Budworth Sailing Club

Four Budworth GP14s entered the National Championships this year. A 6-day event hosted by South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC), and sailed some 3-4km offshore in Cardigan Bay. 60 boats entered in total from Sailing Clubs across the UK, and even Sri Lanka. Fleets from Budworth, Bolton and South Staff were particularly well represented.With light winds early in the week fortunes were mixed. After a storming start in the practice race on Day 1 Craig & Gemma Hewett posted a 20th place, only to be over the line in the first proper race receiving a depressing DSQ that set the standard for the rest of the week. However John Waind with crew Jean Shaw and Ray & Jackie Bailey kept Budworth honours high with 13th and 16th respectively in the first race, finishing ahead of Bill Kenyon & Ben Ditchburn.

Budworth Sailors’ fortunes improved dramatically over days 2 & 3 as they got used to the light winds, choppy waters and underlying tides. In the 5th Race Bill and Ben were first to the windward mark and led the race for the first lap before eventually being overhauled by Simon Potts crewed by Budworth’s own Luke Shaw. John Waind and Jean Shaw finished 13th in the same race, and Ray & Jackie also posted a very creditable 17th in the following Race 6.

Later in the week, the breeze picked up, as did the swell and chop, and tidal flow became more pronounced presenting further challenges to an already tiring Budworth Team. Capsizes and occasional penalties tempered the good results, but the Budworth fleet returned home tired but satisfied with a valiant campaign and memories of a great social and sailing event.

1st 14021 Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe Burwain & RWYC
4th 14057 Simon Potts & Luke Shaw Chase & Budworth
16th 13900 Bill Kenyon & Ben Ditchburn Budworth
29th 13721 John Waind & Jean Shaw Budworth
38th 13874 Ray & Jackie Bailey Budworth
46th 13760 Craig & Gemma Hewett Budworth

Full results and commentary on each days sailing are available at the GP14 website www.gp14.co.uk

The Scouts now have five of our jetties installed at Tatton Park.- as this picture shows!
They will start to be transferred to BSC on 8th August. If you wish to help once they get to BSC I suggest that, if possible, you have a look at them at Tatton next week.
Many thanks to Steve Kelham, the Scouts, Eddie Stobbart, Simon Coppock and others to get them this far.
Our next meeting to plan how we install them is at 1100 on Sunday 12th September at the Club, all welcome.

‘Wednesday Night End of Series Event’
Wednesday 1st September 2010

1 Hour Pursuit Race (Start 7.00pm)

 followed by

Handicap and Laser Prize Giving

INDIAN CURRY BUFFET

8.30pm in the Club house
TICKET ONLY EVENT - £9.00
Ticket from Bill Kenyon

Mob 07831272122   Email: Bill Kenyon
Don’t delay - get your ticket today !

An eventful evening with, in the first race, the sun and light F2 giving way to a thunderstorm, torrential rain, and gusty F4. Needless to say, half the fleet retired. For race 2 the sun returned, but not the wind, so a depleted fleet went out for a drift. So far 24 races have been sailed (with 2 lost due to no wind), but with 10 races left over the remaining 5 weeks it’s still easy to sail the 8 races are required to qualify.

Wednesday Night Handicap Series runs through to the end of August and takes place EVERY Wednesday Night: FIRST RACE 7.00pm START

END OF SEASON SOCIAL - WED 1^st Sept

A Wednesday Night Finale is planned for Wed 1^st Sept. This event will include:

• A 1-hour Pursuit race, non-qualifying, but good fun
• The Wed Night Series and LASER prize giving
• A Curry Buffet evening

Please reserve this date now. Ticket sales and prices to be announced soon.

The 24-Hour race takes place over the weekend of Sat 11th and Sun 12th September on the Marine Lake at West Lancs Yacht Club, Southport. I am seeking interest from all Budworth SC members in participating in a ‘B-team’. (The A-team has already been formed and entered).

Each team entering has just one boat (GP14) continuously on the water, swapping crews approx every 2 hours. It can be a demanding event, especially if the wind is above force 3, and given that sailing takes place continuously from 12 noon Sat to 12 noon Sun. ie: throughout the night.

The event is suitable for those with considerable Main Points sailing experience and confidence with symmetric spinnaker sailing. The minimum requirement is for a team of 12 (6 helm/crew pairs). This would represent 2 x 2-hour shifts per pair. If more people wish to participate then the shifts could be shorter, which would be a benefit if the wind was strong for the duration of the event. When not on the water, we have a small marquee to rest and socialise in, and there is plenty of food and drink available continuously from West Lancs Yacht Club. Camping is available a short walk away for those wanting sleep!

We already have 6 people interested in taking part, but need at least another 6-8. The cost is £20 per person, which will cover the entry fee, insurance and small repairs to the boat, with any surplus going to refreshments in our marquee. If you are interested in taking part please email craighewett@tesco.net by FRIDAY 13th AUGUST.

Another great turnout proving the GP14 fleet is alive and well at Budworth: 9 boats, including one visitor, enjoyed the challenge of a shifting S-SW F3 wind. Whilst Bill & Ben posted the 4 bullets, all other places were up for grabs with 2^nd & 3 ^rd shared by Peter Wyche, John Waind, Dennis and Chris. Excitement and spectacle was provided by a running finish of at least 6 boats crossing the line together. I understand that some helms and crews also took the opportunity to have a swim. The Budworth GP14 results have been updated! Click here to go to them.

Summer Points runs for 8 weeks, and you just need 8 races to qualify - that’s only 2 Sundays!! Bill Kenyon and Peter Wyche are the first to qualify. A reminder that FIRST RACE STARTS AT 12.30!!

Remember these events are coming up soon:

 Southport 24-Hour Race 11^th & 12^th September

GP14 Masters Championship at Windermere - 18^th & 19^th September
The week after, so you can do both events in September. Hurray!!

Dear Members
It looks like the algae has already cleared, but anyhow- dont drink the mere!

Dear…
Having received reports regarding possible blue green algae in Budworth Mere, Marbury earlier today (9.7.10), I can confirm that the lake is currently affected by blue green algae. This is potentially toxic and direct contact is not advised. Please contact me shoudl you require any further information, however, I will contact you again next week.

Regards,
Mike Walker,
Environment Officer.

The weather was fabulous, the wind was tricky coming from the North on Saturday but improving on Sunday.

The Okell Cup was won by Richard Hulme in a Laser with Dave Nicholson Laser 2nd and Peter Wilkinson 3rd on a board. The Lasers won the Driver Trophy, and the Snipes the Commodores cup.

We had an excellent evening with food, music, dancing and catching up with old friends on Saturday. Many thanks to those who decorated the club house, chopped salads and served food and drink.
Sunday racing started with a collecting ducks ( the yellow bathroom variety) from the water, there was intense competition between the Attfield and Page families with honours even at the end. If you find any of the missing ducks  please return them to the galley!

The Budworth Belle was won by Katie Crompton, who also won the Fireball races. The Veterans Trophy was won by Phil and Emma Hackney who were 2nd in the Snipe races, and the Super Vets with 120 years (of life, not sailing) under their belts were Mike Guess and John Smith who were 2nd in the fireballs. The fleet winners were -Firefly Debbie Love,  Snipe Eric Paalman, GP 14 Bill Kenyon, Laser Dave Nicholson, RS200 Graham Tinsley. The Junior prize was won by Tom Joesbury after a battle with his brother.

It all happens again 18 June 2011.