Allen Enterprise Masters Championship at West Lancashire Yacht Club

Allen Enterprise Masters Championship at West Lancs © Dave Porter

Allen Enterprise Masters Championship at West Lancs © Dave Porter

With a seven race Championship planned to be held over the two days, 4 races on Saturday and 3 races on Sunday and a forecast of 6 knots maximum it was going to be a very difficult and somewhat challenging weekend, especially for the WLYC OOD Rob Smallwood and his Assistant Martin Butcher.

The first race got away in what can only be described as a faint breeze from the land but it held enough to complete the race with Martin & Abi Honnor from Ogston SC taking the gun from Charles Adams & Alex Halliwell, WLYC.

After the first race with a dying breeze the OOD decided to postpone the next race and let the crews get some lunch and await the sea breeze. By 2pm the sea breeze had filled in and the 3 remaining races were held back to back.

The second race was started after three general recalls and was won by Dave and Beth Porter from WLYC, closely followed by Ges Brown & Julie Moore from SCYC. With races 3 and 4 being won again by Martin and Abi things looked to be sewn up as we all went ashore for the evening. A superb 4 course Black Tie Dinner was provided by Stella, Mark and team and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Allen Enterprise Masters Championship at West Lancs - photo © Dave Porter

Day two started in much the same way. It was decided to postpone again for 1 hour to await the sea breeze and sure enough by 12 o'clock it had filled in enough to get the races off.

Race 5 was led by Nick Jackson & Laurence Dorr from Burghfield SC with the chasing pack of Phil & Catriona Bevan from Grafham Water SC and Martin & Abi, however on the downwind leg and the option of either side of the Island to consider perhaps this was not straightforward. Martin chose what proved to be the wrong side and half the fleet followed him, allowing Nick & Laurence to go and win from Phil & Catriona. Had nerves got the better of Martin & Abi?

With a win in race 4 and a 3rd in race 6 Martin & Abi had done enough to win the championship overall. Ges & Julie were 2nd overall with Dave & Beth one point behind in 3rd place.

Prizes were awarded for 1st place in the following Special Categories:

• Helm over 70 - Tony & Louise Halliwell from WLYC
• Helm over 60 (Veteran's Trophy) - Ann Jackson & Alan Skeens from Burghfield SC
• Helm over 50 (Ken Bird Trophy) - Martin & Abi
• Ton up (total of helm & crew ages over 100) - Ges & Julie
• Crew over 40 – Julie
• Crew under 16 - Dylan Hurst from WLYC
• Lady Crew – Abi
• Lady Helm - Jane & Nick Scutt from Middle Nene SC
• Husband & Wife team - Phil & Catriona
• Classic boat (under 22000) - Bob Caton & Lucy Pettifer from WLYC.

At the prize giving Martin thanked the event sponsor, Allen, for the generous array of prizes. He also thanked the OOD, the rescue team and catering team for the meals provided during the weekend.

Also thanked were Rooster, who provided prizes for the last placed boat in each race, working up the fleet so that no crew won twice.

The next major Championship will be the Nationals week at Exe SC from 28th July. The advance entry list is up to 38 with online entry still open at the Enterprise website, www.sailenterprise.co.uk.

Overall Results: