Miracle National Championship 2025 at Tenby Sailing Club - Day 3

Day 3 of racing at the Miracle National Championships started with bright sunshine and a gentle (compared to Tuesday) breeze with a longer walk out to the water as the tide runs later in the week.

To catch us up on our racing for the week, the race officer decided on 1 championship race and to hold the fun races afterwards instead of the originally pencilled in lay day. This included the Crew's Race (where crew and helm swap places), and the non-spinnaker race.

Miracle Nationals at Tenby Day 3 - photo © Andrew Clarke

Race 6

Hannah & Lilly took to the starboard side of the course after a poor start getting stuck under Paul Robinson and Karen Glisson (4110) and Richard and his son (3813) at the committee boat end, with the rest of the fleet heading off to the port side. They made it to the windward mark first with Simon & Kiera (4050) just behind, with Marcel & Bella (2007) following closely on with a rudder repair effected overnight to enable them to continue racing. Alec and Robert (2776) were following closely on after coming up the right-hand side of the course. Lynn & Nick (4115) had a poor start compared to their usual form and were 8th around the windward mark. On the first downwind leg, Lynn & Nick were gifted two places whilst Graham & Helen (4114) and Richard & Teddy were battling with their kites up.

Miracle Nationals at Tenby Day 3 - photo © Andrew Clarke

On the second upwind leg, there was a split in the fleet with Simon & Kiera going to the starboard side of the course, Marcel & Bella going to the port side and Hannah & Lilly going up the middle. It turned out that on the second leg, going up the middle or left paid, with Hannah & Lilly pipping Marcel & Bella to the windward mark with an inch to spare getting around the mark, but Simon & Kiera dropping further back. The places remained similar in the downwind leg, with another opportunity to gain places upwind. Hannah & Lilly went up the middle of the beat again with Marcel & Bella heading left again, only just pipping them to the windward mark. Brian & Jago (4021) were tussling with Wayne & Angela (4121) throughout the race but were pipped to 7th place by Angela's slick spinnaker work. The tide caught out a few folks with at least two boats doing two turns having hit the marks.

On the final downwind, Hannah & Lilly went wider and took the gybe later, allowing them to reach into the mark which put them ahead at the bottom mark to retain first place, with Marcel & Bella coming in 2nd. Having made up a significant number of places over the course of the race, Lynn & Nick arrived in 3rd place. At the end of the run Alec and Robert (2776) took their spinnaker down to go back up the windward leg on the last leg. Having realised their mistake, they then promptly tried to put it back up, but to no avail with the sheets stuck under the bow, allowing Simon & Kiera to overtake to come in fourth.

Miracle Nationals at Tenby Day 3 - photo © Andrew Clarke

After all the excitement of Race 6, the race officer held the Crews Race and Non-Spinnaker Race for those keen to do even more sailing! The Crews Race was won by Nick & Lynn, with Simon & Kiera coming in second. Lilly and Hannah came in third after a poor spinnaker drop caused them to miss the downwind mark. Richard and Teddy won the non-spinnaker race.

Miracle Nationals at Tenby Day 3 - photo © Andrew Clarke

With racing back on track, the rest of the week is now as planned with two races on Thursday and Friday respectively.

Results after Day 3: