Enterprise Match Racing at Etherow Country Park Sailing Club
by Tony Woods 23 Nov 2011 08:56 PST
19 November 2011
Enterprise Match Racing Championships at Etherow Country Park © Tony Woods
The Enterprise Match Racing Championships were once again held again at Etherow Country Park Sailing Club. This ‘fun-sixed’ event is sailed in a fleet of 6 boats generously loaned by Club members meaning that visitors only have to pack a bag, enter the draw which nominates the country they are representing, and off they go. An entry of 15 meant that the competitors were sorted in to 4 leagues for the early rounds.
In the light variable conditions many of the results were close and in the 10 minute rounds there was always something to see with the match racing getting more aggressive as the day went on. Flying the flag for the junior section it was great to see Charlie Berry and Chris Morton (Etherow) and Alex Dromgoole and Sam Everington both making the Quarter Finals and knocking out sailors with many more miles on the clock than them.
A short mini league was set up to give all the league losers a last ditch chance to make the finals. Phil Howarth couldn’t quite take losing to his club rival John Berry and retired to the Pub before the match could take place to recover his bottom lip.
All the quarter finals were close, and semi finals even closer. The third/fourth place play off was held before the final and Charlie Berry was so unlucky on the final run as he ran out of wind and Steve Blackburn and Ashley went round them to secure third spot.
In the final Charles and Megan Adams never looked in trouble against Karen Brotherton and Lisa Woods. Despite extensive Match Racing coaching from her new husband Paul Brotherton at the recent Glossop open meeting Karen never quite got to grips with the match racing format and Charles and Megan won the start and extended their lead throughout the race to take the championship with ease.