Enterprise Open at Midland Sailing Club
by Paul Young and Chris Winters on 16 Jul 2011
3 July 2011
This event the ninth in the 2011 Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine Series, sponsored by Speed Sails was held at Midland Sailing Club on Sunday 3rd July.
The ten boat fleet included five visitors from Shustoke, Bartley, Sutton, Rugby and Daventry and Redditch sailing clubs.
The day was warm and sunny with a light and very variable wind which challenged both the race officer and competitors alike.
Race one sailed on an Olympic course started from a port biased line, with Jonathon Woodward and Alex Halliwell (Bartley/WLYC) led the fleet away and continued to build a substantial lead which they held to the finish. Behind them places were exchanged several times but after two laps it settled down with Barry Moss and Julie Moore (Shustoke SC) second and Mike Cossey and Christine Barron (Sutton SC) third. These positions were held to the finish.
Race two started after excellent lunch on another Olympic course this time with the marks all to starboard. Again the pin end was favoured, with Chris Winters and Matt Smith (Midland SC) finding enough room at the pin end to tack straight onto port and round the windward mark first, followed by Mike and Christine and Barry and Julie. Mike and Christine managed to pass Chris and Matt on the reach to take the lead. At the next windward mark confusion over whether it was a triangle or sausage saw Chris and Matt drop another place allowing Barry and Julie to overtake. At a very busy leeward mark with boats on both on the reaching and running legs, Chris and Matt managed to sneak through on the inside to regain the lead but then failed to cover Mike and Christine well enough on the final beat allowing Mike and Christine to snatch a win by a couple of boat lengths. Barry and Julie finished third.
With four potential winners the outcome of the meeting would be decided on the last race. A completely new course was set. A port biased line saw the whole fleet tack onto port just after the start. Barry and Julie starting in the middle of the line made the best start to lead at the windward mark closely followed by Jon and Alex and Chris and Matt. Chris and Matt then lost out on a downwind leg allowing Mike and Christine to gain third place. These positions were held to the finish. Barry and Julie's win in the last race gave them the overall winner's trophy on a tie break from Jon and Alex with Mike and Christine third overall. Youngsters Chris and Matt were fourth overall being the first youths and also the first Midland SC boat. Winning helm Barry Moss thanked everyone at Midland SC for their effort in providing a good days racing.
Overall Results:
1st 23008, Barry Moss & Julie Moore (Shustoke SC) 3pts
2nd 23089, Jon Woodward & Alex Halliwell (Bartley SC/WLYC) 3pts
3rd 22823, Mike Cossey & Christine Barron (Sutton SC) 4pts
4th 22907, Chris Winters & Matt Smith (Midland SC) 7pts
5th 22320, Martin Davies & Laurence Davies (Rugby and Daventry SC) 8pts
6th 22901, Paul Young & Megan Ward (Midland SC) 12pts
7th 16696, Philip Deeley & Kalvin Hodgeson (Midland SC) 15pts
8th 23228, Steve Orme & Elaine Herlihy (Redditch SC) 15pts
9th 20266, Michael Homer & Trevor Pearson (Midland SC) 16pts
10th 21582, Colin Gilbert & Alex Homer (Midland SC) 17pts