Enterprise Open at Rugby & Daventry Sailing Club

This event, the first in the 2009 Midland area Double Chine series sponsored by Speed Sails was held at Rugby and Daventry SC on Sunday 22nd March.

The ten boats included visitors from as far away as Stockport and Wigan who enjoyed a sunny day with a gusty north westerly wind which caused much excitement and a few capsizes.

In the first race Alan and Matt Johnson (SCYC) starting at the favoured port end of the start line, exploited the full benefits of this to lead at the windward mark, followed by Ges Brown/Dennis Swain (Hallamshire) in second and Steve Graham/James Holmes (Northampton SC) third, with Martin and Laurence Davies (Rugby and Daventry SC) fourth.

The shifty and gusty winds caused place changes throughout the fleet on both the upwind and downwind legs. Alan and Matt however held their position throughout at the front to finish first, followed by Ges and Dennis with Steve and James third. Karen Morris and Lisa Woods (Etherow SC) unfortunately retired after a spectacular capsize in front of the clubhouse.

After an excellent cooked lunch the second race started in slightly stronger conditions and on a new course. Alan and Matt led at the first mark and pulled out a huge lead, followed by Steve and James who on the second lap filled the boat up with water whilst doing turns allowing Martin and Laurence and Ges and Dennis past to battle for second place until Ges and Dennis tipped it in at the leeward mark, allowing Steve and James back to third. These places then remained to the finish.

The third race was probably the most eventful at a busy first mark Russell and Jo Brayshaw (Hollowell SC) capsized, Steve and James rounded first and built a huge lead with second a surprised Andy Flack crewed by his ten year old son Robin, and third Ges and Dennis who used their superior boat speed downwind to gain second place on the run.

On the following laps Alan and Matt recovered from a slow start to pull through to second and then reel in Steve and James to take the lead on the penultimate lap. Steve and James held onto second place in this race to give them second place overall.

At the prize giving Alan Johnson thanked Rugby and Daventry SC and all the competitors for an excellent day.

Overall Results:

1st 19876 Alan Johnson/Matt Johnson (South Caernarvonshire YC) 2pts
2nd 23223 Steve Graham/James Holmes (Northampton SC) 5pts
3rd 23194 Ges Brown/Dennis Swain (Hallamshire) 5pts
4th 22320 Martin Davies/Laurence Davies (Rugby and Daventry SC) 6pts
5th 22619 Kevin Rose/Naomi Bilton (Olton Mere SC) 9pts
6th 18736 Russell Brayshaw/Jo Brayshaw (Hollowell SC) 12pts
7th 22901 Paul Young/Phil Harrison (Midland SC) 12pts
8th 23243 Martin Bottomley/Ray Ball (Emberton Park SC) 13pts
9th 21625 Andy Flack/Robin Flack (Rugby and Daventry SC) 14pts
10th 23165 Karen Morris/Lisa Woods (Etherow Country Park SC) 22pts