Enterprise South East Area Championship at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

The penultimate SE Area Enterprise meeting on 9th October found Frensham again with its best wind direction from the north, although shifting quite a lot, and at force 3 promised a lovely day.

The fleet consisted of 5 visitors being greeted by 6 home boats with the water shared by a similar number of GP14s.

With the fine conditions the Enterprises took the first start, although a little bit slow across the start line as reported by the race officer, and the first challenge was mounted by Frensham's Nick Carr and Kaz Kawamura but they were fairly soon overtaken by Katrina Gilbert and Jenny Rust who generated a commanding lead of the best part of a leg after 1½ laps. Sad to say however there was repeat of last year's snapping halyard in Katrina's Ent which forced their retirement.

By this time Ann Jackson and David Skeens had worked their way up the field and were left in the lead which they held until the end.

By the 3rd lap Martin Davies and Rebecca Bradley had worked their way up to second place pushing Nick Carr down to 3rd, ahead of Ted Bonner and Andy Majury.

After lunch the wind had calmed slightly, the records suggesting 9mph, but the shifts continued to allow good tactical sailing on the pond. The wind remained in the N sector so the race officer Chris Ellis did not change the course but, after the first race in which the GP14s rapidly caught up owing largely to wind variation, he delayed the GP start by 10 minutes.

After a better start by the Enterprises the lead was quickly taken by Ann Jackson which she held to the end of the race. The remainder of the field held much the same order throughout with Ted Bonner and Nick Carr saving the reputation of the home side with 2nd and 3rd leaving Martin Davies in 4th just before dark clouds heralded a squall was some strong gusts.

The final race was notionally back-to-back but the extended delay from the GP14 finish meant that the squall had passed before the start.

Once again Ann Jackson quickly took the lead and this time was followed by Dick Lankester and David Wylie through to the finish with Martin Davies taking 3rd.

Shuffling of positions mostly occurred down the fleet with Nick Carr coming out on top to take 4th place.

Ann Jackson and David Skeens' commanding 1st gave them the Frensham Packard Cup and the South East Championship shield. After the race all were happy to chat in the clubhouse for a convivial tea with the prize giving by the Rear Commodore, Stefan Bennett.

Overall Results: