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Eastern Reports 2009
Grafham S.C. Easter Egg Series
Author Graham Kirkup 15 March 2009
Easter eggs for all for the five boats sailed in glorious conditions on Sunday, in contrast to last years event which was cancelled due to excesses of snow wind and cold.
Race 1 saw Russell Short / Kate Fry lead the fleet on the first lap, on the second lap Graham Kirkup /Dom White pulled through from last to gain the lead temporarily.
Russell regained his lead and foxy Barry Moss / Julie Moore sneaked into second place on the line.
Race 2 Brian Garrison /Tom Elliott lead for some time but Russell again got through with the first four boats close at the finish.
Race 3 was an addition to the programme courtesy of Phil Bevan ROD. Brian lead for most of the first lap with Russell puling through on the second beat, Paul Young /Chris Winter also got a flyer on the second beat of the Olympic course to finish second behind Russell with Brian third.
RESULTS
Rank Sail No. Helm Crew Race 1 2 3 Tot Nett
1st 23219 Russell Short Kate Fry (1) 1 1 3 2
2nd 23135 Brian Garrison Tom Elliott (4) 2 3 9 5
3rd 23008 Barry Moss Julie Moore 2 4 (5) 11 6
4th 23224 Graham Kirkup Dom White 3 3 (4) 10 6
5th 22901 Paul Young Chris Winter (5) 5 2 12 7
Broadwater S.C.
Author Neil Parsloe 29 March 2009
Four days before the forecast was for 22-26 knots so we are all expecting the usual Broadwater exciting sailing, with plenty of action for the rescue boat crews. By the day before this had declined to 6 knots, and 2 knots on the morning of the event. We arrived to a virtual mill pond, but the dedicated Enterprise travellers rolled in from places as far apart as Addlestone , Birmingham, Cambridge, Melton Mowbray, Milton Keynes and Southend. For the first time at Broadwater we were holding a joint Laser and Enterprise Open. This report concentrates on the Ents but there is also a Laser report on the clubs web site, www.broadwatersc.org.uk.
Race officers Dave Walford and Mike Parker were obviously in for a challenging day. After a fifteen minute delay there was a Force 1 to 2 breeze, just enough wind to set a course, but with an ever changing direction round all 360 degrees of the compass. A general decision was made to "get out there and go for it". So for a change we started the first race with a broad reach/run as the wind shifted around the clock. The Ents started 8 minutes before the Lasers as it was considered they would be faster in the prevailing conditions.
Nigel and Iain Bird and Paul Young and Phil Harrison started at the leeward end of the line while most of the fleet contested the windward end. With better apparent wind from the leeward end these two boats escaped from under the fleet and reached the first mark before the rest of the fleet, who arrived as a very sociable group and managed to round in a confused but friendly raft with no raised voices at all. When "Birdie and son" hit the front they usually stay there and this was no exception, as they went on to develop a lead that was never challenged. Paul and Phil found a big hole on the right side of the next leg and slipped back to 8th. Greg and Pam Hart escaped from the party at the mark to establish a solid second place. They were chased around the lake, in light and variable airs, by David and Maggie Beaney and Martin and Laurence Davies. This order continued until the last lap when these two husband and wife teams sailed into a hole on the run allowing Neil Parsloe and Shiv Ladyman and Graham Kirkup andCharlotte Walford to slip past 20 yards away in some wind. David and Maggie recovered to finish 4th, with Paul and Phil getting back to finish 5th, leaving and Graham and Charlotte 6th, after Martin and Laurence were seen to go the wrong side of a lateral mark of the course and ended up retiring. Colin Gent and Jane Cadd were also up with the chasing group until doing two rapid roll tacks (rule 42!!!) when helm and crew got out of sync and they nearly sunk the boat. Still it’s good to get the discard out of the way!
The fleet retired to the clubhouse for the usual high quality Broadwater lunch, with some exceptional puddings this year. As usual on these sorts of day the wind had increased while we were having lunch, but luckily some of it stayed as we re-launched. The race officers set a new course for this slightly steadier wind but still allowed for a beat for every wind direction! This time the Lasers started first as they had managed to catch the middle of the Ent fleet in the first race. However the Ents still finished well mixed in with the most of the Lasers. The race officer can never win!
With a start on the club line and a course that went round the whole lake, Greg and Pam and David and Maggie got away well at the start with Greg leading approaching the first mark. Nigel and Iain, the first race winners, has a bad start and rounded the first mark close to the back of the fleet. Birdie is used to having a clear view of whole fleets but rarely from the rear perspective! Paul and Phil got a reasonable start from the middle of the line but soon lost out by going too far right on the first beat. The wind was still patchy allowing for a fair degree of place changing throughout the fleet. Greg and Pam ran out of luck and wind as David and Maggie and then Neil and Shiv managed to pass them, so they finished 4th. Nigel and Iain made progress through the fleet (in similar fashion to Lewis Hamilton in the Australian GP earlier in the day) and finished second behind the Beaney boat. Colin and Jane with their role tacking now in sync finished 5th.
Going into the final race Greg and Pam, Nigel and Iain or David and Maggie could all win the event. Greg and Pam and Martin and Laurence started well and led at the first mark. Martin and Laurence given a sniff of the front were not going to be caught this time and drifted away into an unassailable lead. I remember seeing them half the length of the lake ahead battling past the bulk of the Laser fleet despite the fact that they had gain had a good head start on the Ent’s. Behind them a three way scrap for the trophy developed between Greg and Pam, Nigel and Iain and David and Maggie with places swapping frequently on the long run. Approaching the leeward mark at the end of this run David and Maggie combined with Greg and Pam to blanket Nigel and Iain. David and Maggie slipped through into 2nd place quickly developing a comfortable gap. Somewhere after this Greg and Pam had more bad luck and slipped back. At the penultimate mark Nigel and Iain were right on David and Maggie’s transom, in third place, which would have just been good enough to give them them overall victory. However Nigel and Iain got trapped amongst the Lasers while the "Bean machine" tacked through a narrow gap between 2 lasers to get clear air and escape to finish 2nd in the race. Nigel and Iain were so hindered that Neil and Shiv slipped round the outside of the mess to take 3rd place, which unfortunately meant Nigel and Iain loosing out on first place overall. Colin and Jane improving as the day went on finished 4th, after Nigel and Iain retired after doing a 720 due to the Laser incident. In the middle of the fleet Paul/Phil spent most of the race battling with Antony Cole and Richard Holmes, Graham/Charlotte and Peter and Elaine Dolling before sailing two brilliant last legs and pulling up three places to finish sixth.
It was very unfortunate that at the end of a days racing the influence of sailors from a different fleet could have had such an effect on the closing stages of a race and influence the overall event result. The race committee at Broadwater will be reviewing the incident to try to prevent a re-occurrence at future joint open events.
On the upside special mention for Ian and Sue Simpson and Keith King and Peter Richards who at the start of their second season at Enterprise opens did exceptionally well, in challenging and frustrating conditions that at times had the old hands struggling to get the boats to move in any direction. Despite these conditions everyone had an enjoyable and sociable day and we look forward to welcoming everyone back next year when we will try to organise some more wind.
Lastly thanks to David Beaney, Paul Young, and Colin Gent for their notes that helped compile this report.
|
Helm
|
Crew
|
No
|
Club
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
Pts
|
|
Dave Beaney
|
Maggie Beaney
|
20234
|
Casterways SC
|
(4)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
Nigel Bird
|
Iain Bird
|
22456
|
Papercourt SC
|
1
|
2
|
(dnf)
|
3
|
|
Greg Hart
|
Pam Hart
|
22569
|
Broadwater SC
|
2
|
4
|
(5)
|
6
|
|
Neil Parsloe
|
Siobhan Ladyman
|
22629
|
Broadwater SC
|
(3)
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
|
Martin Davies
|
Laurence Davies
|
22320
|
Rugby and Daventry SC
|
(raf)
|
6
|
1
|
7
|
|
Colin Gent
|
Jane Cadd
|
22543
|
Broadwater SC
|
(8)
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
|
Paul Young
|
Phil Harrison
|
22901
|
Midland S.C.
|
5
|
(9)
|
6
|
11
|
|
Graham Kirkup
|
Charotte Walford
|
23224
|
Hunts SC
|
6
|
8
|
(9)
|
14
|
|
Anthony Cole
|
Richard Holmes
|
23094
|
Aldenham SC
|
(7)
|
7
|
7
|
14
|
|
Peter Dolling
|
Elaine Dolling
|
22912
|
Dabchicks SC
|
9
|
(11)
|
8
|
17
|
|
Dave Simmonds
|
Gill Cooper
|
22746
|
Melton Mowbray SC
|
10
|
10
|
(dns)
|
20
|
|
Ian Simpson
|
Sue Simpson
|
23010
|
Southend SC
|
12
|
(13)
|
10
|
22
|
|
Keith King
|
Peter Richards
|
21454
|
Milton Keynes SC
|
11
|
12
|
(dns)
|
23
|
Middle Nene S.C.
Authors Steve Graham,Russell Short,Jane Scutt & Paul Young 19 Apr 2009
The first 2009 National circuit event was a combined Midland / Eastern area meeting held at Middle Nene Sailing Club on Sunday 19th April, sponsored by both Pinnell and Bax and Speed Sails.
Twenty boats arrived to contest this event held in glorious sunshine with ten to fifteen mph winds. The first race got away after a general recall and saw Steve Graham and James Holmes (Northampton SC) round the windward mark first followed by Martin Weatherstone and Karen Jewkes (Midland SC). At the leeward mark Steve and James were caught out on the wrong side of a wind shift allowing Jane and Nick Scutt (Middle Nene SC) to take the lead. Jane and Nick then continued to hold the lead until the last beat, when some good sailing by Russell Short and Kate Fry (Rotherham SC) allowed them to pull past a take the honours, Jane and Nick were second and Steve and James third.
The second race, sailed back to back with the first and on a new course saw the wind shift left as the start gun sounded. Tim and Hannah Sadler (Ripon SC) pulled away from the line on port followed by Russell and Kate. A starboard rounding of the first mark in shifty conditions called for a very focused approach. Jane and Nick having played the shifts on left hand side rounded third. After much battling throughout the race the final order was Tim and Hannah first, Russell and Kate Second and Jane and Nick third.
Lunch was served with much discussion on the new flyaway pole system as boats one, two and three were all still using their trusty old jib sticks.
The third race was again sailed in excellent conditions, Jonathan Woodward (Redditch SC) ably crewed by local lad Daniel Wigmore sailed excellently to lead at the first mark and then built upon this to finish first; Tim and Hannah broke their tiller extension but still managed a second. Third would have been Martin and Karen but Jane and Nick were awesome up the short beat to snatch third at the finish.
Nigel and Diana Pepperdine (Staunton Harold SC) who were on equal points with Tim and Jo Coleman (Snettisham Beach SC) after two races sailed well in the last race to win the Silver fleet prize. Niall and Duncan Rennie (Melton Mowbray SC) were the youngest sailors and using smaller sails comfortably finished the third race showing great promise for the future.
Overall Results:
1st 23127, Tim Sadler & Hannah Sadler (Ripon SC) 3pts
2nd 23219, Russell Short & Kate Fry (Rotherham SC) 3pts
3rd 23089, Jonathan Woodward & Daniel Wigmore (Redditch SC / MNSC) 5pts
4th 22702, Jane Scutt & Nick Scutt (Middle Nene SC) 5pts
5th 23223, Steve Graham & James Holmes (Northampton SC) 7pts
6th 22689, Martin Weatherstone & Karen Jewkes (Midland SC) 10pts
7th 22320, Martin Davies & Laurence Davies (Rugby and Daventry) 11pts
8th 22823, Mike Cossey & Christine Barron (Tamworth SC) 13pts
9th 20518, Nigel Pepperdine & Diana Pepperdine (Staunton Harold SC) 16pts
10th 20202, Tim Coleman & Jo Coleman (Snettisham Beach SC) 18pts
11th 23094, Anthony Cole & Andrew Holmes (Aldenham SC) 19pts
12th 22901, Paul Young & Emily Moyce (Midland SC) 23pts
13th 23243, Martin Bottomley & Ray Ball (Emberton Park SC) 25pts
14th 22619, Kevin Rose & Naomi Bilton (Olton Mere SC) 27pts
15th 22873, Terry Hall & Kim Hall (Middle Nene SC) 29pts
16th 22977, Jack Mead & Jenny Mead (Middle Nene SC) 32pts
17th 22746, David Simmons & Gill Cooper (Melton Mowbray SC) 32pts
18th 20320, Brian Graham & Diane Graham (Melton Mowbray SC) 37pts
19th 21454, Keith King & Peter Richards (Milton Keynes SC) 37pts
20th 20304, Niall Rennie & Duncan Rennie (Melton Mowbray SC) 38pts
Ely S.C.
Author Niall Pearcey 9th May 2009
Ten boats raced in demanding conditions on Sunday, May 3rd with six visiting and four Ely boats competing in an exciting day's racing. The Ely fleet was reduced because of the gusty conditions and continuing winter maintenance. The Westerly wind course setting difficult, but the Race Officer, Niall Pearcey, set two upwind legs per lap to provide the fleet with some tactical challenges.
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The first race started in a good Force Four breeze with gusts coming from various directions as is customary at Ely. This made for exhilarating sailing with a couple of capsizes. The first race won by Brian and Linda Cumming from Dabchicks Sailing Club on Mersea Island, who managed to get clear of the fleet and build a substantial lead.
After a good lunch, the second race started in a lighter wind, with Brian and Linda again winning a slightly closer race. The third race was won by Ely crew John and Molly Wells who had to reclaim their lead several times during a closely fought race. A special mention goes to Ely Cadet Jack Knight, who came third overall, crewing for Graham Kirkup from Hunts Sailing Club. This was Jack's first Open Meeting in an Enterprise.
Overall Results
1st: Brian and Linda Cumming, Dabchicks SC
2nd: John and Molly Wells, Ely SC
3rd: Graham Kirkup and Jack Knight, Hunts/Ely SC
4th: Richard and Leslie Denny, Snettisham Beach SC
5th: Kevin and Scott Bilham, Ely SC
Dabchicks S.C. Eastern Area Championships
Author Brian Cumming 16 & 17 May 2009
The fleet gathered at West Mersea on Saturday morning anticipating three good races. Unfortunately, due to strong windsand low tides making the beat out to the race area very tricky, it was decided that cricket and dog walking was the best option. It was agreed to have an earlier start on Sunday morning, after a good evening at the Club, where all enjoyed a barbecue.
The fleet made its way safely to the start in a good force 4 and completed on Olympic course, where Brian and Linda Cumming were the first casualties with a swim at the gybe mark. Nigel and Andy Bird led from start to finish, closely followed by Anthony Cole and Andrew Holmes until Anthony decide to test the water temperature of the Blackwater at the last gybe, just before the finish which let Graham Kirkup and Ben Best through into second place. Anthony recovered quickly to finish third.
The second race was delayed for a short time to let a rain squall pass. By now the wind had increased in strength to a good force 5 and only four boats crossed the start line. Nigel and Andy again led from start to finish, this time followed by Peter and Elaine Dolling just in front of Anthony and Andrew. This time it was Graham’s time to check the water temperature having capsized on the windward leg.
The last race started in even stronger winds with only three crossing the line. Nigel and Andy again won, taking the Championship, with Peter and Elaine coming home just ahead of Anthony and Andrew.
The return to the shore was a dead run on a flat out plane, through the yacht moorings, which even Nigel said was a very hairy ride. Peter chose the safe option and came home under jib only.
Results: -
| 1st 22456 Nigel & Andy Bird |
| 2nd 23094 Anthony Cole & Andrew Holmes |
| 3rd 22912 Peter & Elaine Dolling |
| 4th 23224 Graham Kirkup & Ben Best |
| 5th 23049 Brian & Linda Cumming |
| 6th 20202 Tim & Jo Coleman |
Deben Y.C.
Author John Adcroft 7th June 2009
After an absence of many years Enterprise dinghy's returned in force to the River Deben in Suffolk for an open meeting counting both to the Broads and Eastern area aggregate trophies. Hosted by Deben Yacht Club in Woodbridge competitors were treated to three races back to back on a reach of the river between Woodbridge and Waldringfield.
Visitors came from six different clubs probably drawn by the knowledge that East Suffolk is one of the driest parts of the country. How wrong that assumption proved to be as racing started in monsoon conditions in a force three north easterly that eased during racing.
David Beaney from Castaways won the first two races and retired to the club house to dry out leaving the rest of the fleet to fight out the other places. The great thing about racing on a tidal estuary was that all races were completed by 13.00 hrs giving competitors time to have a leisurely late lunch and natter before the prize giving. The prizes were kindly donated by The Ufford Produce and Provision Co and local brewery Calvors Lager.
Results
1st 20234 David and Maggie Beaney Castaways SC
2nd 23137 Wally and Lesley Riley Chester SCC
3rd 21839 Kevin Edwards and Rory Kelsey Beccles ASC
4th 23049 Brian and Linda Cumming Dabchicks SC
Aldenham S.C.
Author Antony Cole 27th September 2009
High pressure and a forecast of calm or light airs may have reduced the turnout this year but a respectable fleet of 10 boats were rewarded with some competitive racing over 3 races in light variable north westerly winds characterised by unpredictable and large shifts.
The first race was won by Kevin and Scott Bilham (Ely SC ), closely followed by Phil and Laura Bevan (Grafham SC) and John and Molly Wells (Ely SC) . The leading three boats established an early lead and remained well ahead while calms and light airs dogged the rest of the fleet.
The second race saw much closer racing with Phil Bevan losing out on the last leg when the leading 4 boats realised they were heading for the wrong mark of the sausage/triangle course. The finish was extremely close with John and Mollly Wells leading round the last mark followed closely Antony Cole and Andrew Holmes (Aldenham SC) and Kevin and Scott Bilham (Ely SC ). With all three boats, abeam and within metres of the line on a downwind finish, Antony and Andrew managed to edge their bow ahead and over the line to take first place, the first home boat to win a race the ASC Enterprise Open for some years!
After lunch the wind filled in slightly and became more westerly for the third race on a dogleg course. Well meant suggestions about Aldenham sailors needing more starting practice seemed to spur Les Smith and Cathy Littlejohn to up their game for the third race. Les established a clear lead from the start followed by Antony and Phil. The second and third lap saw Les’s lead gradually eroded and produced some very close racing that, from the shore was very interesting to watch - especially at the leeward mark where the jockying for position was, to say the least, entertaining on at least 2 legs where several boats met. Kevin and Scott lost out because they decided to cover Antony and Andrew rather than Phil and Laura who achieved a well win deserved 1st place and became overall winners of the 2009 ASC trophy.
Thanks to all competitors and volunteers, especially Steve Sharpe OOD and the AOD’s for well run races and good courses, and to Tim Ross-Esplan and Louise Halle for a fantastic lunch.
Snettisham Beach S.C.
Emberton Park S.C.
Grafham Water S.C.
Results
1st 22439 Grafham Water Phil Bevan Laura Bevan 2.0 (4.0) 1.0 7.0 3.0
2nd 22315 Ely Sailing Club Kevin Bilham Scott Bilham 1.0 2.0 (4.0) 7.0 3.0
3rd 21549 Ely Sailing Club John Wells Molly Wells (3.0) 3.0 2.0 8.0 5.0
4th 23094 Aldenham Sailing Club Antony Cole Andrew Holmes (5.0) 1.0 5.0 11.0 6.0
5th 22857 Aldenham Sailing Club Les Smith Cathy Littlejohn 4.0 (5.0) 3.0 12.0 7.0
6th 22941 Aldenham Sailing Club Kelvin Jones Chris Halle (7.0) 6.0 6.0 19.0 12.0
7th 21805 Aldenham Sailing Club Roger Fulton Neil Marsh 6.0 8.0 (11.0 DNS) 25.0 14.0
8th 22914 Aldenham Sailing Club Bob Jones Christine Jones 9.0 7.0 (11.0 DNS) 27.0 16.0
9th 21086 Aldenham Sailing Club Marcus Flint Paul Burgess 8.0 9.0 (11.0 DNS) 28.0 17.0
10th 20916 Aldenham Sailing Club David Weisfeld Robert 10.0 (11.0 DNS) 11.0 DNS 32.0 21.0