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Enterprise North West Match Racing Championship
 24th November 2007,This was the first year we have held such an event. Worried faces and stories of past Team racing. Boats being crunched and tempers flaring. This didn’t sound good. Tony Woods Our OD and Referee for the event went through the rules and showed us a brief video. At the end of the briefing a few joked this is the only Enterprise Match racing competition in world so who ever wins this event is the World Champion. This encouraged the 12 helms. The weather was raining but with a fairly stead breeze which increased over the afternoon. The course was a beat a run and a final beat to the finish. The 12 helms where split in to a league of six which they had to battle it out to make it to the Semi finals. In League A. Mike Birch and John Berry had the most wins, 3 each. In League B Karen Morris and Steve Blackburn had four wins each they all progressed to the Semi Final. Karen Morris was head to head with Mike Birch. Karen had an early lead but Mike managed to catch on the run. Mike pushed Karen out on the windward mark and eventually won to make the final. Steve and John were up next but Steve just had a superior start and led to the finish. The light was starting to fade and the wind was steady as Mike Birch (WLYC) and Steve Blackburn (WLYC) made there way to the Final of our Match Racing. The 1 minute gun went. Mike was already at the start waiting for Steve to Join. Steve approached the line on starboard as close to the wall as he could get. Mike was trying to cling to Steve but had to tack on to Starboard to make the start. 10 seconds to the start and Mike had one final luff to try and kill off Steve. Steve realised and luffed up. The gun went for the start. Steve was windward to Mike and in control. Mike tacked to try and clear Steve. Steve tacked to cover and pulled out a few boat lengths on Mike. Mike never recovered and Steve sailed through the line to be the first ever Enterprise North West Area Match Racing Champion. A great day was had. Only one boat had been damage but at no fault. The pin fell out and the mast fell down. Tony was excellent OD and referee. And everybody enjoyed the tactical sailing. Results: 1st Steve Blackburn & Various Crews (WLYC) 2nd Mike Birch & Various Crews (WLYC) 3rd Karen Morris & Lisa Woods (Etherow) 4th John Berry & Fiona Rattigan (Etherow) |
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