Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine Series at Nottingham Sailing Club

Nigel Nurse and Julie Gadsby during the Enterprise Open at Nottingham © Peter Staples

Paul Young and Aimee Allsopp during the Enterprise Open at Nottingham © Peter Staples

This event the seventh in the Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine Series was held at Nottingham Sailing Club on Sunday 11th October 2015. The seven boat fleet included three visitors from Midland SC and Sutton SC.

The conditions were excellent with warm sunshine and a steady Easterly breeze blowing straight down the river.

In the first race Paul Young crewed by Aimee Allsopp (Midland SC) got the best start and led up the first beat with Mike Cossey crewed by Christine Barron (Sutton SC) close behind. Mike and Christine got inside water at the windward mark to take the lead. On the long run back down the river against the current, Paul and Aimee stayed nearer the Northern bank and passed Mike and Christine who sailed nearer the middle. By the leeward mark Paul and Aimee were in the lead and built on this throughout the race to take the win. Mike and Christine remained in second. Behind these two boats the battle for third was intense with Phil Harrison crewed by Emma Coleman (Midland SC) and Nigel Nurse crewed by Julie Gadsby (Nottingham SC) changing places constantly. At the finish Phil and Emma beat Nigel and Julie by six boat lengths to take third place.

After an excellent chilli for lunch the second race was started on the same course. This time it was Mike and Christine who got the best start, however the first beat was really close with Paul and Aimee and also Phil and Emma in contention.Mike and Christine rounded the windward mark first with Phil and Emma second and Paul and Aimee third. Downwind it was all close with these three boats all neck and neck. Mike and Christine rounded the leeward mark first despite pressure from Paul and Aimee close behind. On the second beat Paul and Aimee snatched the lead near the bank, which they extended throughout the race to win. Second were Mike and Christine and third were Phil and Emma.

Running neck and neck in race 2 during the Enterprise Open at Nottingham - photo © Peter Staples

With first place already decided the third race would decide the second and third positions. A large river cruiser coming towards the fleet on the first beat made things interesting. Mike and Christine held the lead for a while rounding the windward mark first ahead of Paul and Aimee. Later they exchanged the lead a couple of times until Paul and Aimee slipped past on the second lap. More large river traffic made things interesting again, on the third lap however Paul and Aimee held their nerve to finish first again. Mike and Christine were second and Phil and Emma third some distance behind.

Winning helm Paul Young thanked everyone involved at Nottingham Sailing club for a great days racing.

Paul Young and Aimee Allsopp win the Enterprise Open at Nottingham - photo © Ken Hemsell

Overall Results: