Noble Marine Enterprise U21 Championship at Barnt Green Sailing Club

Enterprise Under 21 Championship at Barnt Green © Paula Southworth

Enterprise Under 21 Championship at Barnt Green © Paula Southworth

A patchy force 1 to 2 southerly breeze greeted the 12 competitors for the 2012 Enterprise under 21 National Championships sponsored by Noble Marine held at Barnt Green Sailing Club.

Race 1 saw Megan Adams and Beth Porter (WLYC) cross the line first only to have to do penalty turns for a start line infringement, meanwhile Scott Bilham and Jack Connann (Ely SC) crossed the line and immediately tacked on to port favouring the right hand side of the beat to arrive 1st at the windward mark with a 10-15 boat lead over Matt Venables and Libby Allen (Sutton SC / BCYC) in 2nd and Sam Woods and Rick Hayton (Glossup SC) in 3rd. By the start of the second lap Sam and Rick had moved up to 2nd and decided to go left up the beat rounding the mark 1st with Scott and Jack 2nd and Matt and Libby 3rd. On the last lap before the finish Megan and Beth went right up the beat gaining six places to move up in to 3rd place. Sam and Rick having extended their lead over the fleet finished over 2 minutes in front of Scott and Jack in 2nd, followed by Megan and Beth in 3rd.

Race 2 saw the fleet split up the first beat with those choosing the right hand side of the beat gaining the advantage, Rory and Callum MacKenzie (Ogston SC) rounded the windward mark 1st followed by Chris Winters and Helena Taylor (Midland SC) 2nd and Megan and Beth 3rd. Up the next beat Megan and Beth increased the pressure on Chris and Helena to take second place, with Sam and Rick closing fast to take 3rd at the windward mark pushing Chris and Helena down to 4th. However on the downwind legs further changes in the light and shifty wind saw Chris and Helena take back 2nd place with Sam and Rick maintaining 3rd. The battle continued at the front with many place changes throughout the race between the first three boats with Callum and Rory ultimately taking 1st place followed by Chris and Helena in 2nd and Sam and Rick in 3rd.

Race 3 saw an individual recall which resulted in four boats returning to the start line unsure of who had actually been over the line. The rest of the fleet continued to the windward mark which was rounded in 1st place by Chris and Helena followed by Callum and Rory in 2nd and James Morley and Oliver Thompson (Ulley SC) 3rd, however by the leeward mark Callum and Rory had moved in to the lead pushing Chris and Helena down to 2nd. The battle at the front continued up the next beat and saw Chris and Helena take back the lead to push Callum and Rory back to 2nd with Sam and Rick taking 3rd place pushing James and Oliver in to 4th. Further changes took place up the next beat which saw Sam and Rick round 1st followed by Chris and Helena 2nd and Callum and Rory in 3rd which were maintained to the finish.

Race 4 saw James and Oliver doing a penalty turn after a start line infringement, at the first mark Sam and Rick rounded 1st followed by Matt and Libby in 2nd and James and Oliver in 3rd these places were maintain until the second time at the windward mark which saw Sam and Rick round the mark in the wrong direction and have to unwind, allowing Matt and Libby to take the lead followed by Callum and Rory 2nd with Sam and Rick now in 3rd. Callum and Rory picked the shifts well on the third lap to take the lead with the pack close behind, Sam and Rick misjudged mark three and had to re-round dropping to 4th. Callum and Rory had extended their lead by the next time at the windward mark with Matt and Libby pulling up to 2nd and Sam and Rick retaking 3rd. The next time round Sam and Rick's approach to mark three was much improved and saw them take 2nd place ahead of Matt and Libby in 3rd. These places were maintained to the finish.

Race 5 saw Richard Abendstern and William Lomas (Toddbrook SC) having to do penalty turns for being over the line at the start. With the wind increasing the whole fleet decided to go left up the first beat which saw Sam and Rick round the mark 1st followed by Jack Lawson and Chris Morphet (Killington SC) in 2nd and Chris and Helena 3rd. On the down-wind legs Sam and Rick managed to extend their lead while the rest of the fleet bunched up behind resulting in a battle for 2nd place which at the top of the second beat was won by Chris and Helena with Jack and Chris rounding in 3rd and Callum and Rory in 4th. On the next lap Sam and Rick extended their lead still further and Jack and Chris pulled away from the pack behind leaving Callum and Rory, Chris and Helena along with James and Oliver to battle over 3rd, 4th and 5th places. With the final positions for the race ending up as Sam and Rick 1st, Jack and Chris 2nd, Callum and Rory 3rd, Chris and Helena 4th and James and Oliver 5th.

The Prize Giving concluded this very enjoyable event, prizes presented by Commodore Chris from Barnt Green. Enterprise Commodore Paul Young thanked the host club, Barnt Green (the Galley, Bar, Race Officer - Bob Suggit and team) and Bob and Paula Southworth (Enterprise Office) for organizing the event and producing the results. Sam Woods, the new U21's Champion presented the Commodore Chris with a glass plaque as a 'thank you' from the Enterprise Association.

Overall Results: