob. After a very exciting last beat with many tense moments the final results were 1st 19876 Matt/Rachel who finished with a good lead, 2nd 22272 Tom Hewitt/Hannah Adams, 3rd 21350 Alan Roberts/Rob Lea, 4th 20518 Richard Pepperdine/Tom Keyes, 5th 23224 Dominic White/Joshua White.

Race 3 was sailed in dryer but much lighter conditions. At the start Alan Roberts/Rob Lea were the first away with Greg Thomas/Bobbie Hopkins 2nd and Dominic White/Joshua White 3rd, 4th Richard Pepperdine/Tom Key, Matt Johnson/ Rachel Jackson were over the line and had to return, Dominic/Joshua went further left than most on first beat and rounded the windward mark first, followed by locals Joe Taylor/Sam Evans with Josh Bennett/Ben Kent. On the following down-wind leg Dominic/Josh extended their lead and at the next windward mark Dominic/Josh were 1st, Alan/Rob 2nd, Joe/Sam 3rd and Matt/Rachel 4th. On the next down-wind leg Richard/Tom pulled up to 3rd, the order remained the same for almost a lap with Dominic/Josh being pushed hard by Allan/Rob. At the leeward mark Dominic/Josh, under pressure from Alan/Rob hit the mark and whilst doing penalty turns Alan took the lead, Dominic/Josh now 2nd and Richard/Tom 3rd. Later on another downwind leg Richard/Tom closed the gap on the leaders, Alan/Rob sailed well on the next beat to build a huge lead. Dominic/Josh got the shifts right to round the windward mark 2nd with Richard/Tom 3rd. On the next downwind leg, the order remained the same. At the finish 1st 21350 Alan Roberts/Rob Lea, 2nd 23224 Dominic White/Joshua White, 3rd Richard Pepperdine/Tom Key, 4th Tom Hewitt/Hannah Adams.

Day 2

Race 4 was sailed in a force 3 and rain. A clean start, Matt Johnson/ Rachel Jackson starting at the starboard end of the start line led to the windward mark. 1st Matt/Rachel, 2nd Richard Pepperdine/Tom Key, 3rd Tom Hewitt/Hannah Adams. Alan Roberts/Rob Lea were doing 720 degree turns following windward mark incident. On the reach Tom/Hannah passed Richard/Tom to take 2nd place. The next beat the positions remained the same. Despite many battles the final positions were: 1st 19876 Matt Johnson/ Rachel Jackson, 2nd 20518 Richard Pepperdine/Tom Key, 3rd 22272 Tom Hewitt/Hannah, Adams, 4th 21350 Alan Roberts/Rob Lea.

Race 5 This Race started without rain and a steady Force 2 -3. It was a good clean start, Dominic White/Joshua White went to the left side of the beat, reading shifts excellently and rounding the windward mark 1st, 2nd Tom Hewitt/Hannah Adams, 3rd Matt Johnson/ Rachel Jackson. On the reach Dominic/Joshua extended their lead. Tom/Hannah 2nd, Matt/Rachel 3rd, 4th Alan Roberts/Rob Lea, 5th Richard Pepperdine/Tom Key. There were many technical/strategic battles in this final competitive race of the U21 Championship but the positions remained the same. Tom/Hannah kept up pressure on Dominic/Joshua with Matt/Rachel always close behind in 3rd. Inexplicably Alan/Rob, who had been very exuberant, and completive retired which could have dislodged them from their challenge for the first helm U18. Starting the last beat Dominic/Joshua had a 17 second lead over Tom/Hannah with Matt/Rachel in hot pursuit. Dominic/Joshua kept their cool(which is more than can be said for the spectators, particularly White/Kirkup!) to win with Tom/Hannah 2nd, Matt/Rachel 3rd, who had done enough to take the overall Championship title with Richard/Tom 4th taking the overall 2nd in the Championship.

The prizegiving took place with special thanks going to the Host Barnt Green SC, particularly the Race Officer Bob Sugget, Sally’s Gally team, bar staff, Mike Tredwell and Gordon Padmore. It was a great championship enjoyed by all – next year will see the Enterprises return to Barnt Green for the U21 Championships Thank you to all the trusting owners of the Enterprises used by our talented youth.

Overall Results:

Prize categories: L - lady helm, J - helm under 18, C - helm under 15, O - Old Boat Trophy (sail No below 21000)