Miracle and SigneT National Championships 2024 at Rutland Sailing Club - Day 1

Miracle Nationals at Rutland Day 2 © Brian Jones

Fourteen Miracles and eight SigneTs arrived over the weekend anticipating five days of championship racing along with Youth and Juniors, Crews race, single handed and non spinnaker so plenty to suit all tastes.

Marcel and Guilia had travelled from the Netherlands following Jon Wiilars and his family back from Denmark where Jessica had been racing Teras.

Monday promised to be hot but there was a good easterly blowing and racing started on time with a port bias and a favoured starboard side up the beat.

Carolyn and Nick somehow managed to roll their boat shortly after the start but were soon back in contention. At the front it was hard fought between between Jon and Jessica Willars, Graham Watts and Helen Jacks plus Wayne Atherton and Angela Sweeney finishing in that order at the final gun.

Miracle Nationals at Rutland Day 2 - photo © Brian Jones

Race two was sailed in similar conditions with occasional lighter patches before an un-forecast thunderstorm appeared to track around the edge of the lake causing the race officer to wisely shorten the course sending the fleet back to the safety of the shore in a strengthening wind amid flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder.

Jon and Jessica again took pole position with Graham and Helen fighting their way though the fleet from a poor first beat to take second and Carolyn and Nick Smith having a much better race coming in third.

Team Holland put in a good fifth and sixth with Simon Turnball and crew fourth in both races.

More of the same is promised for tomorrow.

Miracle Nationals at Rutland Day 2 - photo © Brian Jones

SigneT Results after Day 1:

Miracle Results after Day 1: