2026 Miracle Northern Area Championship & Miracle Youth & Junior National Championships at Delph SC

by Martin Bathe 14 Apr 15:38 UTC 11-12 April 2026

Sponsored by the Bank Top Brewery, Bolton and by First Mark, Golborne

As in previous years, two races (Races 1 & 2) were held on the Saturday and three races (Races 3, 4 & 5) on the Sunday. However, for the first time, as a new innovation, the Miracle Junior National Championships (under 18, under 16, & under 13) were staged alongside the Miracle Northern Championship.

With the reservoir brim full, at least there were no concerns over the water level unlike in 2025 when the event was cancelled due to a lower than usual level. This meant that there was plenty of water for the Race Officer, Andy Taylor, to set courses with legs of a reasonable length although on the Saturday the wind was tricky as it was swinging about and had heavy gusts. Also it was fairly cool with squally wintry rain showers.

With the wind at the top end of what some boats could cope with, a few were hesitant about launching and only nine boats signed on for the first race.

In race 1, 3796 was late launching due to issues with the kicker and 3383 didn't manage to launch at all due to a catastrophic hull failure and it withdrew from the event, so only seven boats contested the first race. Things were looking good for Richard Smith & Teddy in 3747 as they had a good first beat and held the lead rounding the windward mark but they were passed on the first reach by Wayne Atherton & Angela Sweeney in 4121 and Simon & Julie Dolman in 4011. Later on in the race Richard & Teddy had to retire from the race due to tiller extension failure. On the second spinnaker leg Ian Brown & Lochlyn Grant in 4098 suffered a capsize. Simon & Julie also suffered a capsize later in the race. Simon & Julie's capsize let Billy Morris & Tom Bates in 4100 past and allowed Wayne & Angela to sail away from the fleet for a decisive win.

In race 2 the wind dropped slightly. Wayne & Angela were first to the windward mark but did but not manage to get clean away and a close tussle developed between them, Simon & Julie and Graham Watts & Helen Jacks in 4130. At the start of the final beat Graham and Helen were leading but Wayne & Angela managed to get past and then Graham & Helen only just managed to hold off Simon & Julie on the line.

Off the water on the Saturday evening a convivial time was had over a lasagne supper washed down with a selection of beverages that included Bank Top's Flat Cap.

On the Sunday, the winds were lighter and there were fewer showers. However, the wind still wouldn't do what "it was told" and setting a course was still a Herculean task.

With lighter winds, Simon Evans signed on in 2772 sailing with Anna in race 3 of the series and Lucy in the fourth and fifth races. Also, Sam and Tommy Donaldson signed on in 4022.

In race 3 Simon & Anna sailed away from the fleet and led a procession around a course that had become a series of reaches and fetches due a marked windshift that occurred directly after the start.

Race 4 proved slightly more of a competition and while Simon, now sailing with Lucy, managed to lead from start to finish, he had to sail defensively to hold off Wayne & Angela when the wind picked up in the mid part of the race. In the latter stages the wind dropped again and Simon & Lucy sailed away from Wayne & Angela for a fairly comfortable victory. Graham & Helen had another tussle with Simon & Julie. Annabel Hayfield sailing with her dad Andy was starting to get to grips with the novelty of sailing a Miracle (her dad had briefly sailed in one in the 1990s but it was Annabel's first time) and she sailed up the final beat past the tussling boats to secure third.

Race 5 proved even more competitive, Billy Morris & Tom Bates leading round the first windward mark. The lead subsequently changed hands a few times as the race progressed. At one point it looked as though Wayne & Angela might sail away from the fleet however Simon & Lucy overhauled them on the second beat of the second lap but didn't managed to establish a clear lead until the final beat of the three lap race. Annabel managed to secure her second third place of the series. There must have been something in the lunchtime stew, however, because boat 4022 (Sam & Tommy), the only boat to partake of the stew, somehow managed to finish fourth!

When the results had been totted up, Simon, Anna & Lucy had retained the Miracle Northern Championships that Simon & Lucy had won the last time it was sailed in 2024, Billy Morris had won the U18 and Annabel Hayfield the U16 Junior Championships. With Delph Commodore Graham Crabtree officiating at the prize-giving, the event was wrapped up in the warm, dry and newly refurbished and redecorated clubhouse.

Thanks to everyone who helped to organise and run the event - there are too many to name you all.

However, specific thanks must go to Andy Taylor as Race Officer who took it upon himself to also run Delph's club racing on the Sunday, fitting it in around the Miracle open's races. It was a gargantuan task but he did it and did it well, although having a Nicholas helped. Specific thanks must also go to Jo Haslam who organised the catering and had a massive hand in purchasing, preparing, serving and collecting payment - another gargantuan task. Thank you both.

Finally, thank you to the Bank Top Brewery, Bolton and First Mark, Golborne for sponsoring the event.

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Crew	Club	Sail No	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1	Simon Evans	Anna/Lucy	Delph	2772	[11]	[11]	1	1	1	3
2	Wayne Atherton	Angela Sweeney	Delph	4121	1	1	2	[2]	[2]	4
3	Graham Watts	Helen Jacks	Staunton Harold	4130	4	2	[5]	4	[5]	10
4	Simon Dolman	Julie Dolman	Shotwick	4011	3	3	4	[5]	[7]	10
5	Billy Morris	Tom Bates	Delph	4100	2	[11]	3	[8]	6	11
6	Annabel Hayfield	Andy Hayfield	Delph	3835	5	[6]	[9]	3	3	11
7	Sam Donaldson	Tom Donaldson	Delph	4022	[11]	[11]	6	7	4	17
8	Ian Brown	Lochlyn Grant	Delph	4098	[11]	5	7	6	[11]	18
9	Will Taylor	Molly Haslam	Delph	3796	11	4	11	[11]	[11]	26
10	Richard Smith	Teddy/Ben/Rowan	Broadwater	3747	11	[11]	8	9	[11]	28