Enterprise Joint Eastern and Broads Open at Ely Sailing Club

Eight boats competed for the Ely Open trophy on Sunday the 6th May including 2 visitors from Dabchicks and Barnt Green sailing clubs.

The first race was held in a 4 knot NE breeze from the top of the lake, the race officer gave the sailors a reverse figure of eight course. Andy and Hannah Wilcox got of to a flying start leaving the rest of the fleet in there wake, however by the end of the first beat they had been court by 4 other boats.

At the end of the downwind leg, all 5 boats where contesting the lead, Brian & Linda Cummings managed to get clear of the fleet, with Andy and Hannah dropping to 2nd, Kevin & Scott Bilham in 3rd leaving Adrian and Caroline Savage battling it out with Richard and Maureen Denny. By the 3rd lap Brian and Linda seemed to have an unassailable lead, with Kevin and Scott in to 2nd having broken free of Andy and Hannah.

On the 4th beat Kevin & Scott had managed to get back into contact with Brian and Linda and by the end of the down wind leg had taken the lead. Brain, however managed to regain the lead by the windward mark but with Kevin still in close pursuit, By the leeward mark positions had reversed yet again but with Kevin now maintaining his lead to the finish. Andy and Hannah, had kept in front of Adrian and Caroline to finish in 3rd place.

After a hearty lunch put on by the Ely galley the competitors went out for the 2nd race. The wind had now changed to an easterly and had drop to almost a flat calm, so with a change of course the 2nd race got underway.

Again Andy and Hannah had a good start with the rest of the fleet close behind, by the time the compitors got to the windward mark, Brian and Linda had come out on top, followed by Andy, Kevin, Adrian and Brian in close persuit. The positions stayed the same for the next couple of laps with Brian still increasing his lead, Kevin, on a downwind leg, took a chance by going between two islands and managed to secure 2nd position by the leeward mark. Another good beat saw Kevin back in contact with Brian making for a very exciting last beat. Brain managed win race honors but only by half a boat length from Kevin. Andy held on to 3rd with Richard and Maureen overtaking Adrian and Caroline on the last beat.

The 3rd Race, saw the wind again switched back to N/E and built back to 4 knots, so the race officer went back to the original course. With it all to play for between Kevin, Brian, Andy and Adrian the race got underway with Jack Knight (15) and Molly Lee (14)managing a flying startwith the rest of the fleet chasing them up the beat, By the windward mark Jack and Molly had been overhauled leaving the order as Adrian in the lead with Brian, Andy, Richard and Kevin, (who had left the start last)following. At the leeward mark, Adrian had a good lead, Brian Andy and Richard where battling for water with Kevin just behind. As the 3 boats rounded, Andy stalled which left the door open for Kevin to cut inside and get a windward position on the other 3 boats. By the end of the next beat, Kevin had taken the lead, with Adrian, Brian, Richard and Andy behind. These positions were maintained until the end of the race.

Overall Results:

1st 22885, Kevin Bilham & Scott Bilham (Ely SC) 1-(2)-1
2nd 23049, Brian Cummings & Linda Cummings (Dabchicks SC) 2-1-(3)
3rd 23138, Adrian Savage & Caroline Savage (Barnt Green SC) 4-(5)-2
4th 22623, Andy Wilcox & Hannah Wilcox (Ely SC) 3-3-(5)
5th 23163, Richard Denny & Maureen Denny (Ely SC) (5)-4-4
6th 21985, Hugh Marshall & Simon Marshall (Ely SC) 6-6-(6)
7th 22474, Jack Knight & Mollie Lee (Ely SC) (Junior Prize) 7-7-(8)
8th 22116, Steve Boards & Marie (Ely SC) (8)-8-7