Sailing Chandlery Enterprise National Circuit and Winter Championships at Northampton Sailing Club

Jeremy and Becca Stephens win the Enterprise Winter Championships at Northampton © Callum Dingle

A great season finish for this year's Enterprise National Circuit sponsored by Sailing Chandlery comprising nine venues around the Regions, ranging from St Mary's Loch in Scotland to Looe and Penzance in Cornwall. Ten events in total as the Final Event counts with double points, with five results to count. Coupled with the Winter Championships sixteen entrants braved the elements.

With strong winds forecast throughout the week leading up to the Championship there were some doubts as to whether there would be any racing on Saturday. These doubts were soon set aside when all arrived at a sunny Pitsford Lake.

With wind speeds ranging between 12 and 20 knots, but increasing during the afternoon, there was some great racing.

Race 1 saw the fleet away at the first attempt, under the U flag. Phil and Laura Bevan rounding Mark 1 first, the rest of the fleet neck and neck for the first round, running to the gybe mark 8 abreast. Iaon Lavery and Chris Keatley broke free into second and went hunting for the lead. Next were Jeremy and Becca Stephens who stayed ahead of Nick Jackson and Laurence Dorr until taking a swim at the gybe mark next time round. Ioan and Chris overhauled the Bevans, who fought back to retake the lead on the final reach to secure the win. Iaon lost Chris overboard on the short beat to the finish, though recovered him quickly to remain in second. Nick and Laurence kept clear of the fleet to close out in third.

With the breeze freshening race 2 was equally challenging. Paul Hobson and Natalie Roach played the left side of the beat to lead well clear at mark 1. Jer and Becca arrived second with Sarge and Callum Dingle close behind in third. The downwind legs didn't suit Sarge and Callum as they admitted to carrying a bit too much holiday flubber. Tim Sadler and Gabe Hill slipped through to third with the Bevans quick to follow. Despite Sarge and Callum pulling Tim and the Bevans back on the beats, they couldn't keep their place downwind. Paul and Natalie kept a covering eye on Jer and Becca to close out the win with Tim and Gabe completing the top three.

The breeze continued to freshen for race 3 with long gusts at the upper end of the 20's. The Lark fleet enjoying their own carnage-strewn event have claimed the top gust was 35kts. Tim's shiny new Rondar Mk3 was looking good as he and Gabe built a strong lead until the main halyard failed. Clearly this shouldn't happen on a new boat but when Tim confessed the only thing he had changed was the halyard then maybe the DIY wire splice was to blame. Jer and Becca gunned it up the next beat staying clear ahead, Paul and Natalie worked up to second to swim just before the mark. The Bevans were well poised to take that second place, while Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens sailed well to take a strong third.

Despite a hard days racing, everyone had enough energy to enjoy a great Saturday evening social. There was a seemingly never-ending firework display followed by a lively disco with the DJ goaded into putting on a few extra tunes to take us past midnight. As usual the Enterprises outlasted all the National 12 and Lark fleet sailors having their own End-of-Season events on this same weekend.

Sunday began with occasional drizzle and light, variable winds, giving plenty of opportunity for snakes and ladders. The fourth race saw surprisingly the only general recall of the weekend. The first run saw virtually the whole fleet rafted up in the scramble for an inside overlap at the bottom mark but 2017 National Champions Jer and Becca emerged unscathed to win their second race in succession showing their mastery of both heavy and light conditions. Ioan and Chris worked through to take another second and Martin Honnor and Natalie Smith took third to record their only podium finish of the weekend.

In the fifth race Tim and Gabe shook off their hangovers to show their class with an emphatic bullet with old timer Nick Jackson finally showing some form to take second ahead of a close battle between the main contenders for the trophy Jer and Becca and Phil and Laura. With one race to go Phil was 3 points ahead without a discard but Jer was 2 points ahead with a discard in place – all to play for in the last race!

The sixth start saw Nick and Laurence make the most of the windshifts from the middle of the line to gain a healthy lead at the first mark with Paul Young and Megan Ward in second ahead of the chasing pack. Both Jer and Phil were in contention for the first lap but Phil seemed to take a wrong turn during the second lap in patchy conditions slipping down the fleet and had to settle for a very creditable second overall. Nick and Laurence managed to hold off the fast closing Stephens family to round off a very good day in third overall (and well ahead of Mrs J for once). Third over the line was Paul Hobson and Natalie Roach with a late return of form to take fourth overall.

Jeremy and Becca duly rounded off an excellent series to take the overall prize for the Winter Champs, making it a worthwhile trip from distant Penzance.

With the Winters results added to the National Circuit running totals Tim Sadler with occasional crew daughter Hannah and Gabe already had their names engraved on the Trophy. Paul Hobson with Craig Wheatley and special guest Natalie are Runners up. Ann and Alan, third with Paul and Megan in fourth.

Thanks to sponsors Sailing Chandlery for providing the excellent prizes presented all through the fleet. This time we had prize winners in both the Under 16 and Under 21 categories. Thanks also to Northampton Sailing Club for hosting the Event, with First Class Race management, magnificent catering and robust bar staff.

Enterprise Winter Championships at Northampton - photo © Callum Dingle

Winter Championship Results:

Tim Sadler wins the Sailing Chandlery Enterprise National Circuit - photo © Callum Dingle

Sailing Chandlery National Circuit Overall Results:

Enterprise Winter Championships at Northampton - photo © Callum Dingle