Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine Series at Emberton Park Sailing Club

Mike Crossey and Christine Barron (Sutton SC) win the Enterprise Open at Emberton Park © Serena Stewardson

Jack and Derek (grandad) Bryant finish as first home boat in the Enterprise Open at Emberton Park © Serena Stewardson

This event the eighth in the Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine series was held at Emberton Park Sailing Club on Sunday 18th October 2015. The seven boat fleet included two visitors from Midland SC and Sutton SC. The day was overcast with spells of light rain and a light northerly wind.

Race one saw a heavily port biased start line Paul Young crewed by Nancy Gudgeon (Midland SC) won the start and took the lead rounding the windward mark first, closely followed by Mike Cossey crewed by Christine Barron (Sutton SC). Paul and Nancy held the lead for a lap until Mike and Christine passed them on the beat at the start of the second lap. Mike and Christine then held the lead for another lap, until Paul and Nancy challenged them at number eight gybe mark in front of the clubhouse. Mike and Christine held their nerve to continue leading with Paul and Nancy close behind. Almost a lap later Paul and Nancy caught Mike and Christine on a downwind leg snatching inside water at the leeward mark to retake the lead. Paul and Nancy then held the lead to finish first with Mike and Christine second. Third place was youngster Jack Bryant with his grandfather Derek (Emberton Park SC) crewing.

The second race was sailed back to back with the first on the same course. Again the start line was heavily port biased. This time Mike and Christine judged the start line perfectly and held Paul and Nancy out to the left hand side of the course. At the first windward mark Mike and Christine led from Paul and Nancy, with third Martin Bottomley crewed by Ray Ball (Emberton Park) both close behind. Mike and Christine then extended their lead throughout the race to win easily from Paul and Nancy in second. The battle for third was intense with Martin and Ray, Jack and Derek and Graham Yates crewed by Emma Hardings (Emberton Park SC) all in contention. At the finish Graham and Emma were third, Martin and Ray fourth and Jack and Derek fifth.

Lunch was now served, the bangers and mash followed by apple crumble was excellent and went down a treat.

With the meeting still wide open it was all to play for in the third and final race. The third race started in drier conditions with a slightly stronger wind and was sailed on a new course. Paul and Nancy won the start from the pin end of the port biased line tacking onto port as the gun sounded to take the lead. It was short lived however as it was Mike and Christine who rounded the windward mark first, closely followed by Paul and Nancy with Jack and Derek third on their transom. At the gybe mark in front of the clubhouse, Paul and Nancy and also Jack and Derek both caught Mike and Christine. In the chaos that followed Paul and Nancy briefly took the lead for a few boat lengths. Mike and Christine soon regained the lead and both they and Paul and Nancy pulled away from the rest of the fleet. Paul and Nancy continued to apply pressure to Mike and Christine, but failed to overcome their lead. The final positions in this race were Mike and Christine first and Paul and Nancy second. Jack and Derek finished third having held off Graham and Emma for most of the race.

Winning helm Mike Cossey thanked everyone involved at Emberton Park Sailing club for a good days racing.

The Double Chine Series concludes on Saturday 31st October with the final event at Rudyard Lake SC.

Overall Results:

Midland Area Double Chine Series Results: (after Round 8)