Sailing Chandlery Enterprise National Circuit Round 2 at Ogston Sailing Club

Sailing Chandlery © Sailing Chandlery

This event, the second in the Enterprise National Circuit sponsored by SailingChandlery.com, was held at Ogston Sailing Club in Derbyshire on 21st/22nd April. Eleven boats including four visitors from Burghfield SC, Yorkshire Dales SC, SCYC and Midland SC competed in the light southerly breeze and warm sunshine.

The first race started after a short postponement to allow the wind to settle. A congested start line saw several of the boats starting close together. Tim Sadler crewed by crewed by Chris Blundell (Yorkshire Dales SC) sailed up the left hand side of the beat. Whilst Gez Brown crewed by Craig Wheatley (SCYC), Martin Honnor crewed by Tom Cashin (Ogston) and Andy Gomm crewed Sarah Gomm (Ogston) all went right. At the first windward mark Tim and Chris rounded first followed by Ges and Craig, Martin and Tom and Andy and Sarah. All these positions remained the same on the next leg. On the second beat Gez and Craig sailed a blinder and took many lengths out of Tim and Chris's lead, these two boats well clear of the rest of the fleet. On the third lap Tim and Craig did a horizon job to win this race comfortably, from Martin and Tom in second and Andy and Sarah third.

The second race started after an excellent lunch of cheese and Ham rolls. This race started on a much bigger course in a slightly stronger breeze which had now veered to the South West. Martin and Tom nailed the start to lead at the windward mark, second was Tim and Chris and third Ges and Craig. Following his escapade at the recent inlands, Martin had further directional issues ignoring the lead boat and sailing his own course, only to realise at the last minute and alter course, however despite this he held onto the lead. A lap later at the leeward mark, Tim and Chris went right picking a fortunate shift overhauling Martin and Tom on the beat. Tim and Chris held this lead to the finish to get their second win of the day, with Martin and Tom second and Andy and Sarah a solid third.

The third race was started on the same course after a short tea break. On a new start line for a slight change in wind direction. Off a port biased line Mike Heap crewed by Joy Mapp (Ogston) nailed the start and went left. Most of the others had good starts except Matt Rawson crewed by Alice Hedley- Fenn (Ogston) who bailed out onto port tack and went hard right, were they got a massive inside lift to round the windward mark by some considerable distance. Ann Jackson crewed by Alan Skeens (Burghfield) played the shifts well to round second from Ges and Craig in third. Places changed often on the next lap; however Matt and Alice consolidated their lead. At the start of the last beat positions looked to be sorted with Matt and Alice first, Tim and Chris second and Martin and Tom third, but in good Ogston fashion and with Ges and Craig's excellent wind shift tracking they pulled through to take second squeezing Tim and Chris down to third and Martin and Tom fourth.

An excellent meal and local beer with good company provided the fleet with their evening entertainment.

Sunday dawned dry but colder and with less sun and more wind from the West, plus a few helms with sore heads.

The fourth race was sailed down the far end of the reservoir, Martin and Tom had a great start and first beat however again they sailed the wrong course by heading towards eight whilst the rest of the fleet headed towards mark nine. This allowed Tim and Chris to take the lead which they held to the finish winning comfortably. The rest of the fleet exchanged places several times on the next few laps with Ges and Craig eventually claiming second and Matt and Alice third. These places were held to the finish.

Race five was sailed back to back after a short postponement caused by a huge wind shift which caused race officer Don Spencer problems having to reset the start line. Starting from a very port biased line Mike and Joy made an excellent start from the pin end and would have gone round the windward mark first had they not hit it. Ann and Alan were over and had to go back. The usual suspects Tim and Chris, Martin and Tom, plus Ges and Craig pulled well away from the rest of the fleet who were more concerned with playing bumper cars resulting in two protests and numerous 720 penalties including Ann and Alan who did at least two. The race finished in this order.

The sixth and final race started after another delicious pasta lunch. With the overall winner already decided this race would decide the runners up position from three potential candidates. Martin and Tom nailed the first beat and sailing the correct course this time rounded the first windward mark ahead of Tim and Craig in second and Ann and Alan third. Martin and Tom sailed well to extend their lead to the finish, with Tim and Chris second and Ges and Craig third.

At the presentation overall winning helm Tim Sadler thanked everyone at Ogston Sailing Club who gave up their weekend to run this event.

The next round of the Enterprise National Circuit sponsored by Sailing Chandlery.com is at King George Sailing Club in London on Sunday 6th May. We look forward to seeing you there.

Overall Results: