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Enterprise National Circuit Round 1 at Middle Nene Sailing Club

by Paul Young & Emma Coleman 13 Apr 2017 08:22 BST 8-9 April 2017
Enterprises at Middle Nene © Wilf Kunze

The Enterprise National Circuit series kicked off at Middle Nene SC on 8th / 9th April. The conditions were warm and sunny with a light and shifty southwesterly wind.

Race 1 - The start line had a port bias. Rory Mackenzie (Ogston SC) & Millie Pryke (Ripon SC) were first round the windward mark having started in the middle of the line and finding clean air. John & Chris Blundell (Staunton Harold SC) followed closely in second with Ges Brown & Julie Moore (SCYC) rounding in third. Rory & Millie continued to pull away over the next few laps, with the Blundells in second and Paul Hobson & Craig Wheatley (Beaver SC) battling in third. The last reach was tense as Paul & Craig pulled forward into second, but the Blundells regained second place with Paul & Craig in third and Rory & Millie comfortable winners.

The competitors were then treated to a delightful lunch of jacket potatoes, pasties and rolls, not to mention a delicious array of cakes!

Race 2 - A sudden gust on the start line resulted in a considerable port bias. Jonathan Woodward (South Staffs SC) & Steve Graham (Northampton SC) led the fleet round the windward mark, followed by the Blundells in second and Rory & Millie in third. The top three places were undisturbed for most of the race, until on the penultimate beat Jon & Steve took a wrong shift and dropped to third place, allowing the Blundells to take the lead with Rory & Millie moving up to second. Rory & Millie briefly took first place but they were taken back by the Blundells who finished first, with Rory & Millie in second and Jon & Steve third.

Race 3 - The wind picked up slightly for the start of this race and remained shifty. The jostling for position on the start line led to a general recall, with the restart operating under a black flag. Paul & Craig rounded the windward mark first but were quickly passed by Jon & Steve on the run with the Blundells in third place. Once again it was on the penultimate beat that places began to change as Ann Jackson & Alan Skeens (Burghfield SC) caught up to take third place. On the final beat the Blundells sailed to the far left allowing Jon & Steve to pull ahead. All three boats were level on the final run, Jon & Steve rounded the leeward mark first followed by Ann & Alan and the Blundells. The leaders split on the beat to the finish with Jon & Steve and Ann & Alan going left and the Blundells heading right. Ann & Alan passed Jon & Steve on the left to finish second with the Blundells overtaking both of them to win the race.

Race 4 - Sunday dawned with slightly stronger breeze that increased throughout the day. The race started after an individual recall, Paul & Craig were first round the windward mark, followed by Tim Sadler & James Hobson (Yorkshire Dales SC). There was an altercation between Jon and Rory at the windward mark. Places changed frequently on the run with many gybes. Rory & Millie led on the second lap, with Jon & Steve dropping to fifth place. On the penultimate beat Jon & Steve gained by going right, but not enough to catch Rory & Millie who won the race. A protest held later between Rory and Jon resulted in Rory's disqualification from that race, with the final results being: Jon & Steve in first, Tim & James in second and Paul & Craig in third.

Race 5 – The final race got off to a clean start with Tim & James first round the windward mark, followed by Jon & Steve, then Rory & Millie. On the second lap Rory & Millie moved up to second place and passed Tim & James on the third beat to take the lead which they held to the finish. Jon & Steve squeaked past Tim & James to take second.

With only one point separating first and second place, John & Chris emerged as overall Area champions, with Jon & Steve in second and Rory & Millie in third place.

At the prize giving, winning helm John thanked everyone involved at Middle Nene for an excellent weekend's sailing!

Overall Results:

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st22315OilJohn BlundellChris BlundellStaunton Harold2114‑58
2nd23089Simply RedJonathan WoodwardSteve GrahamSouth Staffs. SC / Northampton SC‑833129
3rd22936Thunderbird 7Rory MackenzieAmelia PrykeOgston SC / Ripon SC126(DSQ)110
4th23384 Tim SadlerJames HobsonYorkshire Dales SC4‑552314
5th23411 Paul HobsonCraig WheatcomBeaver SC3443‑714
6th23410WimpGes BrownJulie MooreSCYC68‑96424
7th23349To infinity & beyondAnn JacksonAlan SkeensBurghfield SC7‑10210625
8th22501Blue JobAlice AllenAkshan JirasinheBCYC‑9675826
9th23015WedgeNick JacksonRebecca BradleyBurghfield SC578‑9929
10th22702EspadarteJane ScuttNick ScuttMNSC‑1091081037
11th22901Out of the bluePaul YoungEmma ColemanMidland SC‑11111171140
12th23248 Martin BottomleyRay Brall ‑121212111247

Further National Circuit events, sponsored by North Sails and Peak Dinghy Spares, are as follows:

22nd & 23rdAPRBRISTOL CORINTHIAN YC(Severnside Areas)
6th & 7th MAYCARDIFF BAY YC(Inlands)
17th JUNLEIGH & LOWTON SC 
1st & 2nd JULYORKSHIRE DALES SC 
22nd & 23rd JULTYNEMOUTH SC 
26th & 27th AUGST MARY’S LOCH SC(Scottish Nationals)
7th & 8th OCTLOOE SC 
11th & 12th NOVNORTHAMPTON SC(Winters – double points)

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