Enterprise Open 2019
Despite the sometimes scary looking forecast, the sailing conditions turned out to be very manageable for the participants with a fairly steady south westerly - average wind speeds were as advertised at F3-F4 but without the really high gusts, or worse still lightning, that formed part of some forecasts.
A course was set and following a quick briefing racing got underway shortly after 11:00 with a slightly different format of 2 races, lunch and then 2 more races to conclude. This was around the same overall race time but it seemed to work well in the conditions, allowing time for some to bail out or take a break.
Visitors Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens got away to clean starts and built up early leads in the first three races, sealing 1st place overall with three wins and one discard for the final race. Racing in the rest of the fleet was very close at times.
The consistent pairing were Les Smith/Peter Scott with a 2-2-(3)-3 set of results. This should have got them second overall. However Duncan Jenkins/Beth Dancer who, despite an early capsize just off the pontoon before the first race, came from the back of the fleet on points, overtaking both Les/Peter and Mike Hogg/John Clark on points to take 2nd place overall with (5)-3-2-1.
Overall, we had three capsizes throughout the day, none requiring outside assistance and all recovered to continue racing. At times, spells of rain came in with virtually no wind. De-rigging ashore was particularly wet but a good day was had by all.
Many thanks to the Laser fleet led by Fleet Captain Colin Carver, Race Officer James Le Couilliard and able helpers on the water and in the galley.
