Solo Northern Travellers series at Budworth Sailing Club

Solo Northern Travellers at Budworth, in the heart of Cheshire © Peter Cull / www.petercull.com

Winner Steve Denison closely followed by Innes Armstrong at the Solo Northern Travellers at Budworth © Peter Cull / www.petercull.com

The final event on the Solo Northern Travellers series was sailed at Budworth Sailing Club in the heart of Cheshire on Sat 15th Oct.

16 visitors and 11 home helms turned out in the rain with 10mph gusting 20 forecast on XC Weather but with sunshine forecast. In the event the rain cleared, the sunshine came out and the wind veered through 180deg by the 11.00 start but never managed 20mph.

David Redpath had bought his boat down from St Mary's Loch SC in the Scottish borders and Roger Guess bought his Solo up from Salcombe YC. So our visitors came from far and wide. Burwain SC provided four visitors.

The wind was struggling to make 10mph and remained fickle giving PRO Russ Cormack real difficulties setting a course with any long and square beats. Fortunately Budworth racing sec. Russell Page had spent the winter months with working parties clearing the last 20 years of willow growth from the southern shore so that the two windward marks actually managed some wind for most of the day.

The Solo class seems to be characterised by black flag starts such is their enthusiasm for being on the line on time. However Saturday saw only one general recall in the second race.

The first race got away cleanly until the first windward mark when most were struggling to observe sailing as a non contact sport. Steve Denison from Hollingworth SC and Winder Boats, the Northern Series main sponsor, sailing his Winder Mk1a lead for most of the race with second placed Innes Armstrong from Burwain constantly contesting the lead. Steve Graham, another Burwain sailor finished in 3rd with Martin Honor from Ogston in 4th.

A pleasant lunch in the sunshine gave everyone a chance to relax and make appropriate apologies, 720s having been completed of course.

No gaps in the start line at Budworth Solo Northern Travellers - photo © Peter Cull / www.petercull.com

Two more back to back races followed with the PRO frequently moving marks to refine the course in the changeable winds. On the last start a last minute 15deg shift was spotted by most of the fleet but PRO Russell was wily enough to recognise it and abandoned the start with 8 seconds to go. This suited the reporter having failed to find a gap in the line and probably also avoided a general recall.

The second race was again won by Steve Denison with Innes hot on his transom in 2nd. Home sailor Phil Barnes followed in 3rd and Steve Graham in 4th. The lead was reversed in the last race with Innes taking the bullet and Steve right behind him. Martin Honor from Ogston followed in 3rd with Phil Barnes in 4th.

The whole event was characterised by good humour, very close racing throughout the fleet and the PRO's triumph over adversity. Prize giving for the completion of the Northern Travellers with Solo Northern rep Nick Hornsby officiating followed (those results are published elsewhere).

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