Border Counties Midweek Sailing Championship 2024 at Budworth Sailing Club

The Border Counties Midweek Sailing event at the beautiful Budworth Sailing Club in Cheshire took place on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The day was marked by sunny weather and a favorable wind, making it perfect for the 23 competitors racing in the friendly atmosphere of the Borders Series Open Meeting.

Participants included ten local sailors and thirteen visitors, showcasing a range of boats from the sleek D-Zero to the popular junior Topper, and from fast asymmetric RS200s to traditional spinnaker-carrying GP14s and Miracles. Sailors of all ages took part, including enthusiastic juniors enjoying their last taste of summer freedom, workers taking a day off, and retirees cherishing their Tuesday on the water.

The racing was close, tactical, and above all, fun, with three different race winners, two of whom came from the same club sailing identical classes of boats. Under the leadership of the experienced race team, including Jon Chapman as PRO and Wendy Martin as ARO, the competitors experienced superb racing conditions in a warm Force 3 wind that tested their skills.

The racing began with an initial general recall as the eager fleet made an attempt at a perfect start. Upon the second attempt, Paul Newman in his Streaker led the charge, only to be later deemed OCS (On Course Side). He was followed closely by Pete Coop, also in a Streaker, as the rest of the fleet hustled behind them. Liz Potter then made her move in her fast Devoti D-Zero, pulling ahead significantly to take the lead. Meanwhile, Garry Thompson in his Laser gained ground and finished impressively, completing a third lap while others concluded after two laps.

On handicap, the race was eventually claimed by Pete in his Streaker, with Ted Garner’s Solo taking second place and Liz’s Devoti finishing third.

As the sailors returned to shore for lunch, everyone enjoyed their own picnic on the club lawn, soaking in the lovely views of the mere. The kind efforts of Diane Owen, who served coffees and an array of freshly baked cakes for donations to the RNLI, added to the day’s enjoyment.

After lunch, competitors returned to the water for two back-to-back races to conclude the open meeting. The pin end of the starting line saw intense competition, with the left side seemingly advantageous initially. Paul once again made his way into the lead, followed by others anticipating the wind shifts that came into play. Ultimately, Paul maintained his lead to win the race, with Pete finishing closely behind.

The stage was set for the final race, where expectations were high for another Streaker showdown. However, it was Dom Oakeshott in a Streaker who displayed remarkable skill to take the win, followed by a consistently strong performance from Liz and the Solo sailors contributing to a thrilling finish.

As the day wound down, prizes were awarded, with the standout junior prize going to Martha, who impressed during her first Open Meeting. The prize-giving acknowledged the incredible work of the volunteers who made the event possible, with thanks given to the sailors and their clubs for their participation.

Overall results showcased a competitive day, highlighting Pete Coop from Winsford Flash SC as the event winner, with Ted Garner and Graham Ellis close behind. The next and final Borders event of the season will take place on October 1, 2024, at Winsford Flash Sailing Club, inviting all to join the friendly sailing community.

If you’re interested in the Border Counties series, more information can be found at bordercountiesmidweeksailing.wordpress.com.