Enterprise Nationals at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club
by Bob Southworth 18 Aug 2004 08:02 BST
7-12 August 2004
Richard Estaugh and Pete Rowley win the 2004 Enterprise nationals © Janice Bottomley
The 2004 Speed Sails Enterprise Nationals were held at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club, Abersoch over the 7 – 12 August. This year saw an entry of 67 boats, including; 5 Indian boats, 2 Irish boats, 8 helms under 21, 7 lady helms, and 18 new faces at the Championship.
Two short races a day were scheduled, creating a 10 race series with 2 discards. The conditions over the week were predominantly light, however, racing was blown off on day one because of concerns from SCYC over the fleet launching through the surf on the beach.
Race one finally got underway on Monday in a light breeze. Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens finished 10th in last years Nationals so automatically became pathfinder for Race 1.
Early starters Mike Birch/Charles Bower rounded the windward mark in first, ahead of Jonathon/Karl Lye, Steve Blackburn/Kevin Law, Richard Estaugh/Pete Rowley.
Blackburn dropped out of the leading pack after hitting the windward mark. The second windward leg saw places changes in the leading pack as Estaugh and Rowley worked the way right to take the lead and win the first race. Martin Honnor/Simon Haighton finished second.
Three races were sailed on Tuesday in light and variable winds. In race 2 Sanjeev Singh Chava/Neeraj Sharma led the fleet around the windward mark, and maintained their lead until they rounded the windward mark on the next lap where they had to do a 720 turn, allowing Estaugh/Rowley to take the lead and Phil Kirk/James Askew to move into second place.
Leaders on the beat in Race 3 were Estaugh/Rowley and Alan Johnson with son Matt. Johnson/Johnson led at the windward mark followed by Estaugh/Rowley, Ges Brown/Craig Wheatley. These initial positions remained unchanged on the reaches and on downwind legs. On the 2nd beat Brown/Wheatley took the lead which they were able to increase to two boat lengths on the reaches. Brown/Wheatley went on to win with Estaugh/Rowley second and Johnson and Johnson third.
Pathfinder for Race 4 Jeremy Stephens/Lee Nankervis led at the windward mark by five boat lengths, from Birch/Bower and Honnor/Haighton. As the light breeze dropped to virtually nothing the run of the Olympic course became a nightmare to negotiate. Stephens/Nankervis were able to extend their lead as Honnor/Haighton passed Birch/Bower on the short beat to the finish.
The incredibly light breeze on Wednesday meant that after several postponements and an attempt by the Race Officer to get the fleet out to race that racing had to be postponed until Thursday. All was not lost. Some leading lights in the fleet gave informal talks to eager crowds on boat tuning. Whilst other sailors worked with their buddies to tune their boats.
Race 5 was sailed in a force 2 with a slight swell which was left from the previous night’s wind . Jane Scutt/Nick Scutt led the fleet up the first beat, with Ann Jackson/Alan Skeens, Estaugh/Rowley in hot pursuit. Positions remained unchanged until the following beat when Jackson/Skeens chose to go slightly further to the left hand side of the beat. Jackson and Skeens took the lead with Estaugh/Rowley in second unable to catch them. Birch and Bower finished third. Ann is the first lady to win a race at the Nationals.
There was a slight delay starting Race 6 as the wind had dropped and a thunder storm was approaching. The wind settled and the OD set a course. Once again Scutt/Scutt led from the start with Jonathan/Karl Lye hot on their heels. As the race progressed Lye/Lye overhauled Scutt/Scutt to open out a lead. Scutt/Scutt finished second with Nick Jackson and Alex Halliwell making quick progress through the fleet to snatch third place from Jackson/Skeens.
With 6 races sailed and one discard Richard Estaugh and Pete Rowley score line of 1, 1, 2, 7, 2 was enough to win them the championship. It was great to see so many juniors competing in the nationals with 3 helms under 21 finishing 6th, 12th and 13th.
The Enterprise Association would like to thank its sponsor Speed Sails who generously provided a prize for every entry in the daily draw (including a jib), and SCYC for running the event.
Overall Results:
1st Richard Estaugh/Pete Rowley - Chase SC
2nd Mike Birch/Charles Bower - West Lancs YC
3rd Alan Johnson/Matt Johnson - SCYC
4th Martin Honnor/Simon Haighton - Hallamshire SC
5th Nick Jackson/Alex Halliwell – Burghfield SC
6th Jonathan Lye/Karl Lye – Notts Co SC
Lady Helm Ann Jackson/Alan Skeens – Burghfield SC
Silver Fleet Charles Morrish/Hugh Sims-Williams
Bronze Fleet Lorry Young/Gerry Goodfellow
1st Overseas Helm SanjeevSingh Chavha/Neeraj Sharma – Indian Navy
1st Veteran Barry Moss/Julie Moore – Shustoke SC
1st Over 50 Alan Johnson/Matt Johnson SCYC
1st Under 21 helm Jonathon Lye/Karl Lye – Notts Co. SC
1st Under 18 Crew Charles Bower – West Lancs YC
1st Generation Alan Johnson/Matt Johnson SCYC
1st Husband /Wife Jane Scutt/Nick Scutt Middle Nene SC
New Faces Richard Pryke – Annabell Pryke – Ripon SC