Enterprise November Plate at Southport Sailing Club

The November Plate was contested at Southport © Tony Leeson

The November Plate was contested at Southport © Tony Leeson

Clear skies and bright sunshine greeted the competitors to Southport sailing club for the annual November Plate Enterprise open event. It felt like Winter had arrived, albeit without strong wind which was more like an icy draught (force 1-2) shifting North to North Easterly, wafting down the Victorian streets of the town onto the lake giving not only the OD a headache trying to set a course with a beat, but a good challenge for the 9 visiting boats.

Fuelled with tea, coffee and bacon butties the teams hit the water for race 1.

The fleet showed their competitiveness by fighting for position on the line and set off up the whole length of the lake for the first beat in a tight group. Ent 23310 Matt Velamail from Ulley in Sheffield (our furthest traveller) led the race showing local lads Mark Lunn and Steve Blackburn how it's done until the end of lap 3 of 4, when Matt cut the corner of the island was caught out by the lee. Mark and Steve took advantage and achieved their first bullet.

Special of the day, meatballs and pasta warmed the fleet and prepared them for races 2 and 3.

A change of course to reflect yet another change in the breeze for race 2 saw close racing for the top three places; Mark Lunn and Steve Blackburn achieving their second win in the ever reducing, fluky winds.

Race 3 and 2nd and 3rd places were still up for grabs. This time the course was a lot shorter to reflect the dying wind. 7 boats started, 6 boats finished, places changed quite a lot during the race, but none more so than right at the end of the final lap due to a "hook" finish, meaning that boats rounded the last mark of the course and then sailed back to that finish line. The race leaders unfortunately went to sail back up the beat to mark 1 and in the process went from 1st to third as the 2nd and third placed Ents tacked off to sail for the finish line.

Packed away and defrosting, the prize giving took place in the warmth of the club house and included the North West Top Helm award which was won by Mark Lunn & Steve Blackburn.

Overall Results: