ILCA Open Meeting and Northern Grand Prix at Budworth Sailing Club

ILCA Northern Grand Prix at Budworth © James Prestwich

Contrary to the forecast of "No Wind" the nine visitors travelling to Budworth, from as far as West Riding SC, and home fleet, were rewarded with a pleasant westerly Force 2 to 3 and full sunshine for all four races.

PRO Steve Hayward, assisted by Debbie Love ARO, very efficiently, ran two races back-to-back in the morning and a further two in the afternoon. For a change all four races got away without General Recalls in part due to Steve setting a precise and suitably long start line.... and also those who normally push the line to, and beyond, the limit (often the case in Budworth's super competitive Wednesday Night racing) adopting a more reserved approach!

The range of experience within the fleet of 22 boats was vast. Ian Jones, from Dovestone SC, has been winning regattas on the European Masters Circuit this year and Paul Heath and Andy Fox, Leigh & Lowton SC, were campaigning on the travellers circuit in the 1980s. Very new to Laser sailing it was great to see Budworth's "Better Sailing Group" (those progressing from recent Start Sailing Courses) represented by Sian Hancock, Flora Maudsley-Barton and Tracy Antonelli who were all taking part in their 1st open meeting.

Race 1 set the tone for the day with Ian Jones getting away and leading throughout ahead of Paul Heath. However, Gordon Riddell, Delph SC, sailed a superb second lap nailing all the shifts both upwind and downwind to come through the chasing pack to take second with Paul third.

Race 2 was similar, with Ian again out front, but this time Tim Keighley emerged to take second and also sail very consistently at the front of the fleet for the rest of the day.

In Race 3 it was great to see Ali Cormack from the home fleet setting the pace with Ian Jones on Lap 1. It was only Ali's third time out this year! It only took one race for her to acclimatise from her current campaign in a Snipe! Yes, a Snipe!

Jon Chapman, sailing a club training boat, began to find his Balearics Laser sailing form from yesteryear too, and was now up with the leaders. However, Ian still won race 3 from Tim and Paul.

Race 4 was slightly different. Tim led around the windward mark from Jon and Tony Wilcock with Ian trailing! However, by the third mark Ian had taken the lead and Tim and Tony chased him for the remainder of the race, but only to finish in that order. With the wind filling in on the final run Lewis Bacon in an ILCA6 took the win on handicap. Lewis who had been amongst the ILCA7s all day improved his results race by race.

On a final note, we all wish our Laser Fleet Captain and event organiser, Pete Wilkinson, who had to withdraw on the day of the event, a swift recovery from Covid. I understand that he is feeling pretty rough and there is absolutely no truth that it was brought on by the light wind forecast. Get well soon Pete!

Overall Results:

1st Ian Jones ILCA7 (Dovestones SC)
2nd Tim Keighley ILCA7 (West Riding SC)
3rd Paul Heath ILCA7 (Leigh& Lowton SC)
4th Lewis Bacon ILCA6 (Leigh & Lowton SC)
5th Tony Wilcock ILCA7 (Budworth SC)

1st Youth - Lewis Bacon

1st Better Sailor - Tracey Antonelli

ILCA Northern Grand Prix at Budworth - photo © James Prestwich