Enterprise Northern Series at Tynemouth Sailing Club

Enterprise Northern Series at Tynemouth © Edward Mayley

The Northern Series moved to the North East for its second stop at Tynemouth Sailing Club, where 16 boats - including 11 travelling boats (helped out by 3 home crews) - gathered for a weekend of close Enterprise racing on the sea. The sea state somehow made it seem windier than it actually was, turning the stomachs of a few!

A Saturday 1pm briefing set the scene before the fleet launched for a 2pm start in a light on shore breeze with the North Sea swell and tide adding an extra dimension to the racing.

Enterprise Northern Series at Tynemouth - photo © Simon Greener

The race team set a port triangle course for the opening contest. Home club sailors Neal and Ellen Piper led confidently from the start and controlled the fleet for the first two laps. However, a favourable shift on the final beat allowed Tim Sadler, sailing with hired crew Sarah, to capitalise. Finding a lift up the left-hand side, Sadler rounded the windward mark ahead and held on to take the win by just four seconds from Piper.

Race 2

Piper and crew made amends in race two, leading from start to finish to take the gun by ten seconds. Sadler, after an awkward start, fought his way back through the fleet to secure second place. Charles stuck with the top 2 and picked the wrong way up the beat on the 2nd beat and the front boats seemed to disappear into the distance.

Race 3

A course change to a port sausage brought an eager fleet to the line and resulted in a general recall. At the second attempt the majority of the fleet favoured the committee boat end. Piper spotted an early header and launched a bold port flyer. Sadler reacted quickly, ducking the pack and escaping off the pin end. Sadler took the win ahead of Piper, with Charles and crew claiming third. The windward/leeward proved preferable because in non planing conditions you can't really get to overtake boats on reaches but on the downwind run it allowed boats to pick different routes, making it like snakes and ladders.

Saturday evening saw the fleet warmly hosted by the club's volunteers, with pie, mash and beans in abundance followed by a formidable selection of cheesecakes. The bar buzzed with laughter, stories and Enterprise folklore late into the evening.

Sunday morning began with bacon rolls, hot brews and a surprise visit from a local journalist before the fleet launched around 9.30am for a planned 10.30 start. Earlier encouragement promising dolphins proved accurate as a pod were spotted by many crews on the beat out through the harbour walls.

Race 4

The breeze had built overnight, stretching the fleet slightly but tightening the battle at the front. Playing the shifts proved crucial as Piper kept the pressure firmly on Sadler all the way to the finish.

Race 5

Another sausage course followed, but two general recalls quickly resulted in the black flag being raised. The third start behaved, with the fleet much tighter. As the wind shifted and the tide began to play a bigger role, Sadler and Sarah together with Mike and Lucy - competing in their first sea event - picked a superb lift into the windward mark to round first and second. Piper rounded third after working the middle of the course.

Behind, a tight pack formed with Charles and crew picking off Mike and Lucy. The battle for third went to a dramatic photo finish between Piper, Oli and Luke, and Loz and Cat, providing entertainment for the boats already finished - and mild alarm for the race team as one boat closed the committee boat at speed.

Enterprise Northern Series at Tynemouth - photo © Claire Watson

The final race saw the fleet split across the course. The leading group headed left where the tide appeared to pay, carrying boats towards the mark. Loz led to the windward mark but clipped it during a gybe and had to complete a turn, losing enough distance to allow Sadler, Piper and Charles to escape up the next beat.

After six races it was Tim Sadler and Sarah who secured the overall victory. Neal and Ellen Piper finished a close second, with Charles and crew taking third. Loz placed fourth and Chris Fry sailing with son Leo completed the top five.

Thanks go to the race team, committee boat, rescue crews and the many volunteers who kept the fleet safe and well fed in some chilly North Sea conditions. Tynemouth Sailing Club once again proved an excellent host venue for the Enterprise fleet notably with crews in the top 4 boats.

Special thanks also to event sponsors Peak Dinghy, North Sails and Allen Brothers.

The northern circuit now looks ahead to the next round at Ogston Sailing Club with an Enterprise social event on Saturday 13th and racing on Sunday 14th. However, first attention turns to the Enterprise National Championship being hosted on the opposite side of the River Tyne at South Shields Sailing Club from 23-26 May.

Overall Results: