Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals at Barnt Green Sailing Club

Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals © Paul Young & Phil Harrison

Esther Bowdler & Rebecca Stephens, lady helm winner in the Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals © Paul Young & Phil Harrison

Ben Hill and Jordan Porter, under 18 winners in the Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals © Paul Young & Phil Harrison

The 2015 Enterprise Youth National Championship attracted a quality fleet of 10 boats, which included visitors from as far afield as Looe and Newcastle contesting the event. Racing got under way at mid-day on the Saturday in a northerly force 2-3 making for some great racing.

Race 1 started with an individual recall, which saw Adam Titcham crewed by Edward Onions (Barnt Green SC) over the line and having to return. At the first mark Rory MacKenzie crewed by Millie Pryke (Ogston SC / Newcastle University SC) rounded first followed by Ben Hill crewed by Jordan Porter (West Lancs YC) with Esther Bowdler crewed by Rebecca Stephens (Looe / Penzance SC) in third. On the next lap Rory and Millie had kicker trouble causing them to drop back to last place allowing Ben and Jordan to take the lead followed by Esther and Rebecca with Richard Abendstern crewed by Callum Evans (Toddbrook SC) pulling up to third. Esther and Rebecca made numerous challenges for the lead but Ben and Jordan were able to hold off their advances to take first place with Esther and Rebecca in second, Richard and Callum in third followed by Rory and Millie who had managed to pull back to fourth.

Race 2 saw a change of course and a clean start, Rory and Millie started at the shore end of the line but quickly tacked on to port to take the lead at the windward mark followed by Ben and Jordan, with Esther and Rebecca in third. By the start of the second lap Rory and Millie had extended to establish a comfortable lead, while Esther and Rebecca continued to apply pressure on Ben and Jordan passing them on the run to take second, these places remained unchanged all the way to the finish.

Race 3 started after another clean start and saw Rory and Millie leading at the first mark, with Ben and Jordan second followed by Richard and Callum third. Ben and Jordan took the lead on the first run, but this was short lived as Rory and Millie soon took back the lead from Ben and Jordan with Esther and Rebecca pulling up to third. The wind dropped briefly on the next lap, which saw several place changes and allowed Esther and Rebecca to take second place followed by Ben and Jordan in third. Ben and Jordan were however able to sneak past Esther and Rebecca at the penultimate mark to regain second place pushing Esther and Rebecca into third place at the finish.

Race 4 on the Sunday started in much lighter wind than on Saturday which resulted in two general recalls before the fleet got away clean. At the windward mark Ben and Jordan rounded first followed by Richard and Callum with Matt Smith and Ella Crabtree (Midland SC) third. At the start of the next lap Rory and Millie sailed further right on the beat to overtake four boats and take the lead from Ben and Jordan now in second followed by Esther and Rebecca in third with Matt and Ella slipping to fourth. By the start of the following lap Rory and Millie followed by Ben and Jordan in second had managed to pull clear of the rest of the fleet, while a battle developed between Esther and Rebecca followed by Matt and Ella for third place which was eventually won by Matt and Ella. These places were held to the finish.

Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals - photo © Paul Young & Phil Harrison

Race 5 got underway after a clean start and saw Richard and Callum take an early lead followed by Rory and Millie, with Ben and Callum in third. Matt and Ella previously in fourth soon pulled up to third and the downwind leg. A shifty run saw Richard and Callum lose five places, with Matt and Ella briefly taking the lead, before dropping back to third by the leeward mark, with Rory and Millie leading followed by Ben and Jordan in second. An incident on next beat saw Matt and Ella doing turns, which resulted in a tense final lap with many place changes between the second, third and fourth placed boats. Rory and Millie crossed the line first to win the 2015 Youth National Championships, followed by Ben and Jordan in second and Matt and Ella in third.

Rory Mackenzie and Millie Pryke win the Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals - photo © Paul Young & Phil Harrison

At the prizegiving Toddbrook SC received the Club Trophy, the Old Boat Trophy was won by Matt Smith & Ella Crabtree, the under 15 was won by Henry White from Toddbrook SC, under 18 helm by Ben Hill from West Lancs YC, under 21 helm by Rory Mackenzie from Ogston SC & Newcastle Uni and the Lady Helm Trophy by Esther Bowdler from Looe SC.

Rory Mackenzie & Millie Pryke win the Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals - photo © Sarah Crabtree

Overall Results:

Noble Marine Enterprise Youth Nationals - photo © Phil Harrison