Ginger Boats RS200 Northern Tour at Budworth Sailing Club

A strong turnout from Budworth's 16-strong home fleet together with visitors from Bassenthwaite, Leigh & Lowton and Yorkshire Dales made for some exciting and very close racing in the last event of this year's Northern Tour.

Competitors ranging in age from 10 to 70, and boats 296 to 1730, all enjoyed very close racing which is a credit to the friendliness of the 200 fleet and the strength of the boat design. The event comprised 2 pairs of back to back races in a variable strength south westerly breeze.

RS200 Northern Tour at Budworth - photo © James Prestwich

Race 1 saw several different leaders and plenty of snakes and ladders as the wind built. Jon Chapman & Wendy Martin, Jon & Heather Ward and then Russell and Vicky Page all looked to open up a gap to the marauding fleet but, finding exceptional boat speed, Alistair and Helen Norris sailed through and away from way down the fleet.

Alastair and Helen really showed the way in Race 2 opening up a comfortable lead from Jon and Wendy with much place changing behind. Race 2 also saw "capsize of the day" which went to Chris & Marie Smallwood, a watery interlude in an otherwise solid performance!

RS200 Northern Tour at Budworth - photo © James Prestwich

Coming ashore for lunch we were greeted with a storm and Force 5 winds, but by the start of Race 3 the PRO was frantically motoring up and down the Mere looking for breeze. Jon and Wendy avoided the masses by starting at the pin end and sailed a brilliant steady race to lead from start to finish. Russell and Vicky pulled through to second with Alistair and Helen in 3rd.

Going into Race 4 victory was still possible for at least 3 boats. Jon and Wendy took an early lead but Alistair and Helen, now fully tuned into Budworth's tricky conditions, found a way through to take the win and victory in the event. The all girls team of Bex Smith and Mhairi Gass, in the club boat 324, belated found their form and took a brilliant 3rd in the final race. Jon and Wendy were 2nd and 2nd overall and Russell and Vicky Page finished 3rd overall.

Overall Results: