Allen, North Sails and Selden Enterprise National Championships - Day 4

Instead of the scheduled lay-day and due to big winds forecast for Friday, the Enterprise Association and organisers at Mount's Bay Sailing Club decided to reschedule the racing programme to fit in three races on Wednesday.

The fleet were held ashore until the Osprey class finished their first race, and then headed out to the starting area in bright sunshine with a steady 15 knots of breeze.

Allen, North Sails & Selden Enterprise Nationals at Mount's Bay day 4 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Jane and Nick Scutt were pathfinder but their race ended in disaster with a breakage. Similar fate befell Phil and Laura Bevan with their kicker breaking. Both boats managed to cobble together repairs with the Scutts completing the race, and the Bevans joining in for the next two races.

Phil Ford and Jane Humpage led the fleet round the first mark, with Paul Hobson and Craig Wheatley, and Dave and Chris Jackman close on their tail. It was Hobson though who took the gun, with Dave and Chris Jackman second and Martin Honnor and Gabe Hill third.

Allen, North Sails & Selden Enterprise Nationals at Mount's Bay day 4 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Race 8 saw Steve Sargent and Eloise Jaycock as pathfinders. In fairly shifty conditions, the fleet split across the course with some big gains and equally large losses shaking up the results. It was Dave and Chris Jackman though who held their nerve to come first, with Steve Blackburn and Tim Brownell second and Paul Hobson and Craig Wheatley third.

Martin Honnor and Gabe Hill were pathfinders for Race 9 with the wind dropping slightly to 10-12 knots. Once again Dave and Chris Jackman took the bullet with Phil Ford and Jane Humpage second, and Tim Sadler and Chris Keatley third.

Allen, North Sails & Selden Enterprise Nationals at Mount's Bay day 4 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

With just one race to be held on Thursday, it’s all to play for. Paul Hobson and Craig Wheatley are just one point ahead of Dave and Chris Jackman, with Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens just one point ahead of Jane and Nick Scutt for the Ladies Trophy. Jeremy and Lloyd Williams are comfortably ahead in the Silver fleet from Joe and Jack Sargent, and Alex Morcumb and Daniel Sell leading the Bronze fleet.

Matt and Vicky on day 4 of the Allen, North Sails & Selden Enterprise Nationals at Mount's Bay - photo © Martyn Curnow

Thursday looks to offer a different race, with the wind switching to the east but still forecast to be around 12-15 knots.

Results after Day 4: