Enterprise Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

The Enterprise Open meeting on 18th June, as part of the Thames Valley aggregate trophy, was sadly not to emulate Kevin Costner's 'Field of Dreams' and saw a fleet of 5 consisting entirely of home boats although two of the crew were visitors.

The glorious NE breezes we had been having had long gone and the forecast was for generally SE 4 kts gusting 8 veering to southerly 8 gusting 14 which should have provided some good sailing and turned out to be rather more varied with large shifts and rather stronger gusts than the 18 kts reported.

For this year the Open was planned to be held alongside normal club racing, in order to allow the GP14s a free day for their Inlands in September, so the programme was 2 races before a late lunch followed by the decider with race officer Graham Howlett in the morning and Simon Millar in the afternoon. A club southerly course was selected for all races which gave a running start.

In the first race Katrina Gilbert and Jenny Rust got off to the best start and despite efforts none of the rest of the fleet could stop the lead increasing. Roger Carter with Vicki Hinde managed to hold on to a second place through most of the race. Conditions were very shifty and Neil Rowatt with Jake Waylen, who had been trailing and nursing a hole in the side after an early collision, made a good tacking decision and leapt up to 3rd place at the finish with Ted Bonner and Andy Majury close behind

Race 2, Neil Rowatt with Jon Denyer (Neil and Nick shared 3 crew: Carina Morgenworth, Jake Waylen and Jon Denyer) got clear at the start and led for the first lap but Katrina Gilbert later managed to make some good decisions and took the lead which they held to the end.

Ted Bonner took a decision to retire which is just as well because a localised gust caused Roger Carter to capsize along with a GP14, which sealed the fate for 4th place.

This left Nick Carr with Jake Waylen to tussle with Neil Rowatt, with Neil finally securing second.

After lunch whilst the wind calmed a little but thunderstorms held off, with a first place guaranteed, Katrina Gilbert took a rest and there was close battle from the outset amongst the remaining 3 boats for 2nd place overall. Nick Carr and Jon Denyer led for most of the race but Neil Rowatt with Carina Morgenworth slipped through at the last minute to take a first, with all three finished within a space of 18 seconds.

Katrina Gilbert and Jenny Rust's 2 first places secured them the Frensham Packard Cup again.

After the racing many were happy to chat inside, as the drizzle had set in by then, with a convivial tea, this year provided by the galley, and the prize-giving by the Commodore, Rob Anstey.

Overall Results: