Inaugural Miracle Open at Thornbury Sailing Club

Sarah Jarman & Andrew Robinson win the inaugural Thornbury Miracle Open © Nick Smith

On the 8th and 9th June, the Miracles paid their first visit to Thornbury Sailing Club, just north of Bristol. This event was part Thornbury Sailing Clubs 70th Anniversary Regatta and the Miracles were part of the Slow Handicap fleet.

The forecast for plenty of wind was correct, with 20 knots and gusts of over 30 knots. After a short delay two Miracles ventured out with the Slow Fleet, but only Sarah Jarman and Andrew Robinson were doing the whole weekend. They were sailing 4123, a new Butler Composite Miracle called Crusoe. They kept the boat upright and scored their first win in conditions Sarah described as 'very sketchy'. Between races the wind picked up, so they decided to save their shiny new boat for another day.

Sunday brought much gentler conditions and all the Miracles came out to play. In Race 3, Carolynn Smith helming 2551 used her local knowledge to lead off the line. The big challenge was the Middle Mark out in the strongest of the tide. On the second visit to this mark a change of wind direction and a drop in strength caught out Graham Watts and Helen Jacks who were 2nd and dropped them to 4th. Sarah and Andrew pulled up to 2nd.

For Race 4, the course was set close to the shore, out of the worst of the tide. Carolynn was over the line at the start and had to go back. Sarah and Andrew were chased hard by Paul and Nathan Robinson in the sister ship to Crusoe, but couldn't get through. Hannah Smith and Tom Metcalfe in 3805 were 3rd.

The Open was decided on the best 3 results from 4 races. Taking the win on 'Sketchy Saturday', Sarah and Andrew had put themselves in the driving position and they consolidated their position with a 2nd and 1st on 'Quiet Sunday'.

Overall Results:

1st Sarah Jarman & Andrew Robinson
2nd Carolynn Smith & Nick Smith
3rd Hannah Smith & Tom Metcalfe
4th Paul Robinson & Nathan Robinson
5th Graham Watts & Helen Jacks