Hykeham Winter Championships - 14 November 2009
By Sam Mason
Luke Pepper's photographs can be found here.
The weather forecast of heavy showers and gusts of up to 50 knots may have put people off but nevertheless 9 Enterprises entered the Richard Sadler memorial trophy held this year at Hykeham Sailing Club at Lincoln. The trophy commemorates the life of Richard “Saggy” Sadler past Enterprise world and national champion crew who died 10 years ago and is still missed by all those fortunate enough to have known him.
Racing started in a brisk force 4-5 southerly under overcast skies with the threat that the forecast may have been right. Early leaders in race 1, Alan and Matt Johnson stamped their authority on the fleet and never looked like being headed throughout the entire race . Further back, however the story was different. first to show in second place were Tim and Hannah Sadler ( Brother and niece of “Saggy”) but they were soon overtaken by Jonathan Woodward and James Holmes who held the position until the last lap when Chris and Andrea Bridle, fresh from a 12 month layoff, pulled through to second after an indifferent start.
The lunch break was notable only for the wind strength in a shower when it may have briefly reached its forecast strength.
The fleet took to the water for the first of 2 back to back races in rain and winds of force 5-6 with gusts just to make things interesting. First to show were Woodward and Holmes followed by the Johnsons and the Bridles with Brian Garrison and Tim Elliot in hot pursuit. The Johnsons again demonstrated complete mastery of the conditions and sailed off into the distance leaving Woodward and Bridle to contest second place with the verdict going in the Bridles favour. Garrison and Elliot maintained a solid forth place.
Race 3 started in slightly less wind with the Johnsons and Steve Graham having swapped boats. The Bridles seemed to blown the rust off and took an early lead which they extended and held to the finish. At the end of the fist lap several boats were caught out by a gust, which would have registered on the Richter scale, and capsized these included the Johnsons who had some difficulty in recovering and retired allowing Garrison and Elliot into second place and elevating the Sadlers to third These positions were held to the end.
After the race officer had warmed up and worked the results out the first 3 were as follows.
Overall Results:
1st Alan and Matt Johnson (South Caernarvonshire YC)
2nd Chris and Andrea Bridle (Hykeham SC)
3rd Brian Garrison and Tim Elliot (Rotherham SC)
Enterprise Open at Rotherham Sailing Club - By Rotherham SC
Rotherham SC hosted their Enterprise Open meeting on the 27th September which was part of the Cock of the North Series.
Race 1 saw Tim Brownell & Will Burkitt 2304 form Ulley SC round the windward mark first closely followed by a group five other boats, positioning on the next run was key to gain the inside rounding at the gybe mark Russ Short & Kate Fry 23219 achieved this to hold the lead until the next windward leg where Paul Young & Phil Harrison from Midland SC gained the lead. Eventually Short/ Fry regained the lead to take the first race.
The second race followed an excellent lunch prepared by the galley. Visitors Nigel & Diana Peppedine 20518 from Staunton Harold rounded the windward mark first and extended their lead on the subsequent run. The pursuing boats slowly gained ground helped in part by the sometimes fickle wind near mark 8, 23219 jostled for position over a number of laps with the Pepperdine’s before Short/ Fry sneaked ahead, to take the second race and the meeting.
Race 3 started in the strongest wind of the day with a new course that proved spectacular for all the wrong reasons. John Holmes crewed by Margaret Mettam sailed a blinding windward leg to round the mark on the wrong side (later retiring on lap 2 realising their error), subsequently extending their lead from the turmoil that followed to near horizon proportions. Meanwhile back at the mark Paul Young & Phil Harrison trying to round the mark on the correct side (whilst also being on starboard!) had a very tough time, helms and crews slowly realised the error of their ways, and started to unwind. The battle for second commenced between Young/ Harrison & the Pepperdine’s, 22901 needed to win the race and held the lead for much of it, 20518 had to start to climb from 9th place. On the second lap 20518 nearly snatched the lead by sailing to windward of the pack, 22901 gybed away and found more pressure on the leeward shore, a great deal of covering both up and downwind then followed. At the finish it was Young second with the Pepperdine’s third with Short/ Fry first.
Thanks to all the visiting boats for attending the OOD’s of the day and the galley for preparing such wonderful food.
Overall Results:
1st 23219 Russ Short & Kate Fry (Rotherham SC)
2nd 20518 Nigel Peppedine & Diana Peppedine (Staunton Harold SC)
3rd 22901 Paul Young & Phil Harrison (Midland SC)
4th 2304 Tim Brownell & Will Burkitt (Ulley SC)
5th 20687 Dave Staniforth & Mark Burkitt (Ulley SC)
6th 09097 Simon Fleetwood & Lavinia Ody (Rotherham SC)
Enterprise National Circuit at Tynemouth Sailing Club - By Paul Young
The fourth round of the 2009 Enterprise National Circuit took place at Tynemouth Sailing Club over the weekend of 11th/12th July 2009. The fifteen boat fleet had a great weekend both on and off the water.
Race one was sailed on a triangular course in South bay in a force 2-3 Easterly wind and large swell. Russell Short and Kate Fry (Rotherham SC) led at the windward mark, followed by Ali Morrish and Charles Bowers (St Marys Loch SC) with Steve Graham and James Holmes (Northampton SC) in third. Russell and Kate won this race, with Steve and James passing Ali and Charles on the finish line to snatch second place. Jonathan Woodward and Alex Halliwell (Redditch SC) were fourth.
Race two sailed on a trapezoidal course saw the leaders come from the right hand side of the course. Steve and James led at the windward mark followed by Ali and Charles with Paul Young and Chris Winters (Midland SC) in third. Jonathan and Alex and Russell and Kate passed Paul and Chris on the reaches to gain third and fourth places. At the finish it was Steve and James first, Russell and Kate second, Jonathan and Alex third with Ali and Charles just hanging onto fourth.
Race three sailed on Sunday morning also in south bay brought a new wind direction of North Westerly Force 2-4 with a slightly flatter sea. This race sailed on a triangular course saw the leaders come from the right hand side of the course again. Steve and James rounded the windward mark first just in front of Ali and Charles with Paul and Chris in third and Jonathan and Alex arriving on port in fourth. Ali and Charles passed Steve and James on the second reach to take the lead but they soon lost it on the beat again. Jonathan and Alex passed Paul and Chris on the first reach and Russell and Kate also passed Paul and Chris near the end of the second reach. At the finish Steve and James were first, Russell and Kate second, Jonathan and Alex third and Ali and Charles fourth.
Race four sailed on another triangular course started after a short delay to move the marks following a wind change. This time new leaders Loz Young and Kirsty Wonders (Tynemouth SC) led at the first mark from Alistair Mc Donald and Kieran Welsh (Berwick SC) having both gone out to the left hand side of the course on the beat to lee bow the tide and take advantage of a decent windshift. Loz and Kirsty sailed well to extend their lead but a determined Jonathan and Alex also sailed well to catch them up on the second lap. Steve and James and Russell and Kate were both further down the pack. At the finish Jonathan and Alex were first, Loz and Kirsty second and Ali and Charles third.
Overall Results:
1st 23223, Steve Graham & James Holmes (Northampton SC) 4pts
2nd 23219, Russell Short & Kate Fry (Rotherham SC) 5pts
3rd 23089, Jonathan Woodward & Alex Halliwell (Redditch/WLYC) 7pts
4th 22272, Ali Morrish & Charles Bowers (St Marys Loch SC) 10pts
5th 22114, Loz Young & Kirsty Wonders (Tynemouth SC) 12pts
6th 22901, Paul Young & Chris Winters (Midland SC) 17pts
7th 22874, Alistair Mc Donald & Kieran Welsh (Berwick SC) 18pts
8th 20816, Caragh Morrish & Lorry Young (Tynemouth SC) 25pts
9th 22151, Ian Ainsworth & Rachel Newman (Tynemouth SC) 27pts
10th 21646, Emma Watson & Jacks Clarke (Tynemouth SC) 30pts
11th 23163, Richard Denny & Maureen Denny (Snettisham Beach SC) 35pts
12th 22199, Peter Middlemiss & Dorothy Cragg (Tynemouth SC) 35pts
13th 21635, Mike Shipway & Jayne Sewell (Tynemouth SC) 37pts
14th 22940, Dan Murray & Abbey Heywood (Tynemouth SC) 44pts
15th 17721, Emma Coleman & Jo Coleman (Snettisham Beach SC) 44pts
NE Winter Championships at Hykeham Sailing Club - By Hykeham SC 14 Nov 2008
Extreme sports!
All photographs
Hykeham SC.
Despite a forecast for winds of 35 mph average and heavy rain 12 Enterprises arrived at Hykeham S.C for the Northeast area winter championship. With half an hour to go to the start of the first race, 35 mph winds seemed unlikely with bright sunshine and an inconstant force 2-3 that changed direction at random through 90 degrees.
The fleet got away at the first time of asking for the first race. Andy Ritchie and Joanne Sallis took the early lead followed by Chris and Andrea Bridle and Russ Short and Kate Fry with the rest of the pack snapping at their heels. Ritchie maintained his lead for the first lap but then got the wrong side of one of the bigger shifts allowing the Bridles through to the lead and Steve Graham and Rich Adams to pop out of the pack into second. For the next 3 laps the two leaders kept their positions but the rest of the fleet enjoyed extremely close racing and windshift snakes and ladders. Enterprise racing at its best. At the finish The Bridles had maintained their lead and Graham / Adams just shaded Ritchie/ Sallis for second the rest of the fleet finishing within 4 minutes of the leaders.
Over the lunch period the wind increased in strength but steadied a bit in direction. The first of the casualties occurred before the start as the wind continued to rise and the race started in a force 5 rising. From the start Chris and Andrea Bridle made their intentions clear by taking an early lead and demonstrating heavy weather sailing at its best. At the first mark Ritchie in second place capsized and Graham followed suit as soon as he took second on the reach. This allowed Brian Garrison and Tim Elliot through to second. As the wind continued to increase Graham / Adams took second again when Garrison / Elliot capsized. Things looked fairly settled as the leaders picked their way through the upturned hulls but the wind continued to increase and the unthinkable occurred when, in common with practically every one else, the Bridles capsized allowing Graham through to the lead and Garrison to second. The Bridles recovered and sailed on to take third from Paul Young / Phil Harrison, the only crew not to capsize all day, in the closing yards of the race.
Conditions had detiorated to such an extent that the race officers abandoned the last race with winds now reaching 40mph with driving heavy rain.
Overall Results:
1st Steve Graham and Rich Adams (Northampton SC)
2nd Chris and Andrea Bridle (Hykeham SC)
3rd Brian Garrison and Tim Elliot (Hallamshire SC)
4th Paul Young and Phil Harrison (Midland SC)
Enterprise Open at Rotherham Sailing Club By Rotherham SC
The Rotherham annual Enterprise open was held on the 28th September.
Race 1 was postponed until after lunch due to a severe shortage of essential wind fortunately the galley had a plentiful supply of home cooking to feed the hungry travellers. Having lost a few boats to a good meal the now depleted fleet of 5 boats launched in a building breeze. Brian Garrison & Tim Elliot were first to the windward mark. During the race the wind eventually shifted to its predicted WSW direction making the second leg of the course a beat, a close tacking match developed allowing Russell Short & Kate fry to take the lead.
Race 2 saw competitive manoeuvring pre-start to secure a place on the short start line, Larry Gray & Neil Botham from Yorkshire Ouse successfully started at the starboard end, however Brian & Tim misjudged their approach at the port end and had to gybe round, remarkably planning conditions developed ensuring all crews were able to stretch their legs Lap 3 saw a close battle develop between Simon Fleetwood, John Wakelin and Larry/ Neil. Russell & Kate maintained their early lead to take line honours.
In Race 3, Andrew Short & Jonathan Bell showed the fleet a clean and well varnished transom for the first lap and half until Brian & Tim slipped past at the windward mark. Subsequent laps saw Brian and Tim's lead challenged unsuccessfully by all legal tactics available, resulting in much on the water good natured banter until a biased run allowed Russell & Kate to gybe away into more pressure.
The day concluded with competitors commenting "that it had been a cracking days sail and one of the years best so far", so remember as per the Guiness advert "all good things come to those who wait".
Overall Results:
1st 23219, Russell Short & Kate Fry (Rotherham SC) 2pts
2nd 23135, Brian Garrison & Tim Elliot (Hallanshire) 4pts
3rd 22453, Andrew Short & Johnathan Bell (Rotherham SC) 6pts
4th 22921, Simon Fleetwood, John Wakelin (Rotherham SC) 8pts
5th 22629, Larry Gray & Neil Botham (Yorkshire Ouse) 10pts
Enterprise Open Meeting at Killington Sailing Association - By Steve Blackburn 21 September 2008
Beautiful Weather greeted us at Killington SA high up in Cumbria. 15 boats turned up to a force 1 – 2 wind from the southwest. All photographs Killington SA.
A clean start by all for race one. Current Youth Champion Matt Johnson & Megan Adams SYSC, went left up the beat, Pete & Jack Lawson (Killington) went right up the beat. Matt Round 1st with Tim & Hannah Sadler, current National Champion in 2nd. Pete rounded 3rd. Plenty of places exchange through out the race with Tim finishing in 1st. Pete Lawson came in 2nd with Charles and Hannah Adams WLYC in 3rd. Matt unfortunately lost places and finished 4th.
Briefing from OOD Tricky run down the lake in glorious sunshine
After a great lunch and a quick rest, surely enjoying the sunny weather. We set sail for the 2nd race. Again all competitors cleanly started. The beat was very tricky with plenty of lifts and headers. Tim rounded the windward mark with Charles and Dave in 2nd 3rd. The downwind legs were just as much fun. Some people gained and others lost out. Charles moved into 1st and held his position till the end. Tim finished 2nd and Pete came in 3rd.
Tight at the first mark – Photograph Killington SA
Back-to-back for race 3. It was all on the wire; 3 competitors could win the event - Tim, Charles and Pete. Charlie started well and rounded the windward mark first with Steve Blackburn & Nick Hampson WLYC/Pilkington in 2nd. Charles went on to extend his lead and win the event. Pete sailed well, recalled at the start and finished 2nd. Ed Pilling & Dave Boustead (Arnside) came in 3rd and Dave & Beth Porter sailing quick up the last beat to finish 4th.