Budworth Sailing Club

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.

This entry was written on Monday, April 6th, 2009 at 5:04 pm and is filed under Racing Results, GP14 News, Home.
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