Miracle Nationals at Bala Sailing Club

Action from the Miracle nationals at Bala © Carmela Burgess

Action from the Miracle nationals at Bala © Carmela Burgess

With scrutineering complete and the three new MK 4 boats competing fully measured the scene was set for the 2006 Miracle National championships. Given the fleet had requested an inland venue this year the turnout was very disappointing with only 31 boats this will prompt a return to the sea for next years event.

There were a good number of absentees from the fleet for various reasons but those who were there were set for a fully packed week.

With the practise race out of the way which was won by David and Michelle Raines, the series races got of to a start. Straight out of the blocks and Raines showed the fleet round as if he was the only one on form and was already setting out his intentions to regain a title he had not held for some years. The course was simple enough but many sailors had not listened to the briefing and were missing out marks with each lap they did. This was to result in a number of protests for some of those witnessed missing marks and for the rest it was left down to their sportsmanship to do the right thing and retire. This in turn left Raines with first blood and a good number of top helms with a retired and others with results they would not repeat later in the week.

The fleet were then entertained and duly fed and watered at the commodore’s reception which included a warm welcome and good wishes from the Mayor of Bala himself.

Monday dawned with good sunshine and a 2/3 blowing straight down the lake. This time it was the two boats of Raines and Atherton who sailed off from the fleet leaving them to fight for the lower places. It finished with Raines first followed by Atherton and then Moulden. Both Atherton and Moulden having retired from the first point’s race they were out to make their point.

Second race of the day and it was business as usual at the front with Raines and Atherton leading the fleet round but it was Huett who managed to sail in behind Atherton and pushed Moulden back to fourth.

Monday night and it was meet and greet your buddy with a drink at the bar and share go faster information.

Tuesday and with less sun but still a good 2/3 wind Raines was off again and looking like it was all going to plan. This time Huett went one better and pushed Atherton back into third followed in by Horner and a consistent Amos.

Race five of the series and a breakthrough on two counts as Atherton not only pushed Raines back to second but recorded his first ever nationals race win. It was Moulden who returned to a podium finish with Horner and Amos close behind.

Tuesday night and it was more socialising and a chance to grill the stars of the fleet on how they got round the course a bit quicker than the rest.

Wednesday and the 6th race of the series, still on an obvious high from his first victory Atherton sailed off and was not to be caught even by the chasing Raines who in turn had left some distance behind Horner and Jones with Amos scoring her worst result of the week with a tenth. In the next one it was Huett who held off both Atherton and Raines to take a well deserved win. Amos came in fourth followed by Geoff Phillips reigning National Champion crew sailing his first Nationals as a helm with his wife Janet as very new crew.

Wednesday night and the whole fleet and friends enjoyed a great BBQ provided by the club. Thursday and race eight it was another new race winner this time Jones fought his way through and held it to the finish from another new face at the front of Burfield this time followed in by Moulden and Huett with Raines slipping to his worst result of 7th. Had his grip on the championship slipped? In the next one it was Huett who took the gun with the ever present Atherton and the return of Raines to the podium. This set of results was after protest which left Moulden and Horner disqualified after a finish line incident.

With the AGM out of the way Friday dawned with sun and breeze. Raines had done his sums and could not be caught but it was still open further down the order. It was a fitting end to the series which saw another new race winner this time Tracy Amos with daughter Gemma crewing took the gun in fine style with the ever present Atherton followed in by the now 2007 champions David and Michelle Raines.

It had been a great week with all the series races run together all the other races which are held in conjunction with the main event. Our thanks go to all at Bala Sailing club who put in a tremendous amount of work to host what was a very successful championship event, which was enjoyed by one and all. Congratulations go to David and Michelle for regaining the National title.

Overall Results: