Enterprise Open at Maidstone Sailing Club
by Geoffrey Bush 1 May 2003 08:38 BST
27th April 2003
Five visitors joined six home boats for the traditional Southern Area Blue Jib curtain raiser to the season. Conditions were blustery with force 5 gusts one moment and near calms the next.
A number of helms were defeated by the gusts in the first race and came to grief on a tricky short running leg which demanded a double gybe. The result was a number of upturned hulls with their masts in the mud making it doubly difficult for other boats to thread their way through afterwards. Geoff Bush, crewed by son Nick, pulled away from the fleet followed by Steve Collins and Kate Williams. Ian and Gill Barnard recovered from an early capsize to take third position.
The early leaders of the second race took the wrong course initially and the Barnards took full advantage to win the race followed by Geoff Bush and Peter Belcher (crewed by his daughter Sarah). With the wind moderating all the time, the third race was led from the start by Geoff Bush with Steve Collins eventually overhauling Philip and Hugh Gower to take second.
After such an eventful and successful day the Ent fleet very much hope that the sailing club will still be there in future years to host opens despite the threat that it may lose its club house to redevelopment.
Overall results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew | Club |
|---|
| 1st | Geoff Bush | Nick Bush | Weir Wood SC |
| 2nd | Ian Barnard | Gill Barnard | Chipstead SC |
| 3rd | Steve Collins | Kathy Williams | Minima SC |
| 4th | Peter Belcher | Sarah Belcher | Maidstone SC |
| 5th | Ray Packham | Molly Hewet | Maidstone SC |
| 6th | Hugh Gower | Philip Gower | Bewl Valley SC |