ENTERPRISE NOBLE MARINE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, LOOE SC, JULY 24 – 29.

Report by Barry Moss on races sailed on Sunday - Tuesday

RACE 1. Harwich Borough Cup. After a one lap Practice Race, Race 1 started in overcast conditions with a gentle Force 2-3 from the North West. The Pathfinder, Ann Jackson/Nikki Birrell, Burghfield SC suffered a big header causing a general recall. The fleet then started with a long beat towards Looe Island, with the lead at the windward mark held by Christian Birrell and Sam Breary of Weymouth SC.  By the end of the next lap of an Olympic course, Alan and Matt Johnson, SCYC and SCC had pulled through to claim 3^rd place and on the final beat moved into the lead, which they held to the finish, followed across the line by Tim and Hannah Sadler, Yorkshire Dales SC, Christian Birrell/Sam Breary, Phil and Sarah Kirk from Frampton On Severn SC and Paul Hobson/Libby Allen, Warsash/BCYC, who were sailing the prototype Mk 3 Rondar Enterprise. A surprising development after the finish resulted in Alan and Matt Johnson retiring for completing only 1 penalty turn on the first beat.

RACE 2. Lanning Trophy. Racing was postponed for the morning and the fleet launched in sunshine and a fresh breeze for a 2.00 pm start. The fleet started in a steady Force 3 from the NW with the lead at the mark taken by Paul Hobson/Libby Allen followed by Alan and  Matt Johnson, two boat lengths down from Tim and Hannah Sadler.  Paul Hobson/Libby Allen pulled away on the second reach and gained further, taking a big lift on the beat. Tim and Hannah Sadler lost places on the beat, dropping out of the top ten!  At the finish Paul Hobson/Libby Allen won from Pete Lawson/Gareth Balfour from Bassenthwaite SC with Christian Birrell/Sam Breary 3^rd, Alan and Matt Johnson 4^th and Charles and Rachel Adams 5^th. Libby Allen at 13 years being the youngest crew ever to win a race at the Nationals,  took great delight in winning as she held the Lanning Trophy aloft at the Prize Presentation.

RACE 3, Holyhead Challenge Trophy, with the same sun and breeze. The course was reset as the wind direction moved to the North. A long beat to Looe Island spread the fleet but Pete Lawson/Gareth Balfour lead at the windward mark followed by Tim and Hannah Sadler and Christian  Birrell/Sam Breary with Veterans Brian and Linda Cummings, Dabchicks SC in 4^th.  Pete Lawson/Gareth Balfour who had been first out of the gate start squandered the lead by gybing onto a run instead of bearing off on a reach, losing 3 places! At the finish Tim and Hanah Sadler won from Christian Birrell/Sam Breary, Paul Hobson/Libby Allen with Steve Graham/Chris Blundell from Northampton SC 4^th.