Allen Brothers Enterprise Nationals at Brixham Yacht Club - Interim Report

Jeremy and Rebecca Stephens at the Allen Brothers Enterprise Nationals © Gareth Fudge / www.boatographic.co.uk

Allen Brothers Enterprise Nationals at Brixham 2016 © Gareth Fudge / www.boatographic.co.uk

After three days of racing and five races the Allen Brothers Enterprise National Championship is well under way with Tim Sadler and Richard Sault holding a convincing lead so far after winning the first two races. Jeremy and Rebecca Stephens are currently in second place followed by Phil Ford and Jane Humpage in third. The first lady helm at this stage is Alice Allen with Sharky crewing in sixth place. After race six, being sailed today, a discard will apply which will shake positions up quite a bit.

Race two saw Johnny Allen and James Hobson leading around the windward mark, eventually finishing third behind Tim and Salty who sailed through to win, and Ges Brown and Julie Moore in second.

Not wanting to be outdone by her husband, Alice and Sharky initially led race three and ended up in third place just behind winners Jon Woodward and Karen Alexander with Nick and Rachel Jackson in second.

Race four was won by a smiling Phil Bevan with daughter Laura crewing. Three boats were disqualified from this race for hitting the gate boat.

Jeremy and Rebecca won race five with Paul Hobson and Abigail Honnor second and Phil and Jane in third place.

A Crews' race was sailed after race five in which ten boats competed. The winner was Natalie Roach crewed by brother Darren. Second was Salty with Tim crewing, and third was Rebecca crewed by her father, Jeremy.

Conditions have been fair but today's lay day has been cancelled in favour of sailing two races as the forecast is for stronger winds on Thursday and possibly very light winds on Friday.

Monday was designated Pinnell & Bax Race Day and as such Steve Graham awarded bags, rash vests and various other P&B goodies to competitors who were just outside the prizes. Many thanks to Steve and Pinnell & Bax.

Tuesday was Hyde Sails Race Day and also the "Fifties" Fancy Dress party, disco and BBQ. At the prizegiving, Dave Hall awarded an array of great Hyde Sails goodies to the overall race winners and the Silver and Bronze winners. He had also donated a new jib for which a draw was held. The lucky winner was Richard Leach. Many thanks also to Dave and Hyde Sails.

Fancy dress party during the Allen Brothers Enterprise Nationals - photo © BYC

After the prizegiving all the Grease style rock n rollers, teddy boys, Hi de hi campers, Audrey Hepburns, etc took to the dance floor and partied on to the fantastic fifties disco music. It was certainly a party to remember!

Moving forwards, the auction for a new, fully rigged Selden mast is up to £450 and will be presented at Thursday's Selden Race Day prizegiving. Bidding for this is online at www.sailenterprise.co.uk until midnight today. Proceeds from the auction will be split between Sail4Cancer, the Enterprise charity of 2016 and the Enterprise Association.

There is also another auction under way for a limited edition 2016 Olympic poster signed by the GB team, which was very kindly donated by North Sails. All proceeds from this auction will go to Sail 4 Cancer. Bidding is up to £110 and further bids may be lodged with Carol Ford at by midnight Thursday. The poster will be presented at the main prizegiving on Friday night.

We are not only very thankful to the sponsors mentioned above, but also to our title sponsor, Allen Brothers, who have also been most generous. There is an army of white Allen t-shirts marauding around Brixham this week!

Steve Graham and Alex Halliwell at the Allen Brothers Enterprise Nationals - photo © Gareth Fudge / www.boatographic.co.uk

Results after day 3: