Budworth Sailing Club

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Key dates for the year ahead are:

• Sun 6^th June - Budworth GP14 Open Meeting
• 31^st July - 6^th August - GP14 National Championships at Abersoch

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 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.

Budworth SC hosted the sixth round of the GP14 Northern Bell Championship with its Open Meeting on Sunday 6th June. The well attended meeting of 22 boats included 14 visitors with many travelling from the Midlands and across the North West to enjoy the quality racing and stable water of Budworth Mere. 

After a brief delay waiting for the wind to fill, Race 1 got underway. Simon Potts (Shustoke SC) led from the start, but the light shifty conditions suited Budworth Septuagenarian John Booth who closely followed Potts across the line. Whilst the fleet enjoyed an excellent light lunch, the wind increased and an excellent NW F3-4 set in for the afternoon.

In Race 2 Gary Dewhurst & Thomas Bennett (Burwain SC) chased the leaders hard with Simon Potts with crew Luke Shaw (Budworth SC) eventually crossing the line first. Late arrivals Mike Senior with crew Liz Pugh (both South Staffs SC) used Race 2 as the warm up and showed their form in the final race duelling with Potts and Shaw throughout to emerge as race victors.  

With two bullets, Potts and Shaw were overall winners. In the home fleet, Bill Kenyon was fifth overall but as a result Bill now leads in the 2010 GP14 Northern Bell Championship, which is generously sponsored by Omega Sails. Competition was also very close in the other fleets, with clean, close racing by all competitors. 

As ever, the quality racing and close competition was aided by the skill of PRO Graham Tinsley and his team who ensured good beats, clean starts and no protests in all 3 races. 

Results:  

Overall:

1^st Simon Potts & Luke Shaw (Shustoke SC & Budworth SC)

2^nd Mike Senior & Liz Pugh (S. Staffs SC)

3^rd Peter Jacques & Adam Froggat (Chase SC) 

Silver Fleet:

1^st John Booth & Gill Kenyon (Budworth SC)

2^nd Fred Ardern & Andy White (Budworth SC)

3^rd Greg Thomas & Emily Cole-Evans (Southport SC & S. Staffs SC) 

Bronze Fleet:

1^st Alan Roberts & Alex Pilkington (Royal Navy SC)

2^nd Dave Burrows & Kate Billinge (Winsford Flash SC)

3^rd Alex Donnachie & Lesley Bayliss (Budworth SC)

2010 GP14 Northern Championship @ Derwent Reservoir SC
1st & 2nd May 2010

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