Goat Marine 2024 Enterprise National Championship at Looe – Final Report
The final day of the Goat Marine Enterprise National Championship at Looe brought yet more sunshine and the promise of champagne sailing. The Race Officer set an earlier start time, with the aim of getting in three races to complete the series.
With a steady NNW forecast, it was also decided to treat the fleet to a gate start with Johnny Woodward and Alex Homer as pathfinder. All got off cleanly, with the early starters favoured with Darren and Hayley Roach first to the windward mark, followed by Paul Hobson and Craig Wheatley, with Charles Morrish and Dan Swaffield third and Alice Allen and Chris Baker fourth. A wind shift resulted in the next beat becoming right hand favoured and despite some close tussles, the top four places in Race 6 remained consistent to the finish.
Race 7 saw Martin and Abigail Honnor as pathfinder. With the fleet enjoying some of the finest sailing conditions of the week, the race team set an extended course including an extra ‘sausage’ into the buffet. Once again, it was Darren and Hayley Roach who rounded the windward mark first.
With the wind building steadily, the Race Officers set the table for the final race, with a change of course to include an extra final beat which would finish the fleet marginally nearer the beach. It was the turn of local Looe sailors, Ollie and Archie Hawkins to set off as pathfinder, with the feisty 15 knots of wind seeing a few casualties in the melee of the start – but at least enabling Gracie Jaycock to test out her new wetsuit – apparently an ‘incentive gift’ to sail with her big sister Daisy! This time it was Paul Hobson and Craig Wheatley on the pace (and having potentially had a few pies) taking advantage of their weight to keep the boat flat and fast to round the windward mark first, closely chased by Martin and Abigail Honnor and Darren and Hayley Roach in third, and Jeremy and Lloyd Williams in 4th. With a more shifty beat, there was plenty of place changing as fatigue took hold for some, with others taking advantage to pick off places to improve their overall scores. But with a clear margin, their third place was sufficient for Darren and Hayley to hold first place overall. Coming 11th in the final race was still sufficient for father and daughter team Jeremy and Rebecca Stephens to be 2nd overall, with Paul Hobson and Craig Wheatley third.
With the conclusion of a great sunny week on the water, and praising the race team for getting a full series in despite the challenges of the wind, the Enterprise fleet turned to its second favourite thing – having a good time! After a highly successful class meeting mid-week, the Enterprise fleet looks set for a resurgence with new Commodore Gez Brown in place supported by a team of volunteers including Jeremy and Rebecca Stephens to plan next year’s championships. With great support from sponsors including Goat, Zhik, Robline, Allen, Helly Hansen, Noble and Fernhurst Books, there was a great spread of prizes throughout the Bronze and Silver fleet, prizes for age categories, classic boat, and the Ginga Trophy (for the last boat having completed every race) won by Rob and Katie Dewe from Looe SC. Local crews Mia and Archie Sadler, Joseph Wright and Jowan Carnell were thanked with prizes for stepping in to crew for visiting helms, as well as prizes for first time entries James Eastbury and Jowan Carnell from Gresford SC. The first lady helm was Alice Allen crewed by Chris Baker, with Hayley Roach wining the Mary Arnold Baker Trophy for first lady crew as well as the Rolling Pin Trophy for being first ‘couple’. With the famous “Shite Night” music ready to roll, it was left to overall winners Darren and Hayley Roach to thank the club, especially Steve Sargent as the overall Looe SC / Enterprise organiser, along with the Race Team of Arthur Kinver, Francis Marshall and Brain Bowdler, the shore support team lead by Enys Dan, and the safety team comprising the Crabb family and others with the biggest cheer going to the stalwart bar team led by Karen Bowdler.
Report by Alice Allen
