Border Counties Midweek Sailing 2024 at Budworth Sailing Club

Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Budworth © Brian Herring

It was a wonderful day at the outstandingly beautiful Budworth Sailing Club in Cheshire, where the super friendly Borders Series Open Meeting was held on Tuesday the 3rd of September 2024. The sun shone, the wind blew and even the ducks had apparently tidied up the club jetties as the club was immaculate presented, (thanks to the Covert 19 Group), ready for the 23 competitors to race.

There were ten home and thirteen visitors in boats ranging from the super slinky D-Zero to the juniors favourite the Topper, and the from the fast asymmetric RS200 to the classic spinnaker carrying GP14 and Miracle. All ages competed, with three juniors relishing a final day of summer freedom, workers so enthused they had taken a day's holiday, to retirees like me who cannot think of a better way to spend a Tuesday.

The racing was close, tactical and most of all fun, with three separate race winners two from one club and all sailing the same class of boat, but which one?

The super competent race team of Jon Chapman PRO and Wendy Martin ARO, ably supported by Katie Guess in the lead boat and Steve Hayward on rescue, with Bill Kenyon as always there to help,ensured superb racing for the competitors. There were two beats, reaches and runs to make the best of a warm force 3 wind which came down the mere in gusts of varying strengths and directions.

It was a day to keep your eyes out of the boat to follow the shifts to attempt to chart the optimum course.To ensure a perfectly square line of the right length a short postponement was held as the wind settled and a slipping start buoy was secured. At the first start there was a general recall as an over eager fleet attempted to make the perfect start.

On a second attempt the race got under way with close action between boats to try to win the pin end resulting in Paul Newman in his Streaker leading the fleet away, only to be adjudged to be just OCS. He was followed by Pete Coop also in a Streaker with the rest of the fleet in hot pursuit. All were overtaken by Liz Potter in her elegantly crafted and fast Devoti D-Zero, who together with Pete, who was sailing his Streaker at the speed of a supernova, disappeared into the distance taking a massive lead.

Ted Garner tried to lead the chase but could not hold on as the leaders powered away and was soon overhauled by 14-year-old junior Martha Newstead Taylor sailing brilliantly with her dad in her first Open Meeting in the challenging RS200. Also gaining rapidly through the fleet was Garry Thompson in his Laser, his effort being rewarded as he was the last of five boats to sail through the gate who got the extra value for money for their £5 entrance fee, by sailing a third lap, as the rest of the fleet were finished after two laps in accordance with average lap time rules.

On handicap the race was won by Pete in his Streaker, followed by Ted's Solo with Liz's Devoti in third.

So as everyone returned to shore for lunch, which was the usual for Borders sailors, bringing their own picnic to enjoy on the club lawn, looking over a beautiful mere in warm sunshine as everyone caught up with their sailing friends. There was an extra bonus due to the kindness of Budworth's Diane Owen who had given up her day to serve coffees and teas together with offering a delicious selection of freshly baked cakes that she had baked the night before, absolutely wonderful! Donations for cakes were taken for the RNLI (thanks all of you).

Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Budworth - photo © Katie Guess

Back to the now glittering water for two "back to back" races to decide the open meeting.

Again, the pin end was hotly contested by the same boats and for the first part of the beat it appeared the left was the right choice with Paul overtaking Ted and Pete whilst moving into the centre of the mere to take the benefit of next band of wind which now favoured the middle. Liz, Frank Lafferty in his Supernova, and Graham Ellis in his Solo had also anticipated the shift and powered through to the front just behind Paul. Paul sailed with great skill to hold onto his lead on handicap to win the race. Pete showed his usual mastery by sailing through the fleet for second place. Graham was in a commanding position as Ted tried to catch up,each boat tacking on shifts along the shoreline up toward F, until with a lucky break Ted managed to just sneak through to take third place with Graham taking 4th.

With a first and second Pete was in a great position to win the event, but Paul could still overtake him if he could get a win in the third and last race. Everyone expected the last race to be dominated by these Streakers from Winsford Flash SC and from Shotwick Lake SC.

The race started with a familiar pattern with the usual suspects thinking left would be the best choice on the first beat and again at first it seemed to be so. However,it was those who had carefully chosen to start near the committee boat and sail up the middle of the mere who prospered as they were lifted past the left hand side sailors changing the usual order, with both the previous race winners, Pete and Paul now buried in the middle of the fleet.

It was time for another Winsford sailor in a Streaker, Dom Oakeshott to show off the speed of the Streaker as he sailed a flawless race to take the win, with Liz as always sailing out in front. Solo's also had their say with Roger Barnes third around the first mark and Graham yet again showing his guile by getting the tactics right to be in the lead group and sailing fast to work through to second place on handicap with Phil Snewin in his Solo in close pursuit to take third place on handicap.

This describes just a few of the tight and enjoyable races throughout the fleet, the two Comets sailed super skilfully by Bill and Pete were locked together and sailing fast taking fourth and fifth places in the overall event, and great friends Tony and Phil whose summer sailing rivalry crosses from lake to sea from Pandoras to Squibs and for the Border's series in Solos. There was the battle for the double hander prize between the Miracle and GP14 which came down to a single point.

So back to shore to pack up and then enjoy a well-earned pint in the sunshine on the balcony overlooking the mere as the overall results were calculated.

The Junior prize was given out early as the worthy winner Martha, who had helmed a RS200 extremely well in challenging gusty conditions, ably crewed by her dad, had to leave early for another commitment.

The prize-giving started with a huge thank you for the race, rescue and galley volunteers who had given up their day so others could enjoy sailing. The first Budworth boat (not awarded another prize) was awarded to Tony Sampson. In the closely fought double handed category Nantwich and Borders Sailing club's Pete Thoms and Dawn Frost took the honours in their newer GP14 just ahead of Dave and Shan's lovely blue coloured Miracle.

Overall, third place was Graham Ellis in his Solo from Budworth, with Ted Garner in his Solo also from Budworth in second and the always superb Pete Coop sailing his Streaker from Winsford Flash Sailing Club winning the event. Pete reiterated the competitor's appreciation for the Budworth volunteers who had made the day a great success.

That's all until the next and final Borders event of the season on Tuesday the 1st of October 2024 at Winsford Flash Sailing Club.

So why not come and join our friendly Tuesday club it's better than being in work!

If you want any information about the series then see bordercountiesmidweeksailing.wordpress.com

Pete Thoms and Dawn Frost, first doublehander - Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Budworth - photo © Brian Herring

Overall Results: