Enterprise Open at Pilkington Sailing Club

Enterprises at Pilkington © PSC

Enterprises at Pilkington © PSC

Enterprises at Pilkington © PSC

The build-up to the Enterprise Open Meeting starts about 2 months for some of the local sailors who have been training themselves up to win the event. So when everybody arrived they weren’t to happy to see a South Westerly wind changing to westerly and wind strength of 17mph gusting to 40mph. This created difficult and challenging sailing, as this is a difficult direction even in a force 2 but with gusts at force 7. This event promised to be exciting if nothing else for Pilkington Challenge Trophy.

Before the start of race 1 Karen & Cliff, who are well known for their food provided butties enjoyed by the masses. The first race soon approached. After the water based start Royston Taggart & Izzy Sowley (Pilkington) led from the start. Their first tack didn’t go so well and capsized after a schoolboy error (Jib was still cleated), Tim Finch & Alex Dromegoole (Chester) moved into first. Ed & Diane Thomas (Pilkington) were sailing very steady in 2nd Place. Karen Morris & Lisa Woods (Etherow) were in third, until one of the biggest gusts blew them over as if they were made from Lego. Tim unfortunately went round the wrong buoy on the 2nd lap and by the time he had corrected himself he was now in 3rd. The race soon settled there after and Ed had a commanding lead till the third lap. Ed was sailing very steady with minimal risk, which enabled Richard & Sister Ruth Critchley to catch up to Ed very quickly. Richard was unable to pass as the beats where too short and Ed was quicker off wind.

Dinner was served; Hot pot was enjoyed by all with desert for the really hungry. Race 2 soon approached. The OOD, Bill Wilcox had set a new course and decided to use our island as part of the course. You had to think which way to go round the island. There was only one way round the island, as buoy X was further right than normal. Unfortunately as you passed the island you was hit by gust funneling in between the main land, amplifying the gust which could cause sudden disaster for the jibe waiting ahead. At the start Steve Blackburn & Lisa Woods (Pilkington) decided to capsize on the start line in front of Ed & Diane. Ed tacked and gave him a good angle for the first mark and was able to shout starboard as he rounded the windward buoy in first. Again Richard was in second with Royston in third. Royston later on in the race broke his kicking strap and subsequently retired. Tim Finch was now holding third. Steady Eddie & Diane went onto win the race and the Open Meeting with Richard holding onto second for the moment. Steve & Lisa had managed to get used to the conditions and finished in third.

Race 3 soon approached and Ed and Diane didn’t sail the last race due to winning the event. Steve again was good on the start line and managed to go round the windward mark the wrong way. Richard followed which help Tim & John Berry (Etherow) move into 2nd and 3rd. Steve & Richard unwound themselves to find they had given the other competitors a good lead. Steve needed a win to finish the Open in second and Richard needed to stop him. Richard stuck to Steve like glue for 2 laps but Richard made a mistake on the 2nd beat and Steve increased his lead from Richard. John Berry capsized, which meant Steve was now in second. Steve soon caught up with Tim on the last lap and overtook him, 2 buoys from the finish to finish first, Tim second and Richard third. A Special thank you to Pilkington Sailing Club for supplying a truly wonderful event.

Overall Results:

1st Ed & Diane Thomas (Pilkington) 23121
2nd Steve Blackburn & Lisa Woods (Pilkington) 21350
3rd Richard & Ruth Critchley (Pilkington) 23159
4th Tim Finch & Alex Dromegoole (Chester) 23050
5th Royston Taggart & Izzy Sowley (Pilkington) 22814