enterprise open

Enterprise Open 7th July

Eleven boats (9 home and 2 visitors) turned out on Saturday, 7th July for our one day open which was a joint event with the Solo fleet this year. Attendance was down due to the extremely wet weather in the week leading up to the event and particularly on the Friday when surrounding roads were flooded and there were no takers for the planned barbecue and camping!

However, we were blessed on the Saturday with a beautiful, sunny day with wind (although it did turn out to be very unpredictable).

In the first race at 11am the start line was very contested and Len Moult (NCSC) was forced over the line and had to go round the end. Jonathan Lye (NCSC) quickly took a commanding lead and maintained his lead throughout. The wind was medium strength but was extremely shifty with a particularly difficult reach between buoys 10 and 8. There was close racing round the marks and a brief coming together between Nigel Pepperdine (Staunton SC) and Len Moult with Len Moult finally gaining second place.

Two races were run back to back after lunch with all boats getting a good start for the second race. However, the wind changed through 45 degrees at the start giving a port advantage and Ross Ryan in the oldest boat in the race making the windward mark in first place (despite Amy the crew having to bail water continuously up the beat!). The wind was steadier throughout the second race and Jonathan Lye again pulled away with Len Moult in close pursuit and a close race between Mike Cossey (Sutton SC) and Nigel Pepperdine. With Jonathan Lye ending the race in first place, Len Moult in second and Mike Cossey third.

The wind got up just prior to the start of the third race and Ben Thomas was caught by a vicious gust and capsized on the pin end during the start sequence leading to a postponement and lots of confusion amongst the fleet about the timing of the new start (particularly as Len Moult forgot to reset his watch!).

With the wind building up and an visibly approaching storm, this was a much more hairy experience for all racers with a collision between Adrian Jones and Stephen O’Donnell leading to those two retirements. Again, Jonathan Lye emerged the winner with Nigel Pepperdine in second and Mike Cossey third. All boats just managed to get to shore before the storm hit so thanks to Nadina Lincoln for excellent organisation and timing as OOD.

Top three sailors were presented with trophies and wine and Amy Hinsliff-Smith won the junior crew trophy and Edward Johnston gaining the 2nd junior crew award.

Thanks to Pauline for excellent catering in the galley and for the volunteers who helped out behind the bar.

The Enterprise Fleet at NCSC will qualify for a two day open next year and hopefully host the area event. So please look out for the date and make sure you join us – surely we will have a good summer next year!

Final Results

1st 23052 Jonathan Lye Karl Lye
2nd23012Len MoultJackie Hewlett-Davies
3rd20518Nigel Pepperdine (Staunton SC)Diana Pepperdine
4th22823Mike Cossey (Sutton SC)Christine Barron
5th17041Ross RyanAmy Hinsliff-Smith (junior)
6th 18662Richard JohnstonEdward Johnston (Junior)
7th21798Ben ThomasWilliam Thomas (Junior)
8th21103Adrian JonesVivienne Weston
9th21499Jonathan WillarsNicola Willars
10th22475Stephen KirkAndrew Hall
11th14860Stephen O’DonnellRory O’Donnell

Jackie Hewlett-Davies

NCSC Enterprise Fleet Captain