Gul Enterprise Masters Championships at Northampton Sailing Club Day 1

Gul Enterprise Masters Championships 2014 © Anthony York / www.chunkypics.co.uk

Gul Enterprise Masters Championships 2014 © Anthony York / www.chunkypics.co.uk

29 boats arrived for the Gul Watersports sponsored Masters Championships at Northampton SC. After bacon sandwiches and the briefing the 58 sailors launched into a gentle force 3.

Race 1

The first race start was victim to a general recall, the black flag was posted up. With the fleet holding back for the second start, Ian Pinnell and Steve Graham(P&B) tried to port tack the fleet (obviously after 14 years away from the enterprise fleet, Ian was keen to make his mark on the event) but their plans were annihilated by Martin and Abi Honnor (Norths). At the top mark Alice Allen and Sharkey (Norths) lead, Phil Bevan and James Morley (HD) in second, Phil Ford and Will Allen (Norths) in third and Paul Hobson and Libby Allen in forth.

Meanwhile it was looking interesting at the back of the fleet as key runners and riders for the championships were having a close battle to get back to the front. Mark Lunn and Steve Blackburn (Speeds), Tim Sadler and Richard Salt (P&B), Pete Lawson and Gareth Balfour (Sailblades) were making their advances in this key part of the race.

Back at the front, Paul Hobson and Libby Allen had gained the lead and we're pulling out a good distance on chasing boats Phil and James and Alice and Sharkey.

On the third windward mark, north sails are dominating the race with the top five boats, with Martin and Abi and Gez Brown and Julie Moore have a solid beat.

Mark And Steve began looking good fighting their way back into the top 5. At the finish Paul and Libby take the first bullet of the day, 2nd Phil and Will, 3rd Alice and Sharkey, 4th Martin and Abbi, 5th Gez and Julie, 6th Phil and James, 7th Mark and Steve, 8th Tim and Salty, 9th Johnny and Karen, 10th Nick and crew, and 11th Ian and Steve round up the top 11.

Race 2

Race 2 starts with another general recall, the race officer posted a black flag. Lisa Woods and Karen brotherton win the leeward end of the line.

Nick Jackson and Freya Scutt lead at the windward mark, 2nd Mark and Steve, 3rd Nelly and Steve, 4th Lisa and Karen, 5th Paul and Libby, 6th Alice and Sharkey.

On the first lap Nick holds the lead with Mark and Steve chasing in second, meanwhile the sail boss' of Ian Pinnell and Paul Hobson are battling out for third.

Mark and Steve take the lead with chimp and Libby second, 3rd Nick and Freya, 4th Nelly and Steve, 5th Alice and Sharkey. These five are pulling out from the chasing pack led by Lisa and Karen and Tim and Salty.

With the breeze starting to pick up and the rain setting in, Mark and Steve lead the windward mark with a 25 second gap to Paul and Libby. 3rd Nick and Freya, 4th Alice and Sharkey, 5th Nelly and Steve, 6th Martin and Abbi.

Meanwhile further back, Tim and Salty, Phil and Will, and Gaz and Julie are having flirtatious interactions to seal out the top 10.

Mark and Steve take second race bullet, 2nd Paul Hobson and Libby, 3rd Nick And Freya, 4th Martin and Abi, 5th Ian and Steve, 6th Alice and Sharkey Time for lunch with the third race at 3.30

Race 3

Wind has built slightly for race three and the fleet get away cleanly for the start. Phil Ford and Will Allen round the mark first, 2nd chimp and Libby, 3rd Martin and Abbi, 4th Ian and Steve, 5th Gez and Julie.

Paul takes the lead around the reach mark, with Phil and Will behind and Martin and Abi leading the rest of the pack.

At the second windward mark, the three north powered boats hold the lead with the Pinnell and bax sails of Tim and Salty and Nelly and Steve chasing hard in forth and fifth. Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens are coming through to get into contention of the race.

The sailboats sponsored team of Mark Lunn and Steve Blackburn then began putting their foot down climbing into top 6 position from mid fleet. With Ann and Alan slipping into 7th and Alice and Sharkey in 8th, the title for top female helm in this race was up for close contest in now planing conditions.

Race 3 Overall Paul and Libby 1st, Phil and Will 2nd, Martin and Abi 3rd, Tim and Salty 4th, Mark and Steve 5th, Ann and Alan 6th, Ian and Steve 7th, Nick and Freya 8th, Alice and Sharkey 9th and Phil and James 10th. One more race today, can chimp continue his domination?

Race 4 Race four has started in the sunniest conditions of the day.

Round the first windward mark, Chimp and Libby 1st, Mark and Steve 2nd, Tim and Salty 3rd, Phil and James 4th, Ian and Steve 5th, Gez and Julie 6th, Ann and Alan 7th and John and Karen 8th.

Tim and Salty take over third as Martin and Abi make an early retirement.

Back at the front on the second lap Mark and Steve are making Paul and Libby really work to hold theirselves as the important fight for the last bullet and overnight lead ensues.

Mark and Steve gain at the windward mark with Paul and Libby up their transom.

Chimp and Libby head to the breezy righthand wind while Mark and Steve hold the left. Who will come good at the leeward mark?

Mark and Steve narrowly round in first with Ann and Alan in third at the leeward mark.

To finish, Mark and Steve 1st, Paul and Libby 2nd, Tim and Salty 3rd, Gez and Julie 4th, Nelly and Steve 5th, Ann and Alan 6th, Phil and Will 7th, Lisa and Karen 8th, Johnny and Karen 9th, Nick and Clio 10th.

End of day's racing, masters dinner tonight!

Results after Day 1: