Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

Enterprise Open at Broadwater Sailing Club

by Hilgard Muller with input by Jon Dyas & Paul Young 4 Apr 06:19 UTC 23 March 2024
Broadwater Enterprise Open © Andy Wheeler

Once again Broadwater SC hosted an Enterprise Open alongside the Solo fleet. This became the first event in the 2024 fixtures list after Tamesis had to first postpone, and then cancel, their event due to adverse river and weather conditions.

Two local Enterprises, unfortunately down from four due to unplanned events, and two visitors decided to brave the F5 gusting F7 forecast coming from an unusual north westerly direction. The forecast temperature was not great, but the odd patch of sunshine helped to boost apparent temperatures.

Around 10:30, Race Officer Jeremy Deacon and Richard Beke briefed the competitors in both fleets, and everyone launched for the first two pre-lunch back-to-back races, with the Solos and Enterprises having separate starts. Two further races were held after lunch. Despite the awkward wind direction, the RO team managed to set a first beat and a variety of reaches and off wind legs.

Race 1 - Paul Young/Sophie Forbes, having taken advantage of a bit of port line bias, started on port, avoided the rest of the fleet, and took the early lead. However, the rest of the fleet comprising Jon Dyas/Dave Phillips, Les Smith/Alex Smith and Martin Davies/Rebecca Bradley were not far behind. Jon/Dave came through and exchanged the lead several times with Paul/Sophie only to capsize to windward on a nasty backer, allowing Paul/Sophie through to win. Jon/Dave managed a speedy recovery, if there is such a thing in an Enterprise, and hung on to second, with Les/Alex in third. Martin/Rebecca decided to head to shore.

Race 2 - With the wind building, the RO team reset and race 2 got under way. This time Paul/Sophie had to work to get into the lead, not quite nailing the start again. Jon/Dave and Les/Alex were both knocked down by squalls but in the end all three boats enjoyed (not) a swim, so it really was down to who recovered quickest. In the end Paul/Sophie prevailed to win by a couple of boat lengths over Jon/Dave, with Les/Alex coming in third. Time for a well-deserved lunch!

Race 3 - With a course change in place, Paul/Sophie got into the lead with Les/Alex in second and Jon/Dave in third. Les/Alex then capsized on a gybe mark handing second to Jon/Dave. Soon, a huge squall came through, knocking down Paul/Sophie and allowing Jon/Dave, who managed to stay right side up, to take a win. Meanwhile Les/Alex beat Paul/Sophie in the Enterprise righting stakes and took a second place. Author's note: I watched the squall come in, spread out over the lake and, in an instant, flatten at least six boats across the two competing fleets. They sorted themselves and continued racing. Well done!

Race 4 - With Jon thinking 'All to play for! Dave and I need to win to beat Paul' and Paul thinking 'I need to win this', race 4 got under way with less wind than before. Paul/Sophie did not start well but worked the wind shifts well to lead the race from the first mark with Les/Alex in second. Some place changes ensued, including Jon/Dave coming through to take second but, following an unfortunate mainsheet mishap induced capsize (we've all done that), handed second back to Les/Alex before the finish. Paul/Sophie, kept on their toes by a building breeze and taking no chances, took another first place.

Paul/Sophie won the 2024 BSC Enterprise Chess Trophy. Very well done in the conditions, especially to young Sophie. Second place was keenly contested throughout with Jon/Dave just taking it over Les/Alex in third place.

A tough and challenging day, with big gusts, shifts, squalls, and swims! Thanks to the race management and safety boat teams - RO team Jeremy Deacon/Richard Beke, Safety Boat team Tim Davies/Andy Wheeler/Andy Chaplin and Dave Tong for assisting in the galley. Special thanks to Alex from the Solo fleet for leading the event organisation.

Overall Results:

PosHelmCrewClubSail NoR1R2R3R4Pts
1Paul YoungSophie ForbesMidland2290111‑313
2Jon DyasDave PhillipsBroadwater21099221(RET)5
3Les SmithAlex SmithBroadwater22857‑33227
4Martin DaviesRebecca BradleyRugby & Daventry22320(RET)DNSDNSDNS15

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 S-Series FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024