Enterprise Midland Area Championships at Middle Nene Sailing Club

Alan Johnson and Alan Roberts at the Enterprise Midland Area Championships © Ken Long

Enterprise Midland Area Championships at Middle Nene © Ken Long

This joint Midland/Eastern event the first in the 2014 Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine Series sponsored by Allen Brothers was held at Middle Nene Sailing Club over the weekend.

The twenty two boat fleet included visitors from Ely, Emberton Park, Etherow, Hunts, Leigh and Lowton, Midland, Northampton, Ogston, Roundhill, Rugby and Daventry, SCYC, South Staffs, Sutton, Thames Estuary, Ulley and Yorkshire Dales sailing clubs, who enjoyed racing in the dry warm but overcast conditions.

The South westerly wind a force 2/3 gave excellent conditions with the usual shifts and bends making it like a game of Snakes and Ladders with many place changes throughout.

The first race saw Alan Johnson crewed by Alan Roberts (SCYC/Royal Navy) win the start on the port biased line making an excellent start from the pin end and soon after crossing the whole fleet on port tack. They held the lead for a couple of laps. Jon Woodward crewed by Karen Alexander (South Staffs/MNSC) later exchanged the lead several times with Alan and Alan. Jon and Karen took the lead again at the last mark and held this to the finish, Tim Sadler crewed by Richard Sault (Yorkshire Dales) snatched second, Steve Graham crewed by Alex Halliwell (Northampton/WLYC) were third with the two Alan's running aground finishing fourth.

After an excellent lunch the second race got under way on a new course. Martin Honner crewed by Jess Law (Ogston) rounded the windward mark first with Matt Velamail crewed by Tim Brownell (Ulley), Mark Lunn crewed by Steve Blackburn (Leigh and Lowton) and Jon and Karen close behind. However the two Alan's read the following downwind leg well and took the lead.

After much close racing Tim and Richard banged the right hand corner on the beat to snatch the lead on the fourth lap which they held to the finish. Martin and Jess were second with Mark and Steve third and the two Alan's fourth.

The third race was sailed back to back with the second, on another new course; with the wind strength increasing causing several capsizes. The change from starboard to port rounding of the windward mark appeared to leave some of the fleet confused and after a chaotic first mark; it was Matt and Tim who took the lead. Matt and Tim pulled away and continued to lead for three laps, until they were overtaken by Mark and Steve on a downwind leg. In some very close racing that followed, the two Alan's stress tested their flyaway jib stick to the limit in the last round in a incident with Martin and Jess.

Mark and Steve won this race with Matt and Tim second and Steve and Alex third. Martin and Jess were fourth.

After a great day on the water the fleet returned to the clubhouse were Middle Nene's reputation of great hospitality was again evident with a fantastic curry and several beers. A local female singer rounded off an excellent evening.

Enterprise Midland Area Championships at Middle Nene - photo © Ken Long

On Sunday morning the wind speed started to increase. Race four got away after a general recall, with Martin Davies crewed by Kate Jessup (Rugby and Daventry/MNSC) making an excellent start from the starboard end. Neil Barrett crewed by Sophie Jones (Round Hill) rounded the windward mark first and led the fleet for the first lap.

On a challenging next beat the two Alan's took the lead with Jon and Karen close behind. Behind a group of several boats exchanged places constantly. The two Alan's won this race from Jon and Karen close behind. After a gap Steve and Alex finished third and Mark and Steve fourth.

Race five saw Tim and Richard lead the fleet with Matt and Tim second with Mark and Steve third and Steve and Alex fourth. The wind speed had now increased again with a gust of 29mph wiping out five boats simultaneously on the penultimate lap. After much place changing the race finished in this order.

The racing was incredibly close with only three points separating the top five boats overall. Steve Blackburn the winning crew thanked everyone at Middle Nene SC for a great weekend's racing.

Overall Results: