Miracle Southern Area Championship at Broadwater Sailing Club
by Hannah Smith 27 Apr 2016 12:43 BST
23-24 April 2016
Miracle Southern Area Championship at Broadwater © Peter Joseph
Gibson fresh from Caribbean adventure
Neil Gibson returned to the Miracle for their season opener, the Southern Areas at Broadwater, from the GP Worlds in Barbados. Neil and his Miracle crew Keith didn't have it all their own way however. The five race series over two days saw four different race winners.
The northerly wind and bright sunshine gave near perfect conditions for Broadwater allowing the full length of the lake for the windward leg. The course for race one took the boats around the lake. Brian Jones crewed by Paul were the boat to break clear with Neal and Keith leading the chase.
A change of course for race two kept the boats in the most wind down the centre of the lake and away from the wind shadow of the islands.
Neal and Keith broke clear this time with Tracey Amos and Gemma adding a second place to their 3rd in the first race.
Sunday reproduced Saturday's wind and weather and an early start to accommodate the RS Aero fleet. Race three saw Hannah and Nick Smith make the perfect pin end start and a nice lift up the middle put them clear. Neal and Keith broke clear of the chasing pack and Brian Jones now with Hannah Mumford as crew came third.
The black flag was brought out for race four as the competition was hotting up. Neal led the restart closely followed by Hannah smith. Hannah slipped in front downwind but then went into a hole at the windward mark allowing Neal, followed by Brian Jones into 1st and 2nd.
For race five, Brian Jones could end up with equal points with Neal by winning the last race, so it was all to play for. However, it wasn't to be as Yvonne and Brian Mumford got the best start this time and stayed clear to the end.
The warmth of Barbados was exchanged for the hot competition of the Miracles at Broadwater and consistent results made Neil and Keith Southern Area Champions. The next Miracle event is at Delph on the 14/15th May for the Northern Area Championship.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm and Crew | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Neal Gibson and Keith | 4040 | 2 | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | ‑3 | 4 |
| 2 | Brian Jones
Paul
Hannah Mumford | 4064 | 1 | ‑6 | ‑3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | Hannah and Nick Smith | 3805 | ‑4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | ‑5 | 7 |
| 4 | Tracey Amos and Gemma Gibson | 3692 | 3 | 2 | ‑5 | 4 | ‑7 | 9 |
| 5 | Yvonne and Brian Mumford | 4099 | 5 | ‑5 | 4 | ‑6 | 1 | 10 |
| 6 | Graham Watts
Helen | 3813 | 6 | 4 | ‑7 | 5 | ‑6 | 15 |
| 7 | John Tippet
Kathy Boulton | 4020 | ‑12 | ‑8 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 18 |
| 8 | Steve Fisher
Laura | 124 | 7 | 7 | ‑8 | 7 | ‑8 | 21 |
| 9 | Dave and Jean Reed | 4052 | 8 | 10 | 9 | ‑10 | (DNS) | 27 |
| 10 | John G/Jane | 3290 | 9 | 9 | ‑10 | ‑12 | 9 | 27 |
| 11 | John F/Nick/John | 279 | 11 | ‑13 | ‑11 | 11 | 10 | 32 |
| 12 | Stewart/Janice | 2132 | 12 | 11 | ‑12 | 9 | (DNS) | 34 |
| 13 | Barry Mellor/Steve | 3838 | 10 | 12 | DNS | (DNS) | (DNS) | 39 |