Budworth Sailing Club

Two teams from Budworth SC entered this year, to join 74 other teams in a demanding but enjoyable 24 hours. With light winds all weekend, the sailing was often more a test of calm patience rather than boat wrestling skills.The A-Team, made up of Budworth’s best from across all fleets had a good start and were lying in the top 5 in the early stages. But with light winds the observers and judges were being overly zealous and unfortunately the A-Team picked up a penalty. However they finished a creditable 13th overall.

In the all-comers B-Team 12 members, new and old, had the opportunity to participate in the event, many for the first time. After an enjoyable if tiring 24 hours they finished 46th out of 76, the same position as last year. Obviously consistent.

54 GPs lined up along the promenade outside Llandudno SC on Friday 3rd July eagerly waiting to get on the water for the first three races of the 2009 GP14 Nationals. Making up the 54 GPs were 7 boats from Budworth, the largest turnout from any club for which the Fleet was awarded the Sandgrounder Cup. Budworth competitors were Ted & Alex Garner, Fred & Daniel Arden, Bill Kenyon & Ben Ditchburn, James & Judith Downes, Paul & Chris Bowmer, John & Phil Waind, Peter & Peter Fisk.

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Budworth SC hosted the sixth round of the GP14 Northern Bell Championship with its Open Meeting on Sunday 7th June.In one of the best attended open meetings of the season 24 GP14s sailed in a mixture of challenging conditions, ranging from a brisk easterly force 4 under bright skies for the first race through to a light F2 in torrential rain for the final race. But, as ever, the competition was close and PRO Graeme Bristow and team coped superbly with the conditions ensuring good beats, clean starts and no protests in all 3 races.

Mike Senior of South Staffs SC with crew Luke Shaw were on commanding form, dominating all three races from start to finish. But competition was intense amongst the rest of the Gold Fleet sailors with Bill Kenyon (Budworth SC), Gary Dewhurst (Burwain SC), Innes Armstrong (Burwain SC) and Bruce Deppe (Hollingworth Lake SC) all swapping positions from beat to run and lap to lap. In the end home fleet sailor Bill Kenyon was second overall and as a result Bill extends his lead in the 2009 GP14 Northern Bell Championship, which is generously sponsored by Omega Sails.

Competition was also close in the other fleets. Whilst half the Bronze fleet suffered retirements in the challenging conditions of race 1, the remainder showed some great form and very close racing in races 2 & 3 clearly benefiting from their training session of the day before.

Results:

Overall:
1st Mike Senior & Luke Shaw (S Staffs SC & Budworth SC)
2nd Bill Kenyon & Ben Ditchburn (Budworth SC)
3rd Gary Dewhurst & Thomas Bennett (Burwain SC)

Silver Fleet:
1st Bruce Deppe & Alistair Knott (Hollingworth Lake SC)
2nd Matt Birks & Andy Hunter (Nantwich & Border Counties SC)
3rd Mandy Mitchell & Jon Close (Winsford Flash SC)

Bronze Fleet:
1st Ray Bailey & Jackie Bailey (Budworth SC)
2nd James Downes & Judith Downes (Budworth SC)
3rd Hugh Devereux & Ellie Devereux (Budworth SC)

Despite the early season date of the Bolton SC GP14 Open it was warm sunshine that greeted the 17 competitors at the club on Sunday April 5th. A tricky Southerly force 2 made it a tough day the OOD and his team as they attempted to set courses in the variable wind.

Race 1 saw a clean start, no more so than for Bill Kenyon and Ben Ditchburn who raced from the blocks into a clear lead as the wind swung and made it a rather one sided beat to the first mark. In hot pursuit were Ian Platt and Alex Pilkington and before long these leading two boats had built up a comfortable gap ahead of a chasing pack. Position changes were few and hard fought as the wind made for a processional first race that resulted in Bill and Ben taking the first winners gun of the day.

Bolton’s recently refurbished clubhouse hosted a hearty lunch for all before the competitors returned to the water for race 2. After a general recall the fleet got away on to the short beat to the windward mark. With much hailing as the pack fought round the mark Gary Deighan showed first. Gary worked up a nice gap at the head of the fleet as the race unfolded before a navigational indiscretion saw his cushion evaporate and ultimately the lead relinquished to Mark Platt.

Race 3 and the event was still wide open with any one of a number of boats in with a chance of taking the overall victory. In a carbon copy of race 1 Bill and Ben lead around the first mark and once more had Ian and Alex on their tail intent on making the leaders work really hard for any victory. Work hard they did and once more the Platt strangle hold on the Bolton open trophy was broken with a well deserved victory going to Bill and Ben from Budworth Sailing club.

A testing day perhaps for the OOD but an enjoyable and sun drenched one for all those that competed.

AUTUMN SERIES

The final round of the Autumn Series also saw racing abandoned as the Mere flatly refused to summon up a ripple! (pun intended). Hence the qualifying number of races has now reduced to just 5!

Congratulations go to Steve & Jean for winning the Series in commanding style. With the reduced number of qualifying races the order on the leader board has changed. With Tom/Ryan now tying with Chris/EJay, the decider is down to best results. With three wins in the series Tom & Ryan steal 2^nd place from a disappointed Chris & EJay who have just 2 wins.

PRIZE GIVING will now take place at the GP14 Fleet Social Gathering on Friday 6th March 2009.