Miracle National Championship 2024 at Rutland Sailing Club - Day 4
by Brian Jones 15 Aug 2024 22:04 BST
12-16 August 2024
The fleet obviously whistled too loud for the wind yesterday because today it blew 25 knots gusting 30 so exciting racing was in store.
13 Miracles were on the start line for a hard beat to windward towards the clubhouse, where a couple sort shelter, while the rest of the fleet planed down the reach with one or two casualties at the gybe mark. The pace was so fast that Jon and Jessica Willars nearly beat the mark layer trying to position the leeward mark. They continued to hold the lead to finish ahead of Simon and Vivian Turnball (both lightweight crews) in front of Wayne Atherton and Angela Sweeney sailing to a consistent third place. Paul and Nathan Robinson were hugely enjoying the conditions being rewarded with 4th.
10 boats started race 6 with yet more attrition due to capsizes but the race officer was impressed by the general standard of sailing. Simon Turnall carelessly lost his crew during a capsize and had to retire as Vivian was rescued by the rib. Graham Watts and Helen Jacks had a much better race and came fourth. Carolyn and Nick Smith were out wide on the final downwind threatening Jon and Jessica for the lead but wiped out on the final gybe with a couple of hundred metres to go. Marcel and Giuilia sailed a storming race to take second and Andrew Clarke with a borrowed crew had his best result of the week with a seventh.
After the race was over Paul and Nathan proved they could outrun a rib!
With the wind strength still building the third race of the day was cancelled, lighter winds are forecast for the morrow. "phew" says a few!
Results after Day 4:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 3834 | Jon Willars | Jessica Willars | Filey Sailing Club | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 2nd | 4121 | Wayne Atherton | Angela Sweeney | Delph Sailing Club | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 17 |
| 3rd | 2007 | Marcel Neuteboom | Giulia Neuteboom | The Netherlands | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 26 |
| 4th | 4114 | Graham Watts | Helen Jacks | Storton Harold Sailing Club | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 29 |
| 5th | 4115 | Carolyn Smith | Nick Smith | Thornbury Sailing Club | 11 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 31 |
| 6th | 4050 | Simon Turnbull | Vivian Turnbull | Neylend Yacht Club | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | DNC | 33 |
| 7th | 4110 | Paul Robinson | Nathan Robinson | Whitefriars Sailing Club | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 41 |
| 8th | 4120 | Gerald Copsey | Tanya Copsey | Ely Sailing Club | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | DNC | 57 |
| 9th | 3813 | Richard Smith | Benjamin Smith, Edward Smith | Broadwater Sailing Club | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 7 | DNF | 60 |
| 10th | 4020 | John Tippett | Kathy Boulton | Draycott Water Sailing Club | 6 | 10 | 5 | 10 | DNF | DNS | 61 |
| 11th | 4011 | Simon Dolman | Julia Dolman | Shotwick Sailing Club | 8 | DNF | 11 | 7 | 9 | DNC | 65 |
| 12th | 3461 | Andrew Clarke | Stephanie Clarke | Wilsonian Sailing Club | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 67 |
| 13th | 3463 | Joe Barnes | Ben Smith, Teddy Smith | Shotwick Sailing Club | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | DNF | DNC | 83 |
| 14th | 4127 | Steven Langford | Harry Langford | Broadwater Sailing Club | DNC | DNC | 12 | 12 | DNC | DNC | 84 |