Boxing Day Open at Budworth Sailing Club
by Mark Philpott 28 Dec 2012 16:18 GMT
26 December 2012
This annual event is always a fun day out. Participants arriving at Budworth for the traditional Boxing Day Open Handicap meeting were greeted by sunshine and a steady south westerly wind, as well as the brave Warrington Dolphins completing their equally traditional swim in the Mere which registered 4 degrees C.
The sunshine faded a little, the swimmers were quickly clear, the wind backed and fell, so that by the start for the Fast handicap (PYR 960-1060), a short starboard beat gave way to a longer port tack.
The pattern for the day was then set, as the three beats could easily change from heavy bias port or starboard, to a very balanced tacking competition. Even the Slow Handicap, and the singlehanders could find themselves in different circumstances, just three minutes apart.
The Junior fleet of 4 Toppers competed on equal terms with their senior counterparts, apart from the long reach, and final beat.
Visitors Matt Mee (Hollingworth Lake/Red Wharf Bay, RS 200) and Andy Tunnicliffe (RWYC Merlin Rocket) came home ahead of Budworth's Jon Chapman, proving that even local knowledge doesn't always outclass good helms in flukey conditions. The Albacore of Mike Banner (Winsford Flash) benefited from the generous handicap, and with a light crew of young son Brandon Wills was way ahead of the Snipe sailed by father and son Steve and Tom Hubbard (mental note for 2013 – set the break at PYR 1100 – Albacore's and RS 200 are quite close!!). Third in the Slow handicap were Martin and Chloe Brennan from Hollingworth Lake ahead of a phalanx of home Snipes and GPs.
The Singlehanded fleet was led home by the Blaze 760 of Mark Fearnley (South WindermereYC), ahead of Solo from Crosby SC sailed by Andy Fox. Budworth featured in the prizes with Dave Nicholson in the Laser in third place, ahead of Ben Ditchburn (Laser), visitor Alistair Norris (Red Wharf Bay) in his RS 300, and Isaac Marsh, (Scammonden) just out of Juniors in Laser Radial, and competing at senior level very competently.
In all three flights, the overall winner took first place in both races – after them all the prizewinners took different places in each race, emphasising either the sheer quality of the helms or perhaps the variability of the wind conditions!
In the Juniors, an individual recall in the first race caused home Junior Nick Devereux to work hard to come second, but in the second race he took an early lead and increased it ahead of Haydn Griffiths (Leigh and Lowton), gaining first place overall, with Haydn second, and Angus Reilly third.
The heavy rain dampened the sails in the final few legs, but not the spirits, and the warmth and atmosphere in the bar proved that everyone had enjoyed the fresh air, good competition and a good day out! 27 boats competed, and after the winners took their prizes, the greatest winner of all is the RNLI, which will receive over £100 as a donation.