Enterprise Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

The penultimate SE Area Enterprise meeting on 12th October found Frensham with its best wind direction from the north east - although it was an act of faith in the weather forecast that the winds would arrive after a still misty start. The faithful amounted to 9 home boats and 5 visitors.

There was only a slight delay in the start but the increasing wind force did mean that the GP14 fleet rapidly caught up the tail of the Enterprise fleet, causing some jostling.

In the low wind conditions the first race did seem to becoming a procession and it looked as though the old guard were going to be beaten by Neil Barrat and Sophie Jones. However the fleet closed up on the last run and there was close racing up the final beat until a favourable shift near the end let David Beaney, with Sarah Hirst-Malin, and Ann Jackson, with Alan Skeens, through to take the first 2 places.

After lunch the wind had increased and backed to almost northerly leading to a course revision by the race officer, Chris Ellis. This saw the fleet split very much into a trailing pack and a lead pack. David Beaney established an early lead which he never relinquished. Sadly Neil and Sophie were deprived of the opportunity to redress the first result after a terminal impact with a GP14 which was on another leg of the course – although this was the only significant clash between the different fleets. This allowed Philip and Lesley Johnston to take a 2nd followed by Ann Jackson with Keith and Rebecca Videlo taking a 4th again.

The final race gave even better conditions with some significant but smooth shifts allowing tactical advantages to be gained. The depleted fleet of 10 remained much tighter in this race with a lot of positions changing. David lost badly at the first mark rounding and was close to the back of the fleet and Ann Jackson took an early lead. As David rejoined the leading group, Keith Videlo found stronger wind on the far left of the run and moved into the lead, but on the next beat Ann Jackson found the windshift to restore her lead. Philip Johnston was denied the opportunity of gaining a podium place by abandoning ship, something about toe-straps in the wrong place. With Ann disappearing into the distance this left Keith Videlo keeping a wathcfull eye on David to hold 2nd place to the finish.

David Beaney and Sarah Hirst-Malin's 1st gave them the Frensham Packard Cup and yet another result to cement their lead in the Thames Valley Bowl.

After the race all were happy to warm up in the clubhouse for a convivial tea with the prize giving by the Commodore, Keith Videlo, as the rain fell outside.

Overall Results: