Enterprise Midland Double Chine Series at Redditch Sailing Club

This event, the twelfth and final event of the 2013 in the 2013 Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine Series sponsored by Speed Sails (full results below), was held at Redditch Sailing Club on Saturday 19th October.

A mild but overcast day with a light to moderate South Westerly wind greeted the visitors from Emberton Park, Midland, Sutton and Ulley Sailing Clubs.

The first race saw Matt Velamail crewed by Tim Brownell (Ulley SC) over the line at the start; despite returning to start correctly they rounded the first windward mark in the lead with Mike Cossey crewed by Christine Barron (Sutton SC) several boat lengths behind. Mike and Christine covered Matt and Tim on the long run and took the lead briefly at the leeward mark. Excellent sailing on the next beat saw Matt and Tim regain the lead which they held to the finish.

Mike and Christine and Paul Young crewed by Phil Harrison (Midland SC) battled for second place exchanging positions many times however Mike and Christine eventually pulled away finishing second. On the last run to the finish things got exciting as Greg Croydon crewed by Gail Ranford (Redditch SC) and Dave Jackson crewed by Hilary Farmiloe (Redditch SC) caught up. Paul and Phil held their nerve to finish third with Dave and Hilary fourth and Greg and Gail fifth very close behind.

The second race was sailed back to back with the first on the same course. Matt and Tim and also Ben Eaves and Sean Anderson (Redditch SC) were both premature starters and had to return to the start. Mike and Christine lead the fleet away but it was once again Matt and Tim who led at the first windward mark. Second were Mike and Christine with Dave and Hilary third. Dave and Hilary passed Mike and Christine on a downwind leg to the next mark.

Paul and Phil passed both Greg and Gail and also Ben and Sean at a busy leeward mark after the long downwind leg to gain fourth and also passed Dave and Hilary at the start of the next beat to gain third. Matt and Tim extended their lead to win comfortably. Despite Paul and Phil challenging Mike and Christine on several occasions, Mike and Christine held the advantage to finish second with Paul and Phil close behind. Gregg and Gail finished fourth.

The third race started after an excellent lunch on a new course. With first place already decided this race would decide the other places with the competition still open. This race saw a clean start. Matt and Tim once again rounded the first windward mark in the lead, followed by Mike and Christine and then Paul and Phil. Mike and Christine covered Matt and Tim and pushed them out into calm patch. Paul and Phil seized the opportunity and sneaked into first place, which they held for a lap building up a sizeable gap.

Later Matt and Tim found more pressure and passed Paul and Phil to take the lead once more extending this to take their third bullet. Paul and Phil held second until at the start of the last run when an incident with Dave and Hilary saw them get past. Despite Paul and Phil's best efforts to catch them on the run, Dave and Hilary held out to beat Paul and Phil by inches snatching second place in this race and third place overall.

Winning crew Tim Brownell thanked everyone at Redditch Sailing club for a good days racing. The Speed Sails Double Chine Midland Area prizegiving will follow the area AGM to be held at Midland Sailing Club 2.30pm on Sunday 24th November.

Redditch Open Meeting Results:

Midland Area Double Chine Series Overall 2013: