2011 Miracle Northerns 14/15th May
When
Tim Wareing phoned me up at the back end of March
and asked if I was interested in being Miracle Fleet Rep at Delph
I’m sure that he said that all it involved was attending a monthly Sailing
Committee meeting at Delph, nothing much. Since then it’s all been a bit of a blur
as I have tried to comprehend the organisation of open events at Delph in time for the Miracle Northern Championships.
Of
course, the actual racing on the water was the least of my worries – the racing
ran as usual like a well-oiled machine, especially as the RCC computer wasn’t
allowed to interfere. And with a race team of John, Albert, Chris, Dave, Keith
and Peter what could have possibly gone wrong? Well, apart from the wind?
No,
it’s all the other stuff that was the tricky part from my point of view. The
“other stuff” involved an absolute army of people. And as it was a 2 day event
lots of the “other stuff” was times 2. The army who did the “other stuff”
comprised Jane, Leah, Jake, Diane, Graham, Haley, Liz, Phil, Ryan, Hilary
and Tim. Also, Mavis (and I) did a little bit of
the “other stuff” as well. And Angela and Bank Top Brewery contributed 18
gallons of “other stuff”. I think that’s everyone (my apologies if I missed
someone), so race team and “other stuff” army, thank you very much from the
Delph Miracle Fleet and the visiting sailors for
making the event a success.
Key
to the success of the event is the catering and as in previous years this
was, based on the comments I received and my own sampling of the fare, up
to its usual high standard, with teas, coffees etc., bacon butties,
hot tasty lunches and of course the Delph Miracle
Barbeque which attracted 64 diners this year.
And
so to the main bit, the racing, for which 19 boats signed on. It’s a bit tricky
to get a handle on what’s happening at the front of the fleet when you’re
trolling along at the back trying to stay upright so I am grateful for the
notes made by Nigel Reddecliffe and Peter Cuthbert. Any inaccuracies / elements
of fiction in the following race reports are down to me and if there are any
I apologise. Also, if you feel you can do better and would like to write the
race reports next year, then please volunteer.
Saturday
Race 1
11
boats. North-westerly breeze with “mischievous”
gusts. Jack Hopkins and Angela Sweeney (Delph) took an early lead upwind to be overtaken downwind on lap 2 by
Wayne Atherton and Liz Kemp (Delph) and then Jon
and Philip Aldhous (Beaver) on the third. Louis
Moulden sailing with the youngest crew Jake Beckford (Delph) managed a respectable
fourth.
Saturday
Race 2
9
boats. Easing north-westerly breeze but still with troublesome
gusts. Wayne and Liz got an early lead. Jack and Angela chased hard, gaining
ground up wind but tending to lose it again downwind. Jon and Philip were
hard on their heels for most of the race. Louis and Jake managed a respectable
fourth again.
Sunday
Race 3
18
boats. Light to moderate shifting north-westerly
breeze with manageable gusts. David and Michelle Raines (Leigh and
Lowton) took an early upwind lead from Rob and Hannah
Cocking (Delph), Wayne and Liz, Jack and Angela.
Wayne and Liz took the lead downwind and held it for the rest of the race.
Rob and Hannah fell back to fifth and then managed to hold their position
until in the latter stages of the race when they fell further back to eighth.
Louis and Jake again finished fourth. Having secured three first places out
of three, Wayne and Liz had won the championship, and the racing hereon in
was only for the “minor” placings.
Sunday
Race 4
15
boats. A light to moderate shifting north-westerly breeze with manageable
gusts in the main part of the lake but fluky conditions in the tree sheltered
north-western end of the lake. Jack and Angela took an early lead and held
it until the second upwind leg when they were overtaken by Wayne and Liz.
David and Michelle who were third for most of the first lap were passed on
the broad reach into the leeward mark by Jon and Philip. Louis and Jake had
to settle for fifth.
Sunday
Race 5
11
boats. A light shifting north-westerly breeze. David and Michelle got a clear
lead up the first beat. Jon and Philip followed by Rob and Hannah also got
clear of the rest with Rob and Hannah just pipping
Jon and Philip on the line.
A
key feature over both days was the gusts and I lost track of the numerous
capsizes. Mavis and I managed to limit our own capsize total to one although
Hannah and Nick Smith (Thornbury) capsized at least once each day and also at one
point seemed to be developing a novel push-me-pull-you sailing technique.
Hannah and Nick Smith of Thornbury
SC struggle to get to grips with their push-me-pull-you Miracle in the Delph Northern Championships: “I told you that our old Miracle
was easier to sail Dad!” Photo © Jean
Reed
Finally,
in conclusion, thank you to all those who took part in the racing and congratulations
to the 2011 Miracle Northern Champions, Wayne and Liz. Can they make it a
hat-trick together by winning again next year? Is there a crew out there who
can master the “mischievous” Delph winds and stop
them becoming the Miracle Northern “Olympic” Champions in 2012?
Martin
Bathe
Delph SC