Miracle National Championship 2022 at Dabchicks Sailing Club - Day 1

The Miracle Nationals at Dabchicks Sailing Club started off with a short practice session on Sunday afternoon. This entailed learning to pick our way through the moorings and a review of the sailing area via practice starts and a windward/leeward.

The Miracles and Signets were welcomed by the Commodore of Dabchicks on Sunday evening with drinks and nibbles alongside a comprehensive briefing.

Race 1 started off on Monday morning, with sunshine and a light breeze and an eager fleet on the water and at the race area well ahead of the allotted start time. The first race got away on the first go with a line shy fleet. Graham Watts and Helen Jacks (4114) were first around the windward mark, closely followed by Ian and Ella Fryett (4011), the Willars (3834) and the Copseys.

This race also saw a welcome for the Fighting Lady (4020) sailed by Jon Tippett and Kathy Boulton after some damage in last years Nationals, securing 12th place and with some intense battles mid-fleet throughout the racing, with grandad and grandson duo Brian and Jago (4021) secured 9th place.

The race continued round the triangle with Graham and Helen dropping back into 3rd place, with Jon and Jess Willars coming in second and the Fryetts securing their first bullet of the Nationals.

The second race started with a more contested line and the pin-end proving to pay, the Fryett's reached the windward mark first once again, closely followed by the Willars, Wayne Atherton & Angela Sweeney (4121) and Nick and Carolynn Smith (2551).

With the racing tight throughout the fleet, the windward leg didn't present any reliable patterns to follow, with very little tide across the course. The front of the fleet failed to change positions throughout the two long laps, but the work going on in the middle proved to be more interesting with four boats coming up to the line together, fighting until to the last centimetre.

Some of the fleet stayed out for another race for the Youth Championship, whilst the remainder returned to the sailing club through the moorings on the outgoing tide.

Results after Day 1: