Solo Sailors Brave the Storm for an Unforgettable Northern Series Showdown
Published 20:47 on 6 Oct 2025
Sunday 5th October and storm Amy was still blowing strongly with 20 to 35kt forecast for Budworth.
This was the final event in the Northern Series and only 2 points separated the top two competitors plus numerous qualification prizes were up for grabs in what was to be an epic end of season battle.
As our 18 competitors began to assemble in the shelter of the Clubhouse there was a steady 30 knots on the far side of the Mere. Boats were rigged but a nervousness about getting changed ready to sail. However, 11 had travelled from across the North and even from Salcombe so this was serious.
In NASA jargon, this was a Go/No-go moment.
Our experienced race team of Jon Chapman and Wendy Martin decided it was a GO with a shortish course on the "marginally" less windy side of the Mere .
Despite the protection of the trees there were major shifts particularly as the leaders led the fleet out into the lake for a challenging gybe before a run down to mark I. Even locals were finding it difficult with capsizes across the fleet and on one occasion, synchronised capsizes from Phil B and Ted G. All over in 25 minutes. but what a race!
Lunch from the galley revived the fleet who headed out for the 2nd race in what was supposed to be slightly less wind with a course over the whole of the Mere! Two long beats and two gybes made for a testing track. The wind returned to the full strength of the morning at a strong 30kts on the far side of the lake with typical Budworth gusts coming round the trees.
Plenty of opportunity for fast downwind sailing with one competitor clocking a very fast 15kts into a gybe around mark C which was to prove a challenging mark for everyone under the scrutiny of those on the jetty.
A very close fought race at the top of the fleet saw the points score as tight as ever. A clear case of attritional sailing as after multiple capsizes, some of the fleet decided to call it at day and retire.
Instead of a 3rd back to back race the fleet came ashore for a well-earned break and also to give the hard worked safety crews a chance to reset and recover a number of boats.
The Series result hinged on race 3 which started with 11 gladiators in a fractionally lighter wind. But, with a major wind shift on the start, a port tack flyer saw Denison get away whilst many struggled to even make the pin end. The shift meant the wind was straight down the lake with no respite. High speed sailing and capsizes continued until Denison took a comfortable win for the race and the Series.
All in all, a hard and fast days' sailing at the limits of sailability, fortunately without damage or injury.
Budworth Open Results: 1st Steve Denison, 2nd Martin Honnor, 3rd Philip Barnes plus 1st Budworth boat outside the top 3 - Graham Ellis.
Series Results: 1st Steve Denison, 2nd Martin Honnor, 3rd Innes Armstrong.
Many events over the weekend had been cancelled and its credit to the experienced Budworth Team that racing happened at all. PRO Jon Chapman, ARO Wendy Martin, Rescue Chris Allen, Jackie Purvis, Jo Howells, John Ward and James Prestwich who said he thinks he saw every possible way to capsize a Solo demonstrated!
Report & images by
Richard Wynne - Solo Fleet Captain, BSC.
