Miracle Inlands 2009
Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September 2009
The Miracle Inland Championships took place at Draycote Water Sailing Club on the weekend of 12-13th September. 31 boats entered the event, which was generously sponsored by Speed Sails and Onboard Surf and Sail.
The racing took place on two days of contrasting weather conditions. Winds for the first race were particularly light, having not improved much during the 30 minute postponement. After very close racing up a calm first beat, national champions Sam Mettam and Geoff Phillips, rounded the windward mark first, but promptly found a hole in the wind and had to watch several boats sail past. The race was finished after one lap and won by last year’s champions, Martin and Grace Huett, who just managed to hold off Sam and Geoff, who finished second, and Tracy Amos and Keith Macey, who came a close third. There was marginally more wind for the second race, although a big shift in wind direction meant several boats towards the back of the fleet had to hastily drop their spinnakers on the third leg. The wind picked up slightly for the rest of the race, and the Huetts managed to bag another first place.
Those staying for the evening meal in the club house were treated to a spectacular sunset over the lake.
The morning of the second day was quite a contrast, with a blustery F3-4 throughout the two back-to-back morning races. The safety crews were kept on their toes with several capsizes throughout the fleet. Both races were won by Sam and Geoff, with Philip and Helen Bailey gaining two second places behind them. So with one race to go, three races to count and two boats with two first places, everything hung on the last race. Conditions were not quite so brisk as earlier in the day and Sam and Geoff sailed to victory, winning the final race and the championship. Congratulations to them on holding both the National and Inland titles! Winning helm Sam said: "I really enjoyed the racing – it’s nice to be able to stretch out on a larger piece of water. Draycote is a great venue."
Congratulations also go to Jon and Phillip Aldous, Miracle 3794, who won in the Silver Fleet. They were particularly pleased with their performance in the fourth race, when they were in 3rd place first time round the windward mark. Further congratulations to Stephen Coldicott and Lizzie Kemp, Miracle 4007, winners of the Bronze Fleet.