Enterprise Open at Wraysbury Lake Sailing Club

by Steve Collins 27 Sep 2006 08:43 BST 24 September 2006

In 50 years of Enterprise sailing there have been mightier winds but none so significant as those which blew at the Wraysbury Lake Enterprise Open regatta on Sunday 24th September, 50 years after the very first ever Enterprise Open held on the same lake in December 1956, and every year since then.

An anniversary fleet of almost 20 boats waited patiently for the postponed start at 11.30 am, rewarding the race officer’s judgment to allow the flat calm to give way to a reasonable 6 to 10 miles an hour South-Easterly with gusts and shifts ideally suited to the talents of this exceptional boat and the crews who master it.

Wraysbury Lake was delighted to welcome a dozen visiting boats from the South Eastern Area, including some young (and in some cases, extremely, young and very expert) crews.

Winners of the event, which is part of the Thames Valley Bowl series, sponsored by Fullers London Pride, were David and Alex Beaney (Broadwater SC), second were Neil Parsloe and Siobhan Ladyman (Broadwater SC) and in equal third place were Nigel and Iain Bird (Papercourt SC) and Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens (Burghfield SC).

Jonny Johnson, a former Commodore of Wraysbury and now organiser of the Enterprise World Championships came back to the club to award the prizes and also to present a plaque to the club in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary.