Enterprise Midland Area Double Chine Series at Earlswood Lakes SC

Enterprise Open at Earlswood Lakes © Mark Cuxson

Enterprise Open at Earlswood Lakes © Mark Cuxson

Enterprise Open at Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club.

This event the fifth in the Midland Area Enterprise Double Chine Series was held at Earlwood Lakes Sailing Club on Sunday 26th June. The five boat fleet included two visitors from Midland SC and Rugby and Daventry SC.

The conditions were dry but cloudy with a light westerly wind blowing across the lake. In the first race a reaching start saw Jon Wood crewed by Heather Wood (Earlswood Lakes SC) rounded the first mark first followed closely by Phil Harrison crewed by Jennifer Foort (Earlswood Lake SC) with Paul Young crewed by Aimee Allsopp (Midland SC) third. On the next leg Paul and Aimee tacked onto starboard and went left whilst Jon and Heather and Phil and Jennifer went right. Jon and Heather continued to lead with Paul and Aimee gaining second ahead of Phil and Jennifer in third. On the following downwind leg all the boats closed up. Martin Davies crewed by Rebecca Bradley (Rugby and Daventry SC) now took the lead briefly going from last to first to leeward of the fleet. The next leeward mark saw Paul and Aimee get inside water on Martin and Rebecca to take the lead. Paul and Aimee then extended their lead further downwind from Martin and Rebecca in second. Later both Jon and Heather and Phil and Jennifer overtook Martin and Rebecca. At the finish Paul and Aimee took the win with Jon and Heather second with Martin and Rebecca third just overtaking Phil and Jennifer before the finish line.

The second race started after a short tea break.

This time both Paul and Aimee and Phil and Jennifer made bad starts whilst Jon and Heather showed everyone how to do it at the windier starboard end.

Jon and Heather rounded the first mark in the lead from Martin and Rebecca in second and James Patterson crewed by Paul Clark (Earlswood Lakes SC) in third. Paul and Aimee were fourth. Paul and Aimee later overtook James and Paul near the leeward mark to gain third. Over the next two laps Martin and Rebecca and Paul and Aimee battled constantly whilst Jon and Heather built a comfortable lead. Eventually Paul and Aimee passed Martin and Rebecca after gybing out to better breeze near the leeward mark. Paul and Aimee now built a small lead over Martin and Rebecca to start closing down Jon and Heather by the end. Jon and Heather held out to win from Paul and Aimee in second and Martin and Rebecca in third.

After an excellent lunch of Chilli or Cheese and Potato pie followed by scones with strawberries and cream, the last race got underway on the same course but with the start going the other way. The battle for the meeting now between Jon and Heather or Paul and Aimee.

This time Martin and Rebecca reached the first mark in the lead from Jon and Heather in second and James and Paul in third. Paul and Aimee were last. A determined Paul and Aimee past both Phil and Jennifer and James and Paul on one of the beats to gain third by the end of the first lap and continued to close on Jon and Heather during the race. Martin and Rebecca won this race comfortably. Jon and Heather finished second after coming under pressure from Paul and Aimee on the last lap, who finished a few boat lengths behind.

Jon Wood, winning his first open meeting, thanked everyone at Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club for a good day's racing.

Overall Results:

Jon and Heather Wood win the Enterprise Open at Earlswood Lakes - photo © Jennifer Foort