Miracle National Championship at Rutland Sailing Club - Day 5
by Hannah Metcalfe-Smith 12 Aug 2021 14:17 PDT
8-13 August 2021
Points Race 8
The first race was a sunny one with a decent breeze.
Another messy start meant for a general recall and a second go. The Metcalfe-Smith's lead the way around the windward mark, with the Davy's following and it continued this way for two laps.
After loosely covering the Davy's, the Metcalfe-Smith's struggled to keep their lead and were overhauled once again and were unable to retake first spot.
The racing was tight throughout the fleet with Paul and Nathan Robinson, Louis Moulden and Bill Morris, and Ian & Lilly Brown finishing within seconds of each other 12th, 13th and 14th.
Points Race 9
Getting away on the third time of trying, with an ill-disciplined fleet given the U flag in an increasingly lumpy breeze.
A whole host of boats arrived at the top mark in very quick succession leading to lots of calls of port, starboard, water and other things whilst trying to thread the needle to secure a spot. The Davy's and Louis Moulden, with novice crew Bill got involved and the Davy's did a 720 for their sins.
Wayne and Angela lead the way for large parts of the race, with Jon and Jess Willars close behind with the Davy's fighting back to the front by the end of the race. Wayne and Angela dropped the 3rd with the Willars taking second - a very well done to seven year-old Jess!
Simon Raddcliff and Mark Atherton made the most of the breeze to come fourth. Matthew Donaldson and Alison Mace had another good result in fifth after passing the Metcalfe-Smith's whilst they were recovering from their capsize due to poorly executed gybe.
Brothers Andrew and James Robinson also would of passed the Metcalfe-Smith's if their rudder fittings hadn't come loose, preventing them from finishing the race.
Another two retirements came from Jon Tippett & Kathy Boulton and father and son duo Sam & Elliot Naylor due to a collision. Father and daughter duo Andrew and Stephanie Clarke are now 15th overall, having completed all the races apart from Sunday's very windy one.
Team Series results
In Points Race 8, the father daughter duo Gerald and Tanya Copsey had a best result this Nationals with 5th place, winning the Team Trophy for them and the Metcalfe-Smith's.
Social off the water
Wednesday night saw the sailors and their families come together for a hog roast and quiz, with a lovely evening had by all with a quiz put together by Brian Jones, Measurement Secretary and hosted by Andrew Robinson.