Snipe Open at Budworth Sailing Club for the SCIRA NW Championship 2024

Briefing during the Budworth Snipe Open © Mark Antonelli

Gusty and shifting lake conditions made for racing where strategy and tactics were key to getting ahead so avoiding being slowed by traffic. In this report there is some personal perspective from Neil Martin (3rd helm overall).

Race 1 -Jenny not 100%, but happy to have her new wetsuit as it's windy, boat set up with the flattest sails ever to cope in the stronger breeze, a poor start row 3 as helm asleep. The start was like watching a slow motion scene, Jenny said "you need to sharpen up!", tough to make forward progress even in the shifty wind due to the shortage of clear air. Mark and Tracy Antonelli lead around the first mark, with Robin Mister and Stef Ward close on their transom for the first lap. Antonelli held the lead to the finish.

Race 2 - A better start but trapped on port after a big shift, sailing 15 seconds on the wrong shift isn't good for your "course made good". Note to self "start faster and point higher off the line". Peter Wolstenholm and Lloyd Roberts gained the lead to finish 1st holding off Matthew Wolstenholm and Liz Pike followed by Eric Paalman and Debbie Love who posted their best regatta race.

Budworth Snipe Open - photo © BR Sailing Photography

Race 3 - Good start at the right end tacking off on the first shift, what a difference! The mood in the boat has brightened, it's so much easier at the front, no ducking and diving. Final Run: Wolstenholm/Pike going found pressure on the right sneak past the Antonellis who went for the middle, with the Martins getting similar pressure gain on the left. On the final beat Wolstenholm/Pike held their lead and the Martins took 2nd from Antonellis 3rd. Jenny commented "maybe you have not lost it Dad".

Budworth Snipe Open - photo © BR Sailing Photography

Day 2: rain all day but at least its dry while rigging and de-rigging.

Budworth Snipe Open - photo © BR Sailing Photography

Race 4 - Always great start lines set by the PRO, continuing very shifty conditions and short legs resulted in many changes in positions. Wolstenholm/Pike cleared the field on the final lap with Guy Marks and Sam Boniface in 2nd showing that it can take a day to get the measure of local conditions. Phil and Emma Hackney also posting their best race in 3rd.

Race 5 - Wolstenholm/Roberts achieved an early lead stretching it to a solid 50 boat lengths that enabled them the space to keep ahead. Martins who are not frequent Snipe racers these days, had by now settled into a rhythm finished 2nd.

Budworth Snipe Open - photo © BR Sailing Photography

Race 6 - Finished with the regatta top 3 in front showing that once you get into the local conditions it is really about superior boat speed, strategy and tactics for the conditions of day.

Race 7 - A new race leader in the form of Italian entry, Marco Ballatore crewed by Pauline Penny led from mark 1, only to have their valiantly held lead snatched away towards the end of the race. The Martins finishing finally! with a 1st and Wolstenholm/Pike in 2nd.

Matthew Wolstenholme and Liz Pike win the Budworth Snipe Open - photo © BR Sailing Photography

The weekend was one of the few over the past 50 years where Snipes enjoyed great racing conditions over both days. Each competitor could look back at many instances where the results could easily have been different through luck/risk and judgement as well as boat speed, sailing being such a complex sport. The competitors enjoyed a Captain's Banquet style meal prepared by many of the Budworth Snipe fleet members. It was certainly a weekend of "Serious Sailing, Serious Fun".

Overall Results: