Enterprise Open at Etherow Country Park Sailing Club

Enterprises at the Etherow Country Park SC open meeting © Alan Blackburn

Enterprises at the Etherow Country Park SC open meeting © Alan Blackburn

Enterprises at the Etherow Country Park SC open meeting © Alan Blackburn

As we arrived at ECPSC the weather was gusty and warm. The lake was very small with 2 little islands. The lake must be 500yds long and 75yds wide. 15 competitors turned up, a lot of boats for such a small lake. As we had got changed a glass of sherry was handed out for us. Which did warm our bellies.

Race 1 started a bit of confusion at the start. Quite a few sailors didn’t know where the start line was only Tony & Sam Woods ECPSC and Charlie Adams & Tom Hewitt WLYC knew and started well, behind them were Steve Blackburn and Nick Hampson, Phil Howarth & Faye Clarke and Edward Pilling and David Boustead from Arnside SC. The wind on the lake was chaotic Sometimes you where on a beat and other times you where on a run or the wind would just circle around you on every leg of the course. As the race progressed Steve Blackburn overtook Charlie but did not realise it was to the finish and finished 3rd Charlie was 2nd and Tony won the race by a few yards.

After lunch hot pot or shepherds pie Race 2 started. Tony Woods again got of the line first to the windward buoy, Alan & Roo Johnson in second and Charlie in third.

Steve Blackburn was over the line and went back and started again in the thick of the pack. The race really got going with all boats trying to cope with the testing conditions. Even Alan Johnson capsized before the race with one or two others through the race. As the race was reaching the end Steve Blackburn had moved up to second with Tony woods still in the lead as Tony jibed on the second to last buoy he capsized. Letting Steve & Nick through to win the Race. Charles was 2nd and Alan was 3rd.

Race 3 Again Tony Woods got away well With Alan & Charlie behind them. Edward Pilling was in 4th again Tony Woods capsized. Letting Alan & Charlie Through. Steve moved into 3rd but could not catch the leaders as the fleet had spread out. Edward also stayed in 4th. Again there where lots of Capsizing going on with the squally wind. The race came to and end with Charlie Adams winning the race and the open Meeting. Alan Johnson finished 2nd and 3rd in the Open Meeting and Steve Blackburn finished 2nd in the Open.

All though the wind was very testing everybody really enjoyed this open. A big thanks to Etherow Country Park SC for holding the event.

Overall Results: