
A bright sun, and a strong wind made a perfect day’s sailing at Budworth for the Annual Boxing Day Open handicap meeting. Perhaps the threatened winds of Gale force 8 to Storm force 10 may have deterred some, but those who ventured found a steady wind which was manageable and exhilarating. After two years of cancellation due to ice, this Regatta was especially successful.
Thirty-two boats competed, in four flights, Fast Handicap, (up to 1000 PYR), Slow handicap, Single handed and Junior.
Competitors from 10 clubs joined forces in 13 different classes, giving exciting racing, and competitors on tenterhooks to find out the results.
(Click the pdf icon to see the results!) 
This 100 acre lake is ideal for tight racing, and recognising wind shifts: with gusts of 35 mph forecast, the course made full use of the lake, in a simple ‘parallelogram’ form, allowing variations on beats, and a good run right down the lake. A port biased line, (essential to create a clear transit) was only put at risk when one competitor chose to drag the dan buoy up the course. Speedy safety boat reaction ensured a fair start for the next flight!
Most exciting was the Junior flight - for two of three laps Optimists battled on equal terms both with each other and with Toppers. Taking advantage of a good wind, and opportunity for tactical sailing, the Oppies were neck and neck, and were well rewarded with a first and third place for the whole afternoon. Hannah Bristow, (formerly of Budworth) took the first place, with Bobby Hewitt in the other Oppie 3rd, , and Topper sailor Adam Russ of Redesmere splitting the pair from Leigh and Lowton.
In Single Handers, the Phantom, living up to its name was a ghostly presence for the rest of the fleet. They hardly saw it! Brilliantly sailed by Andy Couch of Rudyard Lake, it took first place in both races to take top prize. Solo sailor Phil Barnes of Budworth took 2nd, and Tom Keegan in a Laser from Leigh and Lowton was 3rd.
In Fast Handicap, the Merlin Rocket carved its way through all opposition, with Steve Crook at the helm and Andy Smith of Hollingworth Lake taking the honours. The Fireball of home fleet member Geoff Edwards, unusually at the helm of his own boat, (normally preferring to crew), was a contender until he chose to hesitate at the leeward mark, and let the fleet through! Such generosity allowed the RS 200s of Matt Mee (Red Wharf Bay), and Birrell/Woosey of Leigh and Lowton to take 2nd and 3rd slots.
The Slow Handicap flight brought GP14, RS Feva, and the all female crew of Pauline Penny and Michelle Ditchburn in a home Snipe into contention. Capsizes in race 1 slowed the Feva, but a clear lead in the second race gave overall 2nd place to Graeme Bristow, a former Budworth member, with daughter Izzie on the jib.
Winning with a first and 2nd place was GP 14 of Martin and Chloe Brennan, from Hollingworth, and Budworth team Hugh Devereux and Malcolm Bird in 3rd place.
Father Christmas arrived at the prize giving to distribute the prizes: tired as he was after his weekend of work, he distributed prizes evenly between clubs, and classes! Steve Crook thanked Budworth, and promised that with a repeat of the sailing and organisation of this Boxing Day, next year’s competition will be guaranteed to be well supported!
The Boxing Day event is sailed for Charity, and the atmosphere is always festive and fun (massively helped by Vanessa and Dawn’s mulled wine) and follows the Warrington Dolphins’ Boxing Day SWIM! This year, Budworth is able to make a donation of £210 to the RNLI as a result of this event.