Enterprises at the Tynemouth Sailing Club Regatta

Enterprises at the Tynemouth Regatta © Colin Edgar

Sponsored by Sailing Chandlery

14 boats arrived in a bustling Tynemouth on the North East coast of England. The wind was none existent and the sea state was fairly flat. And we set sail for racing in the south bay as we was promised more breeze. Unfortunately the breeze didn't increase as we made it to the sailing area but the drizzle came in: 'but a bad sailing day on the water is 1000 times better than a bad day at work!'

Race 1, we shared the event with the Albacore fleet and they started first in a flutter of wind. Off next was the Enterprise fleet, Richard and Millie Pryke (Ripon SC) took pole position up the beat in their new acquisition, a fancy all wood JJ boats called Thunderbird 2, obviously in British racing green. The Prykes had a F.A.B. race as they managed to hold the lead to the finish. The wind was so light throughout the race everyone must have been frustrated but you couldn't tell. Tim and Maxine Sadler (Yorkshire Dales SC) finished in second and in third was Charlie Morish & Roger Willougby (St Mary's Loch SC).

Race 2, was very similar to the first race it paid to start at the pin end of the start line. Steve Blackburn & Tim Brownell (WLYC / L&LSC) rounded the windward mark a head of Matt Rawson and Vicky Gromm (Ogston SC) luckily the wind had picked up but as soon as it had picked up it switched off. As we headed onto the final beat it paid to not tack up the beat as it unsettled to sails and abruptly stalled the boat after the tack. The Sadlers went for boat speed and crossed the line first. with Matt Rawson in second and Richard & Millie in third. The final race of the day was cancelled as the wind was so light it would take a while to make it back to the shore.

The evening was a great affair, we had a BBQ and plenty of drinks at the bar and and finished off the evening playing giant Jenga with the Albacore fleet winning over the Enterprises. But don't forget the Enterprise fleet will have drunk more.

Sunday soon approached and blue skies and a gentle breeze from the north appeared on the shore. Although the wind was still light around Force 2. Unfortunately the swell wasn't light and was so big the race team opted to sail us in the south bay again. The effects of the lumpy sea state made a few sailors sick and had to retire from the event.

Race 3, soon came along and the pin end seemed to pay and Dave Gebhard & Mal Landamore (Tynemouth SC) rounded the windward mark first and went on to finish the race in first but they were over course side at the start and were not given a finished this meant Sadler's who had sailed through some of the fleet finished in 1st Steve & Tim also sailed through the fleet to finish in second with the Pryke's also overtaking throughout the race in third.

Race 4 was sailed in very similar conditions although we were soon adapting to the swell and less over taking was going to take place. The Sadler's again started as they finished in 1st navigating the the tide and surfing over the crests on the downwind legs. The Pryke's took second with Steve taking third.

Tim & Maxine had worked out they had won the event and subsequently retired from the following race.

Enterprises at the Tynemouth Regatta - photo © Charles Morish

Race 5, the start line was so port bias that Matt & Vicky took full advantage and took the lead up the beat with a port flyer. As we rounded the windward mark, Steve & Tim rounded in 1st followed by Richard & Millie. The racing between theses two was very close and some how they had over stepped the lay-line on the port tack to the following windward buoy on the second beat this let Matt & Vicky back into the lead and Richard was in second. As we made our way up the final beat, Matt went right and Richard went leftish. Right hand side of the beat seemed to be the way to go as there was more breeze. Matt Finished in first with Richard in second and second overall with Steve finished third and third overall.

Overall Results:

Enterprises at the Tynemouth Regatta - photo © Colin Edgar