Enterprise Open at Ely Sailing Club
by Kevin Bilham 7 May 2013 00:24 PDT
5 May 2013
Enterprises at Ely © Les Booth
Four visitors and 5 club boats where welcomed with the hottest day of the year so far. After a greeting and briefing from the Ely race officer Gary Ungless, the first race got underway from his C/A line start on the far shore, Brain and Lynda Cummings arrived at the windward mark in 1st place followed by Paul Young and Phil Harrison, Vincent and Clare Christan. With a 90 degree shift the next leg was up wind and enabled Kevin and Scott Bilham to arrive at the next Mark in the lead, followed by Paul, Vince, Brian and the rest of the fleet. By end of the 1st lap the positions remained the same. With shifting winds Kevin managed to loose his lead twice on the upwind legs only to regain it downwind. Unfortunately for Kevin, on the final lap, Paul and Vince managed to overhaul him and the positions didn’t change to the finish.
After a hearty lunch served in the clubhouse, the second race got under way from Ely’s A line. Vince got the windward mark in the lead, with Jack Night crewed by Mollie Lee second, with Kevin, Brian and the rest of the fleet following. After many position changes during the next two laps, Vince had still managed to hold on to the lead followed by Brian and Kevin. However, after a very good upwind leg Kevin reached the windward mark first followed by Vince and Brian, the positions remained the same to the finish.
With 4 competitors all in a position to win the open, the final race was set to be a close run thing. Paul had a great start, followed by Neil, Kevin, Brian and Vince. Paul extended his lead during the next couple of laps with Kevin and Neil in hot pursuit, on the penaltiment lap all 3 boats where racing it out towards the leeward mark, Paul rounded inside, with Neil and Kevin on the outside, the first two boats tacked off leaving Kevin alone on his tack. This proved to be fortuitous for Kevin as the other two boats got hit with double headers, which gave Kevin a good lead at the windward mark, Paul rounded 2nd followed by Neil and Vince. By the penultimate mark, Paul had got back in contention with Kevin, leaving Neil and Vince challenging for the 3rd position. Kevin managed maintain his lead to take line honors followed by Paul and then Vince who managed to overhaul Neil.
Overall Results:
1. 22885 Kevin Bilham / Scott Bilham (Ely SC) 3, 1, 1
2. 22901 Paul Young / Phil Harrison (Midlands SC) 1, 6, 2
3. 22623 Vincent Christan / Clare Christan (Ely SC) 2, 2, 3
4. 23049 Brian Cumming / Linda Cummings (Dabchicks SC) 4, 3, 5
5. 21050 Neil Barrett / Sophie Jones (Roundhill SC) 5, 5, 4
6. 22116 Eric Christan / Alayne Symour (Ely EC) 7, 4, 7
7. 22315 Jack Knight / Mollie Lee (Ely SC) 6, 7, 6
8. 21985 Hugh Marshall / Robbie Marshall (Ely SC) DNS, 8, 8
9. 22474 Dalton Orchard / Darcie Lee (Ely SC) 8, 9, 9