Budworth Scott Trophy Open Icebreaker Series - Round 1

by Roger Gardner 5 Mar 2012 08:51 GMT 4-25 March 2012

Today was the first round of the Scott Trophy Open Icebreaker Series, which saw 15 boats sign on for the first race. Sign on though is now a thing of the past at Budworth, a fully web based touch screen replaces the clipboard and pencil stub!

So it may well have been a few cases of a slip of the finger; certainly injuries rearing their ugly heads at the last moment but eventually 8 boats made it out for the first race.

The first two races, sailed in a brisk breeze, saw a close battle on handicap between the Scorpion of visitors Jack Banks and Penny Jeffcoate and the local Snipe of Phil and Emma Hackney swapping first and second between them in races 1 and 2. Nipping at their heels throughout was the local junior sailor Nick Deveraux in his Topper.

7 boats crossed the start line for the last race of the day but only two made it home. A nasty squall blew in and literally flattened the fleet bar Jack and Penny and Nick. Fortunately all sailors were safe and sound but a Snipe lost its plate and another snapped its mast!

Thanks to the new race management system the results were available as the last boat came off the water. Jack and Penny are currently in first place, with Phil and Emma and Nick in second and third respectively.

The Budworth Scott Trophy Open Icebreaker series continues to run every Sunday through to 25 March 2012.

Each Sundays racing starts at 12.30, consisting of 3 handicap races and is open to all monohulls with a PY of 986 to 1200.

The qualifying number of races for the Scott Trophy is 4 so a minimum of 2 Sundays will need to be sailed to qualify.

The entry fee for visitors is £20 for the series or £10 for a days sailing, payable on the day to the galley, which needless to say will be open.

For details of the clubs location etc go to www.budworthsc.org.uk