Enterprise Masters at Wigan and St Helens S C
7/8 September 2024
This event was very much overshadowed by the tragic drowning of a young member of the public at Scotman’s Flash on the Saturday afternoon. Passing members of the public, Club members, sailors and all the emergency services responded quickly to the unfolding events but their efforts to save the young man were sadly all in vain.
Saturday’s sailing took place in a light (F2) and shifty breeze from the east.
Race 1. Race officer, Neil Hornby, set a ‘W’ shaped course with two beats, with the windward marks close to the Eastern shore.Jon Woodward & Duncan Willoughby mistook a club mark for the pin and were thus over the line at the start and had to return. Local sailors Richard Critchley & Emily got away well on port tack and build what appeared to be a commanding lead. The position of the windward marks meant they were subject to big shifts as well as dead patches because of the influence of the trees and bushes along the bank. There were also big shifts over much of the eastern side of the course as a whole. The result was a race very much resembling snakes and ladders; large gains could be lost very quickly and vice versa. Jon & Duncan however mastered the conditions better than anyone and came through the fleet to take the gun with Richard & Emily second and Charles Morrish & Luke Hartshorn in third.
Race 2. Neil set a figure of eight course with the windward mark pulled a little away from the eastern shore.Charles & Luke got away well at the pin end and looked on course for a decent lead at the windward mark as they approached from the left. The wind had other ideas and shifted substantially right allowing Jon & Duncan to round first with Charles & Luke rounding just ahead of local sailors Dave & Kieran Gascoigne. Jon & Duncan maintained their lead for the rest of the race while Charles & Luke pulled away from the rest of the fleet as Paul Young & Louise Hasall came through to take third.
It was then that the tragedy happened on the far shore opposite the clubhouse. Racing was abandoned for the day and the site was then vacated at the request of the emergency services.
On Sunday sailors and club members gathered to continue the event. There was a very long delay in light rain while waiting for some breeze to fill in. The breeze, when it came was very light, F1 at best, and from the north. Jon & Duncan decided the breeze was too light and not for them, with two races planned it gave others the chance to take the event.
Race 4. This time the Race Officer set a simple triangle with port rounding. Although light, there was breeze across the whole course with slightly more pressure on the right. Charles & Luke got way well but Richard & Emily were more accomplished up the beat and led at the windward mark. Those were the positions at the finish with local sailors Paul Sheppard & Steve Bristow taking third.
At this point Richard & Emily were in pole position; Charles & Luke would have to win the last race, or beat them by at least two positions in order to take the event.
Race 5. The start line remained the same but the wind was now very much from the left so the boats could barely cross the line on starboard. Charles & Luke got away ahead of the fleet by sailing just below the line and tacking onto port at the pin as the gun went. This time they held their lead to the windward mark, though Richard & Emily were still very much in contention. After rounding the windward mark on the second lap Richard hardened up considerably looking to take advantage of greater pressure on the left of the reach; however he then found himself pinned briefly by a starboard tack boat still approaching the windward mark, this allowed Charles & Luke to extend their lead. From there they went on to win and so take the event. Richard & Emily were secure in second with Paul & Steve again coming in third.
Thanks to Wigan and St Helen’s sailing Club for hosting the event and again to their members and sailors in their efforts at what proved to be a sadly unsuccessful rescue.