Chernikeeff/RYA Match Racing Plymouth Qualifier Overall

Ian Budgen remained undefeated with a 8 - 0 scoreline to win the Plymouth qualifier for a place at this years Chernikeeff / RYA National Match Race Finals being held at London's' Royal Victoria Dock, between 24 - 29th October.

Conditions were tricky at best, the wind never reaching over 6 knots and 40 degree wind shifts coming across the race course, Ian Budgen sailing with Dave Lenz, Nic Pearson and Clive Cokayne sailed very well to remain undefeated. Budgen pleased with his teams performance acknowledged the difficult conditions 'We lead from start to finish in all our races, however against John Horn we had extended a good lead after the first lap, but then got caught on the wrong side of a shift on the second beat, we just managed to maintain our lead and win the race.'

The light winds meant the race committee had to take the difficult discussion to abandon racing at 2pm as the likelihood of completing the semi-finals and finals was minimal. This meant the final overall positions were taken from the eight race round-robin.

The team are now looking forward, Budgen having won the qualifier in such difficult conditions felt it will give them much needed confidence for the Finals which again are likely to be sailed in shifty conditions against some of Britain's top match racers. Queitly optimistic for their chances in the finals, Budgen twice before being a semi-finalist at the National Match Race Finals, in 1995 he was runner up to Andy Beadsworth.

Budgen is proposing to team up with Richard Sydneham at the helm and campaign a Soling for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Richard is currently in Sydney getting ready to compete with Andy Beadsworth and Barry Parkin in the Soling class for Great Britain.

Jamie Boag from Ireland came to this event expecting to be competitive even though he had not match raced for 10 years, he was pleased to come away with a second place and a ticket to the Finals in London. 'Match Racing is something I'd like to get into, it's a real team sport and having sailed bigger boats over the past few years it's great to sail with a small nucleus of good people.' Boag has captained Ireland at Team Racing Worlds for the past two years, where he has twice made it to the last eight nations.

Now Jamie and his Dublin based team of Dave Hassett, Ben Cooke and Dave Spears intend to borrow a J24 to practise their boat handling skills before returning to the UK in October for the Finals. Jamie admitted they were happy to have sailed in such light winds as they felt their crew work may have let them down if the winds had increased.

Not everyone was happy with the light winds, both Rob Wilson and John Greenland who finished 3rd and 4th respectively felt the wind conditions had been unfortunate at best. Greenland explained 'I've lost second place overall and a chance to compete at the finals, I was neck and neck with Jamie Boag all the way up the first beat and managed to pass him on the first run. However, in the light and shifty breeze, sailing to the finish line Jamie was behind gybed off in a puff of wind and literally sailed round me, it's was impossible to defend your lead in these conditions. Jamie now gets the place at the Finals, coming 4th wasn't good enough for us"

Rob Wilson, sailing with Olympic Tornado crewman Will Howden, was disappointed not to make the top two in his first ever match race event, but admitted the event had been really good for his sailing in general. 'You learn alot about the rules and close boat to boat manoeuvring which can be transferred back into fleet racing.'

Although both Budgen and Boag now progress through to the Finals, they are both aware it won't be an easy ride with some of Britain's top Match Racers competing for the coveted title of 2000 Chernikeeff RYA National Match Champion.

Final Results: (One full round robin completed, no semi's or finals sailed)

1st Ian Budgen       Warsash, Hampshire        8 wins  0 losses
2nd Jamie Boag       Dublin, Ireland           6 wins  2 losses
3rd Rob Wilson       Shepperton, Middlesex     5 wins  3 losses
4th John Greenland   Dorset                    5 wins  3 losses
5th Barnaby Chandler Guernsey, Channel Islands 4 wins  4 losses
6th Ed Thorburn      Seaford, Sussex           3 wins  5 losses
7th John Horn        Warsash, Hampshire        3 wins  5 losses
8th Ed Hill          Barlaston, Stoke on Trent 2 wins  6 losses
9th Belinda Kerridge Putney, London            0 wins  8 losses