Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 M600 LEADERBOARD

Enterprise Top Helm Series at Elton Sailing Club

by Steve Blackburn 2 Apr 2018 21:03 UTC
Enterprise Top Helm Series at Elton © ESC

The first open meeting of the Enterprise Top Helm Series held at Elton Sailing Club. The weather was cold as the wind was from the north east and with a gusty force four to six. Ten competitors took part and the event was held along with the Albacores.

Race one; the Enterprises started five minutes after the Albacores. The start line was port bias but would swing back to Starboard on some the horrendous gusts which were streaming down the lake. Dave & Joy Reed (Elton) created the best start only to be overhauled by Steve Blackburn and Ian Ritchie (WLYC & Leigh & Lowton).

The beat was the whole length of the lake then onto a run with a daring gybe onto a screaming reach, another gybe for good measure, another run, and then back on to the beat.

Steve soon secured first place with Paul young & Aimee Alsop (Midland) taking second spot. Dave came in third with Geoff McLardy & Dave Wood (Elton) in fourth. Rob Gascoigne & Kim Scott (Elton) was our first retirement.

After a hearty lunch to fuel our bellies for another windy and blustery second race.

The first beat was very tricky as the wind was all over the show. Paul rounded the windward mark first with Steve overtaking Paul on the following leg which was a at times was a planning run to take win. Paul stayed in second and Dave came in third with a couple of retirements as there were some nasty gusts trying and taking boats out as the wind funnelled its way down the race course.

Back to back for the final race. The wind had dropped off a little, as predicted to the forecast. Steve was over course side at the start and went back to give Paul and Dave an advantage up the first beat. Paul stay in the lead for a the first lap to be overhauled by Steve up the second beat to take another bullet for the day. Paul & Dave had a good old battle for the remaining laps but Paul took second yet again with another third for Dave.

We all retired to the comforts of the clubhouse for a drink a chat and the prize giving.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoClubHelmCrewR1R2R3Pts
1st23310WLYCSteve BlackburnIan Ritchie1112
2nd22901MidlandPaul YoungAimee Allsop2224
3rd21310EltonDave ReadJoy Read3336
4th20400EltonGeoff McLardyDave Wood4DNFDNC10
5th2040EltonRob GascoigneKim ScottDNFDNFDNC12

Related Articles

Horning Sailing Club Autumn Passage Race
A superb 46 starters take to the water on Saturday Horning Sailing Club's Autumn Passage Race made a welcome return for its second year on Saturday 19th October 2024. This year, it attracted a great number of 50 entrants and saw 46 starters on the day. Posted on 21 Oct
Full story of the West Lancs 24-Hour Dinghy Race
A remarkable contest / the races within the race The WLYC 24 Hour Race made its return to the yachting calendar with a bang after an over-long break. The healthy entry of 51 clubs sailing Enterprises and GP14s had more than a smattering of star sailors vying for the prizes. Posted on 26 Sep
West Lancs 24-Hour Dinghy Race
Southport's iconic event concludes with thrilling finish The 53rd West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC) 24-Hour Dinghy Race came to a spectacular close on Sunday, with Budworth Sailing Club (SC) claiming victory after 24 hours of sailing non-stop on the Marine Lake in Southport. Posted on 23 Sep
Iconic WLYC 24 Hour Race returns this weekend
The much-loved West Lancashire YC event at Southport Marine Lake is back after a 5 year break! The WLYC 24 Hour Race - dinghy sailing's premier endurance race - is back! Under the burgee of West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC), this much-loved event will be returning this weekend, marking the 53rd edition of the race on the Marine Lake in Southport. Posted on 17 Sep
Enterprise Masters Championship at Wigan
Lunch featured one of the largest jacket potatoes ever witnessed at the club Wigan and St Helens Sailing Club welcomed visitors to the Enterprise Masters' National Championships from as far afield as South Staffs Sailing Club in the south, up to St Mary's Loch Sailing Club in the north. Posted on 17 Sep
Goat Marine Enterprise Nationals at Looe overall
Yet more sunshine on the final day The final day of the Goat Marine Enterprise National Championship at Looe brought yet more sunshine and the promise of champagne sailing. The Race Officer set an earlier start time, with the aim of getting in three races to complete the series. Posted on 2 Aug
Goat Marine Enterprise Nationals at Looe Day 4
Racing commenced in a light south-westerly after the obligatory Looe pasty for lunch Races 4 & 5 commenced in a light south-westerly after the obligatory Looe pasty for lunch. Posted on 1 Aug
Goat Marine Enterprise Nationals at Looe Day 3
Finally racing after two days of no wind Following two days of no wind, racing finally started on Day 3 of the Goat Marine Enterprise National Championship in Looe. Light winds dominated the day with 3 races completed to kick start the regatta. Posted on 31 Jul
62nd Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy
Excellent event included fund raising for the Great North Air Ambulance Service Over its 62 years, the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy run by Ullswater Yacht Club, has evolved into a 3 day festival of sailing, centred on an unique pair of all class handicap races in breath-taking scenery, for dinghies, keelboats and yachts. Posted on 18 Jul
Penarth Yacht Club Regatta 2024
Optimism rewarded with six full races over the weekend Penarth YC held their annual sailing regatta on the weekend of 29th and 30th of June. Despite a worrying forecast of very little wind, sailors from several clubs arrived to take part and their optimism was rewarded with six full races over the weekend. Posted on 3 Jul
Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024