Enterprise Open at Winsford Flash Sailing Club
by Steve Blackburn 10 Nov 2018 06:11 GMT
6 October 2018
As we arrived at Winsford we could see there wasn't a lot of wind, but the wind did pick up in patches throughout the day. The weather was cold and the wind from the north and overcast with the sun popping out from time to time.
The event was held along with the Albacore's and we had five Enterprises with three home boats.
Race 1 was with a starboard bias line and Alan & Rhea Burton Roberts (Gresford) started well but decided to match race Steve Blackburn & Molly Nixon (WLYC) and didn't realize the home boats of Malcolm Friar & Megan Thorpe (Winsford) were sneaking through and took the lead for a brief moment. Then Steve took the lead until till the second beat and Malcolm took the lead again Briefly. Steve took the lead again and this time created a gap from the other Ents and Finished first. Meanwhile Alan and Malcolm were having a good Tussle with Malcolm finishing second and Alan third. In fourth were John Cleary & Linda Shaw (Winsford)
We stopped for lunch, which was cottage pie and peas and for dessert was apple crumble with custard or ice cream.
We set of for back-to-back races, and with Race 2 Steve was at the windward mark first and again never looked back to secure his second win of the day. Alan and Malcolm were having another good tussle with both changing places through out the race. Alan managed to create room at the mark on the last downwind mark and finished in second, Malcolm in third and John in fourth with Brian Ibbotson & Casmin Robinson (Winsford) in fifth.
Race 3 soon took place and Steve create the best start and was pulling away most beats but Alan in second seemed to sailing in his own private gale and aqua-planed to Steve's Transom on the long downwind leg. Steve Again pulled some distance up the beats. On the last beat Alan went left up the beat and in more pressure than Steve, Steve went up the middle of the course and he was caught by Alan who was in more wind and was able to add pressure to Steve. Steve cover tacked Alan and crossed the line in 1st Alan in second and Malcolm in third.
Overall Results:
1st E23310 Steve Blackburn & Molly Nixon (WLYC)
2nd E20673 Alan & Rhea Burton Roberts (Gresford)
3rd E22327 Malcolm Friar & Megan Thorpe (Winsford)
4th E22570 John Cleary & Linda Shaw (Winsford)
5th E20358 Brian Ibbotson & Casmin Robinson (Winsford)