Enterprise Midland Double Chine Series at Emberton Park Sailing Club

Enterprise Midland Double Chine Series at Emberton Park - winners Luke Fisher with crews Ethan Fell/Jack Fell © Serena Stewardson

Enterprise Midland Double Chine Series at Emberton Park - second overall Paul Young with crew Megan Ward © Serena Stewardson

Enterprise Midland Double Chine Series at Emberton Park - third overall Grahame Yates with crew Adam Fisher © Serena Stewardson

This event the ninth in the 2014 Midland Area Double Chine Series sponsored by Allen was held at Emberton Park Sailing Club on Sunday 12th October. The six boat fleet included visitors from Midland SC and Redditch SC were greeted on arrival by mist and a complete lack of wind.

After a short postponement for the mist to clear and a light wind to emerge race one got underway in bright sunshine. Luke Fisher crewed by Ethan Fell (Emberton Park SC) got the best start and led at the first mark from Paul Young crewed by Megan Ward (Midland SC) in second, with youngster Jack Bryant crewed by Derek Bryant a very close third. Both Luke and Ethan and also Paul and Megan then slowly broke clear of the rest of the fleet.

Paul and Megan challenged Luke and Ethan several times but never quite managed to pass. In a close finish Luke and Ethan won by a couple of boat lengths from Paul and Megan. Grahame Yates crewed by Adam Fisher (Emberton Park SC) were third a little bit behind.

The second race was sailed back to back with the first. There was now a new course which used all of the lake. In a slightly stronger wind Paul and Megan got the best start from the heavily port biased line to lead at the windward mark. Luke and Ethan soon escaped from the chaos on the start line to round second close behind them. Paul and Megan then opened up a lead downwind whilst Luke and Ethan and Grahame and Adam battled for second. Positions closed up over the next two laps.

On a tricky beat on the narrow side of the island both Luke and Ethan and also Grahame and Adam passed Paul and Megan. Paul and Megan however soon regained second place and these positions were held until the final beat. In a thrilling finish Paul and Megan briefly took the lead and a tacking duel continued to the end. Luke and Ethan recovered well to win this race with Paul and Megan a very close second. Grahame and Adam were third.

After a fantastic hot roast lunch with a choice of three puddings the third race took place. With the overall winner already decided, this race would sort out the minor places. Sailed on another new course in the best wind of the day. This time it was fourteen year old Jack Bryant crewed by Derek who got the best start from a starboard biased line to lead at the first mark. Second was Luke now crewed by Ethan's brother Jack with Grahame and Adam third and Paul and Megan fourth. Jack and Derek held the lead for almost a lap.

At the bottom mark Grahame and Adam went the lake side of the island whilst everyone else went the club side. Grahame and Adam took the lead briefly until Luke and Jack took over. Two legs later Paul and Megan then overtook Luke and Jack to leeward downwind near the gybe mark to take the lead which they held for several laps. In a thrilling last beat Luke and Jack applied the pressure, in the following tacking duel Luke and Jack snatched victory just yards from the finish line. Grahame and Adam were third.

Thank to everyone at Emberton Park for a good days racing.

Overall Results:

Enterprise Midland Double Chine Series at Emberton Park - a close finish to race 2 - photo © Serena Stewardson