Snipes Class at the Budworth Sailing Club Snipe Open for the SCIRA NW Championship 2024

Published 09:50 on 13 Oct 2024

Conditions 10-15 knots of shifty breeze most of the weekend. Gusty and shifting lake conditions made for racing where strategy and tactics were key to getting ahead so avoiding being slowed by traffic. In this report there is some personal perspective from Neil Martin (3^rd helm overall)

Race 1 -Jenny not 100%, but happy to have her new wetsuit as it's windy, boat set up with the flattest sails ever to cope in the stronger breeze, a poor start row 3 as helm asleep. The start was like watching a slow motion scene, Jenny said "you need to sharpen up!", tough to make forward progress even in the shifty wind due to the shortage of clear air. Mark and Tracy Antonelli lead around the first mark, with Robin Mister and Stef Ward close on their transom for the first lap. Antonelli held the lead to the finish.

Race 2 - A better start but trapped on port after a big shift, sailing 15 seconds on the wrong shift isn't good for your "course made good". Note to self "start faster and point higher off the line". Peter Wolstenholm and Lloyd Roberts gained the lead to finish 1^st holding off Matthew Wolstenholm and Liz Pike followed by Eric Paalman and Debbie Love who posted their best regatta race.

Race 3 - Good start at the right end tacking off on the first shift, what a difference! The mood in the boat has brightened, it's so much easier at the front, no ducking and diving. Final Run: Wolstenholm/Pike going found pressure on the right sneak past the Antonellis who went for the middle, with the Martins getting similar pressure gain on the left. On the final beat Wolstenholm/Pike held their lead and the Martins took 2^nd from Antonellis 3rd. Jenny commented "maybe you have not lost it Dad".

Day 2: rain all day but at least its dry while rigging and de-rigging.

Race 4 Always great start lines set by the PRO, continuing very shifty conditions and short legs resulted in many changes in positions. Wolstenholm/Pike cleared the field on the final lap with Guy Marks and Sam Boniface in 2^nd showing that it can take a day to get the measure of local conditions. Phil and Emma Hackney also posting their best race in 3rd.

Race 5 - Wolstenholm/Roberts achieved an early lead stretching it to a solid 50 boat lengths that enabled them the space to keep ahead. Martins who are not frequent Snipe racers these days, had by now settled into a rhythm finished 2^nd

Race 6 Finished with the regatta top 3 in front showing that once you get into the local conditions it is really about superior boat speed, strategy and tactics for the conditions of day.

Race 7- A new race leader in the form of Italian entry, Marco Ballatore crewed by Pauline Penny led from mark 1, only to have their valiantly held lead snatched away towards the end of the race. The Martins finishing finally! with a 1^st and Wolstenholm/Pike in 2^nd .

The weekend was one of the few over the past 50yrs where Snipes enjoyed great racing conditions over both days. Each competitor could look back at many instances where the results could easily have been different through luck/risk and judgement as well as boat speed, Sailing being such a complex sport. The competitors enjoyed a Captains Banquet style meal prepared by many of the Budworth Snipe fleet members. It was certainly a weekend of "Serious Sailing Serious Fun"

Report by Neil Martin and Mark Antonelli.

Attached photo by Mark Antonelli

On the water Photo pending from BR Sailing Photography, will follow when available

Related

• Snipe Open (22 September)
• Snipe Open (21 September, 12:00 - 17:00)