Miracle National Championship 2022 at Dabchicks Sailing Club - Preview
by Andrew Robinson 17 Aug 2022 15:35 BST
22-26 August 2022
Miracles at Rutland © Jaq Donaldson
The Miracles are looking forward to their first visit to Dabchicks SC in West Mersea for their 2022 National Championships. During the 5 day event from 22nd - 26th August, the fleet will complete 10 races. After many previous years of successful joint championships, a fleet of 8 SigneTs will also be joining the Miracles at Dabchicks. A fleet of 18 boats will be competing for the Championship Prize, who will return victorious?
Last year's champion Jeremy Davy is at the Flying Fifteens Europeans this year. Good luck Jeremy! 2019 champion Ian and Ella Fryett are returning to attempt to reclaim their title. Hannah Metcalfe-Smith last won the nationals in 2016, after a second place finish overall in 2021 at Rutland with crew Tom Metalfe-Smith, she'll be looking to go one better by becoming national champion for the third time. Third place last year was Wayne Atherton and Angela Sweeney who have been doing extremely well on the circuit this year claiming victories at 3 Opens and also winning the Slow Handicap Fleet at Abersoch Dinghy Week, they look to be in extremely good form going in to this Championship. However, there will be several other boats keen to ensure it is them who win the Miracle 2022 National Championships this year!
The long range forecast looks promising for a warm week of sailing with temperatures around 20 degreesC all week. The wind looks to be mixed during the week which will really test the sailors in all wind strengths. Monday is looking strong with 17knots gusting 26 forecasted, although with some rain, and Wednesday shows the wind dropping off to just 6knots with the sun coming out. The tide will of course impact the racing too with a mixture of inland and coastal sailors in the fleet, it is sure to catch even the most experienced out at some point! Of course, it is almost as impossible to predict the weather as is predicting the next national champion a week in advance but it's certain the racing will be close no matter what the weather.
The fleet welcomes two first time nationals sailors to the nationals this year. William Powell and William Marfleet are local racers and will surely put their local knowledge to good use throughout the week. Abbey Mumford and Tom Hirst are also competing in their first Championships and will be looking to place strongly in the fleet. The class welcome back Marcel Neuteboom with a new crew Bella Neuteboom who have been unable to compete the last couple of years due to Covid.
Alongside the main championship prize, there are several other trophies for the sailors to compete for. The Silver fleet is looking particularly close this year and the Bronze fleet will also see tight racing. The St Polly Plaque awarded to the highest place female helm has 4 entries with Abbey Mumford, Yvonne Mumford, Carolynn Smith and Hannah Metcalfe-Smith all competing for the honour.
The fleet is thoroughly looking forward to racing again. Updates will be posted through Facebook and daily Yachts and Yachting reports so everyone can see how the week is going. Finally, good luck to everyone competing!
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