Enterprise Masters Nationals at Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Enterprise Masters at Staunton Harold © Phill Honnor

Enterprise Masters at Staunton Harold © Phill Honnor

Enterprise Masters at Staunton Harold © Phill Honnor

Sponsored by Noble Marine Insurance

A dull wet but breezy day greeted a Masterly fleet of 40 boats as they arrived at Staunton Harold SC.

Race 1 was started in the rain with a cold Force 4 blowing from the North East over the Dam wall. Tim Sadler and Richard Sault Yorkshire Dales SC in a Speed FRP lead at the Windward mark with Alan Johnson crewed by Mat Johnson from South Caernarvonshire YC back in the Fleet. By the 2nd lap Johnson/Johnson had caught the leaders and took the lead on the penultimate 3rd lap to win from Sadler/Sault and home club sailor Nigel Pepperdine crewed by selected young athlete Steve Graham. Nigel had promoted his regular crew and wife to manage the Galley for the weekend! Last years Champion Nigel Bird was down in 9th place getting to grips with his Family boat a 25 year old Avacraft.

Race 2 in less breeze saw Tony Woods and Lisa Woods first round the Windward mark from Pepperdine/Graham and Martin Honnor crewed by Charles Bower from Ogston SC. Pepperdine/Graham lost out in the shifty conditions but Johnson/Johnson excelled and pulled out a big lead from Sadler/Sault who got within 20 meters as the wind dropped on the off wind legs but Johnson/Johnson held on for their second win to lead overnight.

Race 3 on Sunday morning saw the weather change to sunshine and a Force 3-4. John Woodward crewed by Chris Winter from Bartley SC lead round the first mark from past Champion Nick Jackson crewed by Daughter Rachel from Burghfield SC and Nigel Bird crewed by Daughter Sam Bird from Papercourt SC. Woodward/Winter lead for two laps but lost out big time as Bird/Bird pulled through to win from Pepperdine/Graham, and Jackson/Jackson. Johnson/Johnson were back in 7th but rivals Sadler/Sault were even further down in 16th position.

Race 4 in sunshine and a lighter breeze saw a General Recall with Woodward/Winter taking a Black Flag. On the second start the favoured pin end did not pay and boats from the “wrong end” lead with Brian Garrison crewed by Tim Naylor from Hallamshire SC. In front from Phil Snewin crewed by Chris Blundell from Chester SC and Charles Adams crewed by Oli Hilliker from West Lancs YC. These three boats pulled away to for a leading group with Johnson/Johnson down in 6th and Sadler/Sault 11th. On the past the club on the penultimate lap patchy conditions saw Snewin/Blundell dropped as Johnson/Johnson latched on to the leaders. On the last beat Johnson/Johnson took the lead to win from Garrison/Naylor and Adams/Hilliker.

Johnson took his second Masters title sailing the thirty year old Lufkin hull. A happy! Woods/Woods won the Married Couples Trophy with Lisa taking the Lady Crew Trophy and Ann Jackson crewed by Alan Skeens winning the Ladies Title by one point.

The Masters dinner was prepared primarily by Nigel and Diana Pepperdine supported by an excellent team from SHSC. This dinner was appreciated by all. The Champion, Alan expressed thanks and appreciation to SHSC particularly to Nigel and Diana, OOD Colin Davis and the Race Committee Team. He also thanked Bob and Paula Southworth for the work and support they give to the Association.

Finally a special thanks to Phill Honnor who has supplied some excellent photographs of the event which will be available on CD from the Hamble Office and Douglas Gill, North and Maypole for their help with the raffle.

Overall Results: