Enterprise Open battle on water

Sunday saw Beccles Amateur Sailing Club host the Enterprise Open for the fourth leg of the regional Woodcock Salver.

Jonathan Blankley did his best to set challenging courses in the exceptionally difficult light airs.

The visitors, from several different counties, and nine Beccles club boats were going to be up against it.

Race one saw one of the tourists Keith and Katie Tyler in Kercups Kastsoff break away but after the first lap a lot of position changing took place behind between visitors Brian and Linda Cumming (in Believe), Kevin and Elena Edwards (in Sharkie) and Rory Kelsey with nephew Joe Brackenbury (in their Enterprise Evil Edna) who were all closing in.

Sharkie took the lead after a starboard call on the beat back after rounding the new bridge marker but this was short lived as the Dabchicks team, in their new JJ boat, cruised past to take first place.

Club boats Sharkie and Evil Edna took second and third respectively.

After lunch a shorter course of just three marks didn't anticipate the slight increase in wind speed after the start which saw both visitors slip ahead throughout the two rounds to take first and second spots after just 15 minutes with Beccles crew, Dave Gentry and Jackie Soards in Chippas Delight settling for third.

But with the north-easterly increasing a notch for the final race, the fourth marker was again included and after another hectic start on the narrow river which saw at least one collision, Beccles boats Sharkie and Polyarchy got clear and forged out a considerable lead.

In the meantime after a dreadful start, the Dabchicks visitors started to carve their way through the fleet and were breathing down the necks of Glen and Lucie Curtis in Polyarchy.

Leaving the last buoy to port, Sharkie was far enough in front to secure top spot but the spectators gathered on the Suffolk side of the Waveney could see the race was on for second position.

With just 18 inches apart, Polyarchy just did enough to stave off the attack to take a well-earned second spot much to the delight of the supporters on the bank to end a great day at Beccles ASC.

After the boats were put away prize giving took place in the sunshine with Commodore Richard Deller thanking all who were involved during the day and presided over awarding the prizes to winners on the day, Brian and Linda Cumming from Dabchicks SC, Kevin and Elena Edwards from BASC who secured second overall and Keith and Katie Tyler from Hunts SC who took third place.

Brian Cumming replied on behalf of the visitors with much praise for BASC and said they looked forward to returning next year.

Meanwhile, Saturday morning saw the best of the light westerly and the Novices at Beccles made the most of it with two close laps round the marks.

The gentle breeze and ebbing tide was always going to make for a tight finish but Jake Smalls in a Topper just did enough to take top slot this week to beat Rowan Curtis and Elena Edwards in their Optimists who finished second and third respectively after handicap.

By the start of afternoon racing, the breeze was ever diminishing so catching Nigel and Abbie Shipley in their Norfolk Herewego was always going to be

difficult for the 20-strong fleet in the Pursuit race but three Enterprises had

a tussle for second place over the shortened course.

Dave Gentry and Jackie Soards in Chippas Delight though persevered for second position with Kevin and Elena Edwards in Sharkie taking third.

Team Edwards dominated with a three and a half minute win after handicap in the Coronation Cup race and with Milo Phillips out due to a broken arm, Hugh Braidwood made light work of it in the Mirror 1 trophy race one with a win in his Optimist.

But with the wind literally disappearing in the downpour for the last races, only a few boats made it to the finish line with most retiring after being on the water for more than and hour and a half.