Miracle Open at Girton Sailing Club

Miracles at Girton © Colin Lown

In the midst of storms, floods and tempests (at the time of writing we hadn't had the plagues of locusts and frogs) Girton's weekend stood out like a beacon of hope for future events weather.

Saturday:- Warm sunshine,north easterly breeze of two to three with small gusts of around four. Eleven boats signed on and ready to go.

First race and the two visitors from Redoubt, Neal Gibson & Keith Macey and Tracy Amos & Gemma Gibson laid down the gauntlet with a first and second respectively. Race two however proved more difficult with David and Michelle Raines upsetting the party with a first and Eamon and Thomas Cuthbert from Leigh and Lowton registering a good third. Richard and Katy Byne from Draycote kept themselves in touch with the leaders with a third and a fifth.

Sunday:- The same wonderful sunshine with more gentle breezes moving around to the east. With a new course set and a further three boats added to the fleet it was all to play for. Only four points separated the first four boats. In the first race of the day David and Michelle Raines continued their good form with another first. Neal Gibson and Keith Macey had to contend with a second whilst Tracy Amos and Gemma Gibson were pushed back to fifth by some good sailing by Richard and Katy Byne (third) from Draycote, and a resurgent Jon Aldous and Geoff Phillips who gained a fourth.

Three races gone and the points gap of the top four boats had narrowed to three. Race four – and back came the boats from Redoubt with a bang with the same results as race one only the other way round. Tracy and Gemma with a first and Neal and Keith a second. This time it was David and Michelle that had to make do with a third whilst Richard and Katy were outsailed by Wayne Atherton and Angela Sweeney who had joined the fleet that day.

One more race and the top three boats were now separated by only one point!

The final throw and the boats from Redoubt took no prisoners--- first and second for Neal & Keith and Tracy & Gemma respectively. David and Michelle fought hard to try and take third place but were beaten into fourth by one of their own crew from Leigh, Eamon and Thomas Cuthbert who registered their second third of the series. After discards the overall winners were Neal Gibson and Keith Macey followed by David and Michelle Raines (after countback) and Tracy Amos and Gemma Gibson in third.

An excellent weekend with fantastic weather, good sailing, good company and I am praying for the same next year (only with better results for my boat).

Overall Results: