2022 Budworth Snipe Fleet 75th Anniversary Open Meeting

Budworth 75th Anniversary Snipe Open © Amy Barrett

In celebration of this landmark year, Friday pm fun handicap pursuit races were added to this annual weekend open meeting event, which incorporates the North-Western Championships. Also, being the 90th year of SCIRA, it was a double celebration.

Friday saw 10 of the 24 entries managing to swap a day at work for sun and a 7mph wind on a lovely lake in Cheshire. With allotted personal handicaps they took part in three pursuit races. Patrick Sarsfield + Peter Wolstenholme won races 1 and 2. Brian Gregory + Jackie Purvis taking the 3rd race. The three day "Regatta" series was scored with the use of a very complicated equation that took into account age.

Freya Antonelli during the Budworth 75th Anniversary Snipe Open - photo © Lloyd Roberts

Before the main event began, on Saturday morning two short races were run for the young Junior (<12yrs) helms crewed by adults. Although the wind speed was manageable, the gusts and shifts made for an extremely challenging couple of races. The pre-race trepidations were long forgotten when four bubbly, smiling children returned unscathed to shore.

The afternoon breeze built to 10 gusting 4mph. The NNW direction resulted in a short first beat, so the PRO Peter Wilkinson set a port bias to balance the starboard strategic line bias. The course used mostly, is shown above with "0" the position of the start, as the crow flies, distances are noted.

Navigating the tricky course during the Budworth 75th Anniversary Snipe Open - photo © Amy Barrett

Race 1: Having established a good lead Peter Wolstenholme + Lloyds Roberts along with Mark + Tracy Antonelli rounded mark D the wrong way. This meant that Eric Paalman + Aylish MacKenzie and James Alexander + Will Ainscough (Junior team) were gifted the lead.

Matthew Wolstenholme + Jess Kelly found their way past Alexander/Ainscough to finish second to Paalman /MacKenzie.

Race 2: Antonelli/Antonelli pulled off a Port End Flyer to gain an early lead that was to prove unassailable, with Wolstenholme + Kelly finishing ahead of Wolstenholme/Roberts.

Race 3: Back after many years absence from the event Neil + Jenny Martin joined the affray at the front of the fleet beating back the advances of Wolstenholme/Kelly and Antonelli/Antonelli in a three lap, three boat battle.

Race 4: Sunday began in wind strength 12mph with more sever gusts and shifts than Saturday. This combined with short legs and much traffic, the 90yr "Snipe Ambassador" Roland Antonelli crewed by Pauline Penny decided to retire. It was from then on, that some helms with very light crews chose to withdraw. With the direction having moved to NW it allowed a longer first beat so the PRO set an unbiased line. Antonelli/Antonelli switched to the Starboard end and gained a strong position at the first mark reversing race 3 result with Wolstenholme/Kelly 2nd, Martin/Martin 3rd.

Race 5: The base wind increased to 15 mph resulting in the retirement of SCIRA UK Chairman Brian Gregory + Debbie Marshall. Sue + Steve Roberts, finding their form, gained the lead chased by Wolstenholme/Roberts & Wolstenholme/Kelly who half way round suffered a shroud bolt breakage forcing retirement, with only one series discard it was a major setback to their overnight lead. John Reed + Stephen Williams picked out the best shifts to lead the chasing group but the lead pair had created a great gap. Wolstenholme/Roberts first across the line, a real Roberts family finish.

Haruna Egawa visiting from Japan for the Budworth 75th Anniversary Snipe Open - photo © Amy Barrett

Race 6: Post lunch gusts reached 20 mph. The rising adrenaline resulted in two general recalls so the Black Flag was deployed. Richard Marshall with 12yr old daughter Bonnie were now overpowered and retired. James Prestwick suffered a hand injury + Diane Owen also retired. Ian Gregory + Mike Kerr read the first beat to perfection and led most of the race. They held off Alexander/Ainscough but not so Wolstenholme/Roberts, who pushed ahead to take another bullet.

Race 7: The top three in the series had just 2 points separating them going into the last race. Wolstenholme/Roberts gained a comfortable lead followed by a group of four. At the final windward mark before the long run to the hook finish, Antonelli/Antonelli coming in on Port left a good distance above the lay line to give room for those on starboard to tack for the mark, however Reed/Williams continued past the lay line forcing Antonelli/Antonelli to tack off, Chris Smallwood + Marie Smallwood, having found their way around the Snipe (RS200 sailors), inside Reed/Williams who also overlaid the mark. This was a gift to Wolstenholme/Kelly who were astern of all, to slip inside at the mark and lead the run home to take 2nd place. Antonelli/Antonelli managed to get past the others but had to settle for 3rd.

Overall winners Matthew Wolstenholme & Jess Kelly during the Budworth 75th Anniversary Snipe Open - photo © Amy Barrett

With such gusty and shifty conditions with several short legs and a great turnout it was a weekend of Snakes and Ladders. Quick decisions and reactions, leaving everyone with plenty of "if only and what if's" that make all the difference to results.

The Friday eve fresh Pizza, the Saturday class dinner prepared in house and an auction that raised over £2000 for good causes was only matched by great weather and race management. All this represented so well the SCIRA moto "Serious Sailing Serious Fun".

Overall Results: