Miracle End of Seasons 2021 at Shustoke Sailing Club

Miracle End of Seasons at Shustoke © Zara Frankton

Shustoke End of Seasons is often associated within the Miracle fleet with strong winds and wild tales of Storm Brian. However this year conditions could not have been more different!

Saturday offered very little wind from varying directions, however the unseasonably warm weather meant sailors could dig their shorts and t-shirts back out and settle down for a good drift in the sun. The OOD wisely opted for a figure of 8 course, in the hope that at least one leg would provide a good beat with the fluctuating wind direction! Wayne and Angela had a good start and made it first around the windward mark, followed by David and Louise, Hannah and Tom, Carolynn and Nick, and Harvey and Daniel. The fleet stayed in this order, although a 180 degree wind shift at the end of the race allowed the boats near the end of the fleet to significantly close the gap on the top 3 boats!

Miracle End of Seasons at Shustoke - photo © Zara Frankton

As to be expected, the wind filled in a bit whilst the sailors were having a break and held up until about 5mins into the next race...when it dropped again! Wayne and Angela were out in front again, followed by Hannah and Tom, David and Louise, Carolynn and Nick, and Harvey and Daniel. Considering there was very little wind this race made for tense watching near the end as Wayne and Angela appeared to stop whilst the other boats crept up from behind! The top 4 boats somehow managed to separate themselves to finish in the same order as the first race.

Sunday remained warm but with a decent North Westerly wind, making racing a bit more enjoyable and entertaining to watch! The first race of the day saw Wayne and Angela leading the way again, although David and Louise made a challenge early on in the race they remained in second place. Carolynn and Nick started the race ahead of Hannah and Tom, but some spinnaker troubles set them back into fourth place.

Miracle End of Seasons at Shustoke - photo © Zara Frankton

The next race was held back to back and everyone had their turn in the front in this race! A battle between the Smiths and Metcalfe-Smiths commenced at the beginning of the race before David and Louise took up the gauntlet for a few legs. However it was Wayne and Angela who managed to time their go at the front with the end of the race, getting their fourth 1st of the weekend.

Three boats were left for the final race of the weekend and if their reputations were anything to go by it was going to be very close!! Wayne and Angela reached the windward mark first, followed by Hannah and Nick, then David and Louise. David and Louise overtook Hannah and Nick on the next beat. A long line of club sailors on starboard created a bit of an obstacle on the long reach down the lake but David and Louise's low line allowed them to pass through into first place, which they held to the end.

Special mention to Harvey, Daniel, Matthew, and Louise - this was their first ever Miracle event so well done!

Thanks go to the travelling sailors for attending and the galley and bar volunteers at Shustoke, we look forward to welcoming you back next year.

Overall Results: