Golden birthday

The Enterprise will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a host of special events

2006 is going to be a very special year for the ever popular Enterprise dinghy as it celebrates its golden birthday. The class, which now numbers over 23,000 boats, will notch up 50 years of exciting family sailing on 9 January.

The milestone year will really come alive at the Dinghy Sailing Show, at London’s Alexandra Palace, on 4-5 March, where the new 50th logo will be unveiled and the Association will host a very special dinner.

Visitors to the Show will be transported back to 1956 when the two sail, two man Enterprise was born, courtesy of top designer Jack Holt and the newspaper of the day, The News Chronicle. They will learn about the amazing journey taken by two of the original dinghies the day before launch day – E1 and E2 crossed the Channel at night! No doubt one of the crew on that day, octogenarian Flavia Nunes, will be delighted to see that historic crossing being commemorated.

Later in the year, on 4 June, a nostalgic Enterprise Tide Way Race will take place on the Thames. Echoing the past the race will start from Jack Holt’s Thames offices next to Putney Bridge and finish at London Bridge.

In 1971 the Enterprise was granted International status and today is sailed in 18 countries across five continents. Another high point of the birthday calendar will be the Enterprise World Championships and Nationals, being held at Looe in Cornwall 29 July - 4 August 2006. The event is expected to attract a huge entry and already 40 boats have entered. For those wishing to join the landmark occasion the advice is enter early, it’s going to be very popular.

There’s plenty more sparkling moments in store for this remarkable birthday of the charismatic Enterprise dinghy this year. More information and updates are available from the Association website www.sailenterprise.org.uk