Miracle National Championships at Brixham Yacht Club

It has been eighteen years since the Miracles were in Brixham. They returned with a major sponsor in Douglas Gill and thirty nine boats all keen to enjoy a fully packed week.

Racing opened on the Sunday with a practise race followed back to back with the first points race. In the practise race Sam Mettam and Geoff Phillips current champions showed they were in form and won from Paul and Callum Huett who had ran away with an early led but were reeled in as the race continued. These two were followed in but Brian Jones and then Graham Watts.

On to the first points race with the course set the fleet got away in a decreasing breeze and split both sides of the beat the wind then dropped and when it returned the right hand side were still beating but the left were setting spinnakers. The race officer abandoned and called the fleet back.

After the restart it was all change at the windward mark, this time Ian and Sam Kelly led followed by Mettam and Hodgkinson who is back at the Nationals after some years away. As the race continued the top three maintained their positions but behind there were big changes, Watts who had rounded forth slipped to eleventh, while others climbed.

It finished with Kelly winning and Mettam second had the practise race jinx set in?

Monday and two races were held and Mettam showed he was out on a mission. He led from start to finish. Behind him were Peter Cuthbert and Brian Jones. The next race was a carbon copy at the front but with Huett followed in by Pete Burfield who had chosen to sit out the first points race a decision he may regret later in the week.

The fleet returned to the bar and a question and answer session from the top of the fleet. Tuesday and the same light winds prevailed, this time a change at the front with Cuthbert having a comfortable lead at the first mark with David Raines following chased by Mettam. It finished in this order despite some effort by both Raines and Mettam to get through.

In race five of the series it was Watts at the windward mark so far ahead that he was nearly half way down the reach in good breeze before Mettam reached the mark. It should have been game over but failing to cover up the beat and Watts paid the price letting both Mettam and Tracy and Gemma Amos through. Back in forth was Nick Smith sailing a consistent race in boat number 26.

This time the fleet retired to be entertained by the one and only Jim Saltonstall. He went down so well Brixham are having him back as soon as they can organise it.

Wednesday and it was becoming clear Mettam was establishing a good grip on the championship but behind it was all to fight for as most of the top helms had some shockers to lose as the discards kicked in. Mettam took the lead but then let Raines have it for a lap only to take it back at the finish. Kelly who had been down in seventh pulled through to third. As the wind was now building the places were changing in the fleet, the next race got away and Mettam followed by Raines and Kelly established a commanding lead from the fleet. Kelly pulled through Raines off wind but touched his shroud doing so. As they approached the finish Kelly was forced to drop early to do turns with the turns done Raines just caught him on the line with his kite still flying and regained second place. This time it was BBQ all round provided by the club.

Thursday dawned and the winds had gone light again. The first race got away but as the wind threatened to drop completely the Race officer decided to finish after only one lap so those who had had a bad beat were again recording a discard.

Mettam by this time was not to be caught and as if he had suddenly relaxed recorded his worst result of the week a seventh. Huett won with Burfield second and Nick Smith coming in third.

After a well attended AGM which saw the full endorsement of the new boat the fleet relaxed with more food and the odd lemonade.

Friday and the wind we had been promised all week arrived this made for the closest first beat we had had, business as usual at the front but close behind were Raines and Kelly. Kelly was quicker off wind but could not keep with Raines upwind, on the final leg it had become a fetch so Kelly could not gain as much as he needed and it finished Mettam Raines and Kelly.

The Youth and Juniors championships were run along with the main event and it resulted in the following winners

Youth Champions Jan and Peter White
Junior Champions Luke and Alan Tasker

Best buddy pairing of the week Nick Smith and Krystina Wallis.

Overall everybody had a great week the sponsors were well appreciated and thanked according. The race officer was commended on his expert running of the event having to change most of the courses as the races progressed in the fickle winds that the bay is known for.

The fleet will be returning to Brixham as the event was enjoyed by all who attended.

Overall Results:

1st 3812 Sam Mettem and Geoff Phillips (RNSA) 9pts
2nd 3740 David Raines and Michelle Raines (RYA) 31pts
3rd 3813 Ian Kelly and Sam Kelly (Staunton Harold) 44pts
4th 2132 Peter Burfield and Barbara Green (Draycote) 45pts
5th 3838 Brian Jones and John Green (Taplow Lake) 46pts
6th 3454 Paul Huett and Callum Huett (Draycote) 47pts
7th 3747 Peter Cuthbert and Steve Hope (RYA) 48pts
8th 26 Nick Smith and Aimie Smith (Thornbury) 51pts
9th 3794 Graham Watts and Sally Massie (Staunton Harold) 53pts
10th 3493 Warren Hodgkinson and Luke Tasker (Covenham) 59pts