Northern Bell GP14 Open at Budworth Sailing Club

Sponsored by Pelican Racing and Magic Marine Cowes

The forecast was correct.... The wind blew strongly from the East all day, and it rained most of the day. So for a midsummer Open event, it was a tad chilly, with temperatures not getting above 8 degrees all day. As the first competitors from Chase sailing club began to arrive, the bacon butties were cooking and there were lots of smiles. A Budworth GP14 Open with Wind...

In total 22 boats from Northern and Midland clubs took to the water. Making this probably the best attended GP14 regional event of the year so far. With an Easterly blowing from the club house end of the lake, the start was from a Committee boat at F. The wind at the top and middle sections of the lake was gusting to 20 knots and the shifts, at times were vicious. Particularly pleasing was the turn out of 12 Budworth boats, given the strong and wet conditions their support of their home event was excellent. Maybe the days charter of an SB20 star prize from Sponsors Pelican Racing was a draw for them.

The first start got away with only one boat over that didn't return. The stack on the lay line for the windward mark was nose to tail for 8 boats or so with some interesting calls, particularly as boats reached away hoisting spinnakers, past boats approaching on the starboard lay line. The reach from X to C was very tight, and the jibe at C was to catch a few boats out in later races.

Lee Thomas and Greg Thomas from Southport SC came from behind with superior speed to take line honours in the first race, clinching it within only boat lengths of the line from Richard Instone and Jim Toothill from Blithfield 2nd and Peter Jacques and Peter Tate from Chase in 3rd. There was a definite gap between the Gold and Silver fleets with only Fred Arden and Andy White bringing their weight to bear down on the Gold fleet.

The competitors were all glad of the hot food served by the Budworth Galley, given that the temperatures were more akin to an early spring event.

The second race start was under way shortly after, and the winds had increased substantially on the start, but the competitors all got away cleanly. There was some good tight racing with place changing throughout the fleet. The race was won by Instone and Toothill with Thomas and Thomas 2nd. Making it level pegging going in to Race 3.

In the Silver fleet Julie Waddington beat the hang over to take the race 2 silver fleet honours. There were a number of casualties as a huge gust blew through just as boats were rounding the 2nd gybe mark of the course.

As the afternoon continued the wind eased a little and some of us, with lighter helms and crews were quite glad of the respite, and as a result the whole pack was a lot tighter, with a definite switch round in the middle of the pack. However in the Gold fleet it was Thomas and Thomas who came from behind again and clinched the competition, with Martin Brennan and Alistair Knott in 2nd and Instone and Toothill in 3rd, giving them 2nd overall.

At the prize giving the Sponsors Pelican Racing gave a short presentation and thanked the club for putting on the event. Pelican Racing are an RYA training Centre and specialise in SB20 (formerly SB3) charter and training, and Magic Marine Agents from their flagship store in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Phil sailed in the event and reminisced that it was great to return to sailing in the GP14 as this was the first boat he had ever owned.

Hugh Devereux thanked Pelican for their generous sponsorship of the prizes for the event with a days SB20 boat charter for up to 4 people on the Solent , and support of the substantial £300 prize pot for other winners. The top prize was won by Lee Thomas and Greg Thomas of Southport Sailing Club, with Richard Instone and Jim Toothill of Blithfield SC 2nd and Peter Jaques and Peter Tate from Chase.

Overall Results: