2008 Masters Championships

Report and photograph by Paula Southworth

This championship was won by a ‘Father and Son’ team. Congratulations to Tony and Sam Woods, Etherow SC, for winning this years’ Enterprise Masters Championship. In second place was Nigel and Andy Bird ‘Husband and Wife’, Papercourt SC, followed in third place by John Blundell and Richard Adams Hallamshire SC. The first Lady Master was Ann Jackson/Alan Skeens, Burghfield SC. The weekend was superb both on and off the water. Staunton Harold were excellent hosts and the organisation by Nigel and Dianne Pepperdine was superb. Saturday was an excellent day for sunbathing in idealistic surroundings, heat 23 degrees, close your eyes and any sunny beach on the continent could not have been better, except there was no wind, enthusiasm for sailing drifted into thinking sun, lake and social!!! No attempt could be made to sail on Saturday. Race Officer called for an early start on Sunday, 10 00 am, determined to race – the scenario of no racing was not an option!!. First race on Sunday was sailed in a light fluky breeze, second and third a gently improvement and Race 4 was sailed in a steady 3. Four races proved a little too much for some of the Masters, who usually only have to sail two races a day – four was a strain on those aching joints!! Tony and Sam Woods had an outstanding lead in the first race thanks to finding the right wind shifts. The racing was a mixture of ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ as the shifts wandered around the reservoir testing the sailor’s techniques and concentration skills.

The Enterprise Association would like to give a big thank you to all our sponsors and the Host Club for a most enjoyable championship.