Enterprise Thames Valley Series Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

The Enterprise Open meeting on 28th June, an event of the Thames Valley trophy, saw a fleet of five consisting of two visitors and three home boats sharing the water with nine GP14s in their Open.

Coming straight after the worst heatwave in history, the day held to the promise of being cooler and with some good wind from the South West with significant gusts to make for interesting competitive sailing although very difficult for tactical planning.

The race officer, Bruce Hill, stuck to the schedule of 3 races, all following the same course with long beats down the length of the pond.

In the first race they got off to a good start and then rapidly spread out across the pond with 3 boats taking the port bias and Hilgard and Hanelle Muller taking the starboard bias but it was Ann Jackson with Alan Skeens taking the more direct route with plenty of tacking gave them a good lead at the first mark. They were followed by Tom Ahlheid and Bridgitte Nee, new to Enterprises, Neil Rowatt and Tony Bull, novice to crewing, and Hilgard Muller, with Steve Allen and Justin Philipps taking up the rear in Steve's first ever Open. The fleet quickly separated although with the gusting and dramatically shifting wind boat separation kept varying and no doubt gave some anxious moments but it was never enough to change the order which remained until the finish owing much to consistent sailing.

For Race 2 conditions were a little changed although a gust close to the start caused Tom Ahlheid to be over the line and had to round the line end. This allowed it clear for Ann Jackson and Neil Rowatt to get away and have close sailing for a few legs. Hilgard Muller initially tried a tactically different course which did not pay off well.

Close to the start of the second lap a large cloud appeared overhead causing gusts to increase which caused both Steve Allen and Hilgard Muller to capsize.

Tom Ahlheid got the measure of the wind situation and, despite a kicker malfunction, managed to overtake Neil Rowatt but by that time he was well behind Ann Jackson and she held on to the finish.

Steve Allen was forced to retire rescued but Hilgard Muller managed to drain the boat and finish 4th although decided 2 races was enough.

During lunch cloud cover remained and the wind increased to 16kts gradient, backing to SSW which made for even more exciting and taxing sailing for race 3 with boats disappearing in spray on the main reaching leg. The three remaining boats had a close tussle with Neil Rowatt getting off to the better start and holding first place for two legs. The very localised nature of the increased gust meant that boat separation changed rapidly and Neil Rowatt was soon overtaken by both Ann Jackson and Tom Ahlheid. That order remained until the end of the 2nd lap when Tom Ahlheid chose a better path, or was it youthful stamina, to take the lead and held on by covering well.

Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens experience and hard work showed with 2 first places winning them the Frensham Packard Cup.

After the racing many were happy to chat with an enjoyable tea, this year provided by the galley, followed by the prize-giving by our Rear Commodore, Alastair McEwan.

Overall Results: