Enterprise Open at Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club
by Paul Young 9 May 2010 09:45 BST
2 May 2010
Enterprises at Earlswood Lakes © Gill Leiper
This event, the third in the 2010 Midland Area Double Chine Series sponsored by Speed Sails, was held at Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club, on Sunday 2nd May.
The eight boat fleet included visitors from Tamworth, Midland and Emberton Park Sailing Clubs who enjoyed a dry and cloudy day with a moderate to strong gusty North Easterly wind which produced few capsizes.
In the first race Mike Cossey and Christine Barron (Tamworth SC) led at the first windward mark, from Nigel Allso and Kate Brazier (Tamworth SC) second , Graham Bentley and Janet Butroid (Earlswood lakes SC) third and Paul Young and Iain Leiper (Midland SC) fourth.
At the second mark Paul and Iain managed to get the inside of Graham and Janet and then increased the gap on the following downwind leg. Positions were exchanged briefly for a time until the race settled down with Nigel and Kate first, Paul and Iain second and Mike and Christine third. These positions were then maintained to the finish.
The second race started after a short tea break on a new course, this time Nigel and Kate led at the first windward mark from Paul and Iain second, Mike and Christine third and Martin Bottomley and Megan Ward (Emberton Park SC) fourth.
Mike and Christine and Paul and Iain then battled for second and third places for a few laps until the race settled down again with Nigel and Kate first Paul and Iain second and Mike and Christine third. The race finished in that order with Nigel and Kate winning convincingly.
With the overall winner already decided the dramatic third race, started after an excellent lunch would sort out the remaining places. Sailed in the strongest winds of the day it saw only three boats finish. Nigel Allso had an unfortunate accident on the pontoon breaking his pelvis and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Paul and Iain led at the first mark with Mike and Christine hot on their heels, meanwhile Martin and Megan broke their tiller extension and had to retire. Paul and Iain, and Mike and Christine exchanged places several times over the first couple of laps until a spectacular capsize by Mike and Christine on the gybe mark in front of the clubhouse allowed Paul and Iain to relax a little. Paul and Iain won this race with Graham and Janet second and James Patterson and Paul Clark (Earlswood Lakes SC) third.
Kate Brazier thanked everyone at Earlswood for their help and the whole fleet wishes Nigel a speedy recovery.
Overall Results:
1st 20443, Nigel Allso / Kate Brazier (Tamworth SC) 2pts
2nd 22901, Paul Young / Iain Leiper (Midland SC) 3pts
3rd 22823, Mike Cossey /Christine Barron (Tamworth SC) 6pts
4th 15709, Graham Bentley / Janet Butroid (Earlswood Lake SC) 7pts
5th 19703, James Patterson /Paul Clark (Earlswood Lake SC) 8pts
6th 23243, Martin Bottomley / Megan Ward (Emberton Park/MSC) 8pts
7th= 23164, Dave Vanes / Ian Evans (Earlswood Lakes SC) 18pts
7th= EK, Mary Ann Richards / Bruce Richards (Earlswood Lakes) 18pts