Budworth Boxing Day Open sponsored by Virtual Rigger

by Hugh Devereux 30 Dec 2013 15:13 GMT 26 December 2013

Boxing Day Open at Budworth © Ian Savell

GP14's during the Boxing Day Open at Budworth © Ian Savell

Budworth SC considered itself blessed by the wind gods on Boxing Day, with Gales on Christmas Eve and Gales forecast for the Friday, Boxing Day was a sandwiched day of serenity and at least some wind. Although there was substantial northern pessimism around the boat park as the PRO attempted to get people to rig their boats on time, primarily caused by the high reflectance of the mere with no ripples on it!

But as forecast the wind started to fill in and after a short delay the 26 competitors gathered on the lake. The predominantly South South East wind is not Budworth's best direction, but a couple of beats were set on the course.

First off were the single handed sailors, a collection of Lasers, a Radial, a Streaker, a few solos, a Phantom and a Topper were clear away. It couldn't be claimed that there was consistent wind, and gains and losses were large when competitors missed the pressure. The Phantom of Mark Dingsdale of Leigh and Lowton made the running and created an unassailable lead on the water, but it was the Solo of Steve Hubbard of Budworth that won out on Handicap, followed by Andy Brown in a Laser also from Budworth in 2nd.

Second off were the Handicap menagerie, and certain members of Bolton Sailing Club managed to cause the only recall of the day, and initially it was looking like the GP's had the day, but Matt Mee and Emma Norris of Red Wharf Bay SC scooted away into the lead on the water and made it stick on Handicap.

Finally Two Juniors took to the water in an Oppy and a Topper. The course was a little long for these two competitors really, (apologies from the PRO) and in the light and fickle airs it was always going to be difficult for the Topper to succeed. Whilst Michael Platt from Bolton SC finished first on the water by just under 3 minutes, this wasn't enough to beat Lewis Coop from Leigh and Lowton on Handicap.

Have you ever noticed how when the sailing fleet comes ashore for lunch the sailing conditions always improve for just long enough for the sailors to refuel themselves. And so it was on Boxing Day, the wind picked up to a good 10 mph and left the PRO thinking he should have kept them out back to back. However I suspect there would have been rebellion in the ranks, even with all that Christmas dinner the day before.

After warm soup and plenty of chatter over lunch the 2nd race got under way, and a cheery group of sailors launched again. The wind had veered towards the south and west a little over lunch and the Safety crew re-positioned the course. All the flights got away cleanly, and in the single handers Andy Brown managed to get away from the pack and maintain a substantial lead building to a minute and a half by the end of the 3 lap race.

In the Handicap fleet it was Matt and Emma leading the way again closely followed this time by Paralympic bronze medal sailor Nikki Birrell and L Woosey, with Jon Chapman and Debbie Sutcliffe from Budworth in 3rd.

The wind dropped in the latter part of the race, and the chill started to set in as the sun disappeared behind the trees. Last to finish was the newly acquired Topper of Mark Ritchie-Noakes, keen to finish his first racing series as a new member at Budworth, with a smile on his face.

In the bar afterwards for Prize giving, the Commodore Mark Philpott thanked the sailors for attending and reminded them of the importance of the work of the RNLI, particularly in the difficult weather conditions we are having over this Christmas. The RNLI will receive a donation of £270 as the proceeds from this open event, with many thanks to all the competitors.

The Prizes for the day were donated by Virtual Rigger – Your on line Chandlery, and were presented to the winners of the event by the commodore and Matt Mee, on behalf of the competitors thanked the club and the race team for the event, reminiscing that he had been sailing at the Boxing Day open at Budworth for 10 years.

Overall Results:

Single Handed Handicap
1st Andy Brown – Budworth Sailing Club
2nd Steve Hubbard – Budworth Sailing Club
3rd Mark Dingsdale – Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club

Handicap Fleet
1st Matt Mee and Emma Norris – Red Wharf Bay Sailing Club
2nd Martin Brennan and Chloe Brennan – Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club
3rd Jon Chapman and Debbie Sutcliffe – Budworth Sailing Club

Junior Fleet
1st Lewis Coop - Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club
2nd Michael Platt - Bolton Sailing Club