Miracle Open at Port Dinorwic Sailing Club

Port Dinorwic Miracle Open © www.fotoguys.com

Six Miracles turned out for the Port Dinorwic Miracle open on the 12th and 13th May. This was a joint event with the Hornet open and Vaynol Cup club event so there was plenty of action on the water!

The first race of the weekend started cleanly under slack tide with Dave and Zara Turtle, Louis Moulden and Cynan, and Leah Murphy and Cathy Goodwin battling it out up the first beat. Dave made it to the windward mark first and held this position for the remainder of the race. Leah and Louis jostled for second position throughout the race, ending in Louis second, and Leah third. Ian and Mia Brown held a comfortable fourth throughout the race, followed by home boats Rhys and Alys Griffiths and Ffion Bailey and Gethin Jones.

Port Dinorwic Miracle Open - photo © Alan Knock

During the break between races the wind dropped completely, putting race 2 into some doubt. Everyone gathered outside the club, looking expectantly up the Strait towards Caernarfon waiting for a sea breeze to come in. It therefore came as a welcome surprise to find that the wind had actually started filling in from the opposite direction when we weren't looking, so everyone was quickly launched to start the second race! Dave and Louis were a bit quick off the mark in this race leaving Ian to lead the way up the first half of the beat. After retreating around the pin end Dave then made efficient use of the change in tide to carry them up the beat to round the windward mark in first place, followed by Louis, then Leah. The following run against the tide meant a series of gybes to keep close to the shore. Louis didn't hug the shore quite close enough, allowing Leah to take the lead into second place. Ian followed close behind Louis, despite having no spinnaker.

Sunday was to be a beautiful day's sailing, with bright sunshine and a good breeze all day. Race 3 saw Ffion first off the line with a brilliant start, making good use of the better suit of sails she'd acquired! They shot up the Strait with the tide to lead for the majority of the beat, unfortunately after rounding the windward mark onto the run they were blanketed by the boats who were carrying spinnakers so dropped a couple of places here. Dave and Zara led from the run and kept this position, although this did come into doubt when they took a rather daring dash across the Strait in front of an incoming yacht...

Port Dinorwic Miracle Open - photo © www.fotoguys.com

Being on the water at the same time as so many other boats inevitably led to the fleets overtaking each other on some legs. However Leah and Cathy did a fantastic job representing what the Miracle fleet can really do by holding off the Hornet fleet all flying their spinnakers down the reach, they were unable to catch her!

Ian and Mia also had a good race, after an over eager start, they managed to catch up the rest of the fleet and overtake 3 boats to take third overall! This was a great achievement, especially for Mia (5yrs old) who is new to the circuit, and helped her dad beat Louis Moulden –their Delph SC rivals – for the first time!

Race 4 was held back to back with very efficient race running by Andy Long and the team. Leah showed her home boat experience by leading up the first beat, followed by Louis and Dave. Dave took the lead on the run by taking the 'who dares wins' tactic of sailing close inshore over the ever-shallowing sandbanks to avoid the tide. Confidence which was not shared by his crew, after regaling a time when he'd got stuck there before... After a close reach between Dave and Leah Dave managed to pull ahead on the following beat resulting in Leah taking second and Louis third.

After lunch Race 5 commenced with a slight increase in wind strength. Louis had the best start this race, leading up the first section of the beat. However it was Dave and Zara who reached the windward mark clear ahead and made use of the clear wind on the run to take the lead. Leah and Louis had a close battle all race with Leah pulling ahead on the reach. However spinnaker troubles on the last leg allowed Louis to take second place.

Port Dinorwic Miracle Open - photo © Alan Knock

Overall it was a lovely weekend, and encouraging to see such a strong youth presence (both in numbers and talent!) being seen throughout the fleets. Thank you to Cathy and members of Port Dinworwic Sailing Club for being such fantastic hosts, it's always a pleasure to sail there.

Overall Results: