Fireball Open and Spring Cup at Rock Sailing and Waterski Club

Sixteen Fireballs made the journey to Rock for the Open Meeting held on Spring Bank Holiday. It was a starry fleet with no fewer than ten ex-national or European champions sailing. The race committee, with Martin Hough as Race Officer were faced with some heavy conditions in which to work and are to be complimented on an extremely successful meeting.

On Saturday, with wind strengths varying from 15 to 25 knots and plenty of showers about, the fleet sailed in the Camel Estuary, two races back-to-back. On Sunday there were similar conditions – dry this time but with 12 to 20 knots of wind. Again, sailing was in the Estuary: two races back-to-back. One boat was clocked at 20 mph down a spinnaker reach!

On Monday, conditions allowed the fleet to sail in Polzeath Bay; four short races back-to-back. Conditions were much lighter: wind speed for race one up to six knots then for the next three, steady at 12 knots.

Winner of the series were Matt Burge and Richard Wagstaff in Kevlar Footprint, from Poole Yacht Club, second were Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson in It’s a Trap from Sheffield Yacht Club, while in third place were Alex Taylor and Richard Anderton from Budworth Sailing Club.

This fleet was the largest the they have had this year and several boats were using this event to tune up for the World Championships in Sligo later this month.

Rock’s Spring Cup

Rock Sailing & Water Ski Club’s Spring Cup attracted a fleet of 12 Club boats. The races on Saturday and Sunday were sailed in the Estuary with Martin Hough as Race Officer, that on Monday was s also in the Estuary but this time with Dave Webb and Dave Parr officiating.

With a variety of boats - Toppers a Blaze, a Vibe, and a Devon Yawl – and heavy weather conditions, racing was interesting to say the least.

Eventual winner of the series and the Spring Cup was Roger Deane in his Laser, with Roger Williams in his Blaze second and Ollie Harris in the Vibe in third place.