Enterprise Open at Midland Sailing Club
by Paul Young 7 Jul 2010 08:23 BST
4 July 2010
This event the tenth in the 2010 Midland Area Double Chine Series sponsored by Speed Sails was held at Midland SC on Sunday 4th July.
A fleet of nine boats including four visitors from Redditch, Bartley Shustoke and Emberton Park Sailing clubs were welcomed by a strong and gusty south westerly wind, which provided much excitement and several capsizes.
Race one started in a force five gusting six wind from a port biased line, and saw the fleet get away well. Jon Woodward and Fiona Rattigan (Bartley/Etherow) lead from the start line only to be passed by Martin Weatherstone and Karen Jewkes (Midland SC) up the beat, who never looked back and kept extending their lead to the finish. Jon and Fiona were second whilst local youngsters Chris Winters and Iain Leiper (Midland SC) sailed extremely well to finish third ahead of Paul Young and Megan Ward (Midland SC) in fourth.
Race two sailed on a new course after an excellent lunch and saw a very port biased line. Both Chris and Iain and Martin and Karen were early to the port end of the line forcing Martin and Karen to tack onto port as Jon was crossing the line to starboard, the resulting collision left Jon and Fiona carrying damage but still able to race and Martin and Karen taking a penalty. Jon and Fiona rounded the windward mark first with Paul and Megan second and Martin Bottomley and Ray Ball (Emberton Park) third. Paul and Megan capsized at the following gybe mark allowing Martin and Ray through. Later Paul and Megan passed Martin and Ray on the beat but Martin and Ray and also Chris and Iain passed Paul and Megan at the second windward mark. On the run, positions stayed the same, however on the next beat Paul and Megan passed both Martin and Ray and Chris and Iain to regain third place. Martin and Ray were fourth and Chris and Iain fifth. Chris and Iain sailed a brilliant last beat to snatch fourth place on the finish line.
The third race saw a depleted fleet of five boats racing on the same course with some exciting flat out planing. Martin and Karen led at the first mark from Chris and Iain with Paul and Megan in third. Chris and Iain planed past Martin and Karen on a very fast reach, however an unfortunate mistake at the leeward mark and the resulting capsize allowed Martin and Karen to retake the lead.
Paul and Megan then took the lead at the following windward mark, rounding inside Martin and Karen and increased this on the following run. Martin and Karen pulled past Paul and Megan on the following beat to regain the lead. Later Martin Bottomley fell out of his boat on the beat allowing Chris and Iain to catch up. At the finish Martin and Karen won from a fast closing Paul and Megan in second with Martin and Ray in third and Chris and Iain fourth.
Overall Results:
1st 22810, Martin Weatherstone & Karen Jewkes (Midland SC) 2pts
2nd 23089, Jon Woodward & Fiona Rattigan (Bartley/Etherow) 3pts
3rd 22901, Paul Young & Megan Ward (Midland SC) 5pts
4th 21852, Chris Winters & Iain Leiper (Midland SC) 7pts
5th 23248, Martin Bottomley & Ray Ball (Emberton Park SC) 8pts
6th 19895, Terry Hobbis & Margot Bish (Redditch SC) 10pts
7th 16696, Kalvin Hodgson & Phillip Deeley (Midland SC) 13pts
8th= 5704, Paul Leather & Angus Hogarth (Midland SC) 14pts
8th= 23008, Barry Moss & Julie Moore (Shustoke SC) 14pts