Midweek sailing Border Counties Series @ Budworth 2022- Event report
Published 23:18 on 20 May 2022
Budworth sailing club, based at the heart of Cheshire and the proud recipient of the RYA sailing club of the year award, hosted the second event of the year, in the fun Border Counties Midweek series, held on Tuesdays!
Twenty-two competitors were welcomed with sun, warmth, and for sailors, the most important, wind. There was a terrific turn out from Windsford Flash sailing club with seven boats, equalling the home turn out, the ever-friendly contingent from Shotwick Lake and in the spirit of the border series travellers from Wales from Bala and Llyn Brenig. The series is defined by friendly competitive sailing, in a wide variety of classes, with everyone enjoying being out on the water midweek, and this event was no different.
Jon and Wendy were the expert PRO and ARO and set brilliant courses with committee boat start and beats, runs and reaches to test all the sailors. The southerly breeze came over trees creating the challenge for competitors to find the right shifts and pressure to power up the beat and to get on to the plane down wind.
In the first race Pete, in his super slick Supernova turned out to be the master of these conditions sailing brilliantly to get to the first mark first and extend his lead. Behind the leader there were multiple battles and duals throughout the fleet with the snakes and ladder conditions resulting in multiple place changes and exciting racing for all. Ted in his Solo and Eric in the Supernova fought it out for 2nd and 3rd on the water with Kevin's Solo and Jeremy's Lightning 368 close behind to get great result on handicap.
The beautiful lawn at Budworth was the venue for a picnic lunch with all the Borders regulars mixing with the new sailors, reliving the race, and enjoying late spring sunshine. All kindly served with drinks by Diane and Sally who had given up their Tuesday to help.
Back to the water for two more back to back races. Pete yet again showed his super sailing skills charging ahead in both races from the start and always increasing his lead in an impressive display of how to race. Behind there was plenty of competition, Dave and Shan in their Enterprise managing to keep ahead of the two Miracles of Ellen/Pete and Simon/Dan to take the double hander prize. For the 2ndand 3rd places there was dual between Kevin and Ted, Kevin showing his guile to go low on the last broad reach to expertly follow shifts, while Ted /Eric shadowed each other leading to all arriving almost together at the final mark for a frenetic rounding with Kevin pulling ahead, so both Ted and Kevin now posted 2 and 3rds leaving the last race to decide the other places. It was more of the same in the last race with plenty of place changing but Ted getting a lucky shift and just managing to take the 2nd and Kevin 3rd places.
Budworth Sailing Club's Commodore Bill held the prize giving, as people enjoyed a well-earned pint, He thanked all the visitors for coming to Budworth and the volunteers who make the event possible. This was reiterated by the winner, Pete who thanked the race team and Dave finished a great day by saying we could all do it again, this time at superb tactical venue on the river Dee at Chester SC, held on Tuesday the 14th of June 2022.
