Enterprise Eastern Area Championships at Dabchicks Sailing Club
by Brian Cumming 6 Jun 2012 10:10 BST
2-3 June 2012
Six visitors joined the two Dabchicks home entries at West Mersea planning to have three races each day. They were greeted by very calm conditions on the launching area by the lifeboat station but on the way out to the race course area, it dawned on all that it was more like a winter series than a flaming June weekend!
The wind was up to about 16 knots from the east and was against the ebbing tide, which built up a considerable swell. The enterprises watched as the OK fleet sped off up to the first mark. The race committee decided to give a ten minute gap between starts so the OKs were well on the way down wind before the ents got away. It was soon very clear that it was going to be very close racing between the first three boats as after three races Ann Jackson / Alan Skeens had a one point lead over Jane / Nick Scutt who had a two point advantage over Phil / Laura Bevan.
Two boats had capsized in race one but Ian and Sue Simpson had a very good day to finish all three races. Sadly they did not sail on Sunday due to family commitments. The visitors had an interesting ride back to shore, seeing lots of Mersea mud, as the tide by then was very low.
Sunday dawned windier, misty, which then turned to rain. The wind was from the same direction but stronger, about 18 to 20 knots. Six boats set out for the race course, but two decided that it was not for them and returned quickly. The battle between the same three boats was very close again with Jane & Nick just winning the second race of the day. This turned out to be the last race as the race committee decided that as the tide had turned it would kick up an even bigger chop.
Jane and Ann both had 6 points with two first places with two second places each, the Championship was won on the result of the last race sailed.
Overall Results:
1st Jane and Nick Scutt (Middle Nene S.C.)
2nd Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens (Burghfield S.C.)
3rd Phil snd Laura Bevan (Grafham Water S.C.)
4th Scott Bilham and Jack Camma (Ely S.C.)
5th Kevin Bilham and Jammie Camman (Ely S.C.)
6th Ian and Sue Simpson (Alexandra Y.C.)
7th Brian and Linda Cumming (Dabchicks S.C.)
8th Peter and Elaine Dolling (Dabchicks S.C.)