Enterprise Midland Double Chine Series Round 3 at Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club

Earlswood Lakes Enterprise Open © Perry Clarke

Earlswood Lakes Enterprise Open © Perry Clarke

The commodore Sue Stewart cooking lunch during the Earlswood Lakes Enterprise Open © Perry Clarke

This event the third in the Midland area Double Chine series was held at Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club on Sunday 13th May 2018. Conditions were dry and sunny with a light and variable wind which was predicted to come from a North Easterly direction.

Eight boats contested this event which included three visiting boats from Ripon, Rugby and Daventry and Midland Sailing Clubs.

The first race saw James Patterson crewed by Carol Evans (Earlswood) make the best start on port tack crossing the whole fleet, however it was Martin Davies crewed by Angie Bates (Rugby and Daventry /Earlswood) who rounded the windward mark first. Richard Pryke crewed by Amelia Pryke (Ripon) rounded second with Paul Young crewed by Gabrielle Barthelemy (Midland) third just ahead of Graham Bentley crewed by Jennifer Foort (Earlswood) in fourth place. Martin and Angie continued to lead for three laps with Richard and Amelia close behind. Paul and Gabrielle also exchanged places with Graham and Jennifer endlessly. Richard and Amelia took the lead on the third lap which they held to the finish. Paul and Gabrielle caught up Martin and Angie downwind but they got away again to finish second, with Paul and Gabrielle third.

The second race got underway after an excellent lunch of hairy bikers cheese, onion and potato pie with beans, plus rhubarb Eton mess pudding prepared by the clubs commodore Sue Stewart.

This time it Paul and Gabrielle who rounded the first mark in the lead, closely followed by Richard and Amelia and Martin and Angie in third. Richard and Amelia overtook Paul and Gabrielle on the beat to the second mark to take the lead, which they built upon and held to the finish winning their second race. Paul and Gabrielle sailed steadily to hold second place for the rest of this race until the last leg when Martin and Angie made better use of a change in wind direction snatching second place just before the finish line.

The third race was sailed back to back, with the second and would decide second and third places overall. The new wind direction meant that the first mark was downwind and all five boats arrived at about the same time. Once again it was Paul and Gabrielle that took the lead, with Richard and Amelia second and Martin and Angie third. Paul and Gabrielle managed to hold their lead for two laps until Richard and Amelia passed them on a fetch. Paul and Gabrielle soon caught up however a luffing match with Richard and Amelia cost them vital time allowing, Martin and Angie to take the lead. Martin and Angie then extended their lead winning this race comfortably from Paul and Gabrielle in second and Richard and Amelia in third.

Overall winning helm Richard Pryke thanked everyone at Earlswood Lakes Sailing club for a good day's racing.

The Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine series continues at Tamworth SC on Saturday 19th May and Midland SC on Sunday 17th June.

Overall Results:

Richard and Amelia Pryke win the Earlswood Lakes Enterprise Open - photo © Jennifer Foort

Martin Davis and Angie Bates finish second in the Earlswood Lakes Enterprise Open - photo © Jennifer Foort