Weirwood Sailing Club - Enterprise Open - 16th July 2006
The essential requirements for an Open Meeting are water, wind, ideally some sunshine and a few boats. The first two items were conspicuous by their absence at last year’s Enterprise Open Meeting. So the Fleet Captain had a spring in his step when he arrived for this year’s event on 16th July and beheld Weir Wood at its very best, loads of sparkling water, a steady easterly breeze and wall to wall sunshine, all as forecast and perfect Enterprise conditions.
Eight visitors joined eight Weir Wood boats for a 4 race event, ably managed by veteran Enterprise sailor Geoff Bush (whose own boat had been commandeered by son Nick), his trusty assistant, none other than your long-suffering editor and official photographer/extra-pair-of-hands Jo Lankester. They were overseen by club President Gerald Pendry who clearly did not have the same level of confidence in abilities of the team as yours truly and spent the entire day on the water in the committee boat. They did a splendid job.
The morning racing was dominated by David and Alex Beaney from Broadwater SC, who posted 2 straight wins without appearing to make much effort. Sailing ability is clearly in the Beaney family genes, as brother Alan has cleaned up at our last two open meetings. Nick Bush and Sasha ?? were the only Weir Wood crew on the pace, collecting a 2nd and 3rd place. Race 2 produced a drama when Justin and Charlie Wilkes capsized and then promptly started to sink. Fortunately, Justin remembered the international distress signal (frantic waving of arms) and Chris Spencer-Smith in a support boat towed them ashore just in time to prevent Enterprise 16709 becoming another Hazard to Shipping.
After what seemed a short lunch break, Geoff and John were cracking the whip to get us back on the water. Nick Bush had Race 3 in the bag, until he decided to sail a different course to everyone else. By the time he had corrected this error, he had slipped down to 3rd place. A conversation ensued immediately after the race in which Nick was heard to challenge in a robust manner his father’s course setting skills….
The fleet had reduced to 12 boats for the final race which was won by Steve and Kathy Collins from Minima SC from Mike Kostiw and Anthony Butler from Chipstead second and Nick and Sasha third.
Tea was then taken which included an excellent Enterprise 50th Anniversary cake, baked by Ann Lankester. Tony Carter was press-ganged at very short notice to perform his first duty as brand new Commodore and present the prizes, which mostly went to the usual suspects. Your editor now has another project on his hands, namely building a trophy cabinet for grand daughter Sasha, who together with helm Nick Bush collected third overall and first Weir Wood boat. Congratulations to them. Congratulations also to Christina Fleming/Fiona Adkins, Justin and Charlie Wilkes and Norman and Simon Bowden who all entered the event with little or no racing experience, and by all accounts thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I am really grateful for their support and I hope they will be encouraged to try some more racing.
| Results: | |||||||||
| 1st David & Alex Beaney (Broadwater) | |||||||||
| 2nd Steve & Kathy Collins (Minima ) | |||||||||
| 3rd Nick Bush & Sasha?? (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 4th Mike Kostiw & Anthony Butler (Chipstead ) | |||||||||
| 5th Adrian & Louise House (Bewl) | |||||||||
| 6th Alan & Liz Ross (Chipstead) | |||||||||
| 7th John Mansel-Smith & Sue Humphries (Bewl) | |||||||||
| 8th Dick Lankester & Colin Byrnes (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 9th Vic Hopkins & Kevin Francis (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 10th Matt Stein & Mike Summers (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 11th Chris Daniels & Ray Nevard (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 12th Gen Cole & Oliver Smith (Island Barn) | |||||||||
| 13th Norman & Simon Bowden (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 14th Christina Fleming & Fiona Adkins (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 15th Justin & Charlie Wilkes (WWSC) | |||||||||
| 16th Graham & Tom Lawson (Bewl) | |||||||||