30th June - 1st July

Deben Sailing Club

by Dave and Jean Reed (3725)

Although this Miracle Open is run as a single day event on the Sunday, all Miracle sailors are invited to take part in the club racing on the Saturday. This has the wonderful advantage of allowing visitors to become familiar with the course the day before, on what can only be described as a challenging estuary venue. On Saturday four Miracles (two club plus two visitors) took to the water along with other club classes in the fast handicap race. It was breezy and it rained all the time, with the two visitor boats retiring two thirds through the race, one by choice, one by mistake. (What more can I say) Whilst the two club Miracles sailed on to the finish.

Sunday was a different day. No rain but a minimum 18mph SE wind. 8 boats (4 club + 4visitors) sailed down the estuary until marks could be set for a triangular/sausage course. The same course was used for a Streaker Open with 12-14 boats which went off first

Without going into great detail three races were planned, but only two took place. Suffice to say that the three boats which finished first, second and third over the two races were the only ones that didn’t capsize, because it did blow!

Despite the wind, the tide, the moored yachts and finding sandbanks where there should have been water, the Deben is a great place to sail and certainly gives you an experience never to be forgotten.

Good club, good hospitality.

Results

1st M. Hanes / T. Alexander 1622 2 points

2nd D. Reed / J. Reed 3725 5 points

3rd B. Jones / J. Greed 662 7 points

4th M. Smith / M. Groom 3737 11 points

5th D. Davis / A. Rose 3230 14 points

6th K. Connolly / A. Connolly 3797 18 points

7th G. Ford / M. Shuster 3555 18 points

8th I. Downs / G. Downs 4008 18 points