Enterprise Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

It was only after much effort that the Thames Valley Area Enterprise meeting on 11th October was given the go ahead, sharing the water with GP14s, as in previous years, and also Larks, as the latter missed their Open at the start of Covid-19 lockdown, with 34 boats entered overall.

The wind was mostly clean, staying in the NW quarter, although the forecast 10 gusting 18 may not have quite materialised but the sailing was good and well mannered and the day beautiful and dry.

The Race Officer, Keith Videlo, stuck to schedule with 3 races in the series with minimal breaks.

In the first race It seemed that all boats got off to a good start but very soon it was apparent that Nigel and Andy Bird were showing their class by pulling away and never looked back.

This left David and John Beaney and Ted Bonner and Andy Majury fighting for second and third until the last lap when Katrina Gilbert and Karen Ferguson in the club's hire boat stole the third place and pushed Ted Bonner down to fourth.

Race 2, following the same course, saw Katrina Gilbert take the lead for the first 2 marks but was soon overtaken by Nigel Bird meanwhile David Beaney who did not get off to a good start caught up and challenged at one point but could not finish higher than 3rd behind Katrina Gilbert.

In Race 3 David Beaney and Nigel Bird both got off to a much better start than Katrina Gilbert which showed in the final result of that same order with Ted Bonner gaining another 4th.

As for the first 2 races, it was very much an event of two parts with Robin Broomfield, Nicholas Carr and Roger Carter fighting it out for the next 3 places and I must give credit to the two Neils for perseverance and not being cowed by the opposition.

Nigel and Andy Bird's 2 first places which gave them the Frensham Packard Cup, presented by the Commodore David Innes, and also meant that they took possession of the Enterprise Thames Valley Area Championship shield.

The event had been in the balance for some time and enormous tribute goes to the General Committee and several others for the hard work in generating the processes that allowed the event to proceed safely in a compliant manner... worthwhile effort for a day that was enjoyed by all.

Special mention must also be made of the Race Officer Keith Videlo volunteering his family bubble to manage the committee boat and one other, without whom this may not have happened.

Overall Results: