Fireball Worlds at Royal Varuna Yacht Club, Thailand - Day 4

To borrow a phrase from the most famous Scottish football manager of recent times (though maybe not the most loved Scottish football manager of all times), with the penultimate day of the 2014 Fireball Worlds now completed, it is squeaky-bum time for the top three crews at the regatta in Pattaya, hosted by the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.

In a Skype phone-call to FI Commodore Joe Jospe yesterday (Wednesday 2nd) this correspondent was able to confirm that the regatta, despite its small fleet has been very competitive and the visitors have been exceptionally well looked after by the club, its members and its staff. The sailing conditions have been glorious and while Joe acknowledged the various reasons why people weren't there, he did say that those who have gone have enjoyed an exceptional two weeks.

Results after Day 4: (top five, 8 races, 1 discard)

The Australian combination of Schulz & Sheppard won the day in terms of aggregate points scoring a 1, 2 for a daily total of 3pts to the British combinations who each had a five point tally for the day. Birrell and Brearey stay atop the log but their lead is down to a single point and Sculz and Sheppard are only three points away. Hence the reference to Sir Alex Ferguson's description of the last stages of a Premier League campaign!

While the British and Aussie crews fight for positions on the podium and in the top five overall, the pecking order of other the nationalities is being hotly contested slightly further back. These positions are as follows;

Conditions for Race 7 today were similar to Race 6, with the advantage being on the left-hand-side even though this was into a steeper chop. The reaches were very challenging and even the very small mistakes were expensive in terms of place losses.

Race 8 saw an increase in the breeze and a bunched fleet at the first weather mark. The leaders played their own game amongst themselves and the mid-fleet race started with a capsize on the weather mark by Christina and several out of control Fireballs on the reaches. Team Sargeant, Bryan & William, GBR 14887, then capsized to allow their immediate competitors to get away. The last reach was sufficiently tight that the more intelligent of the mid-fleeters decided that discretion was the better part of valour and two-sailed it. This prompted a bunch finish at the end of the day.

Tomorrow's last two races will be equivalent to the gun-fight at the OK Corrall, while the rest of the fleet will be doing their best to defend positions hard won after four days of hard but idyllic racing. Conditions are forecast to be light! Racing gets underway at 11:00 local time (04:00 British time).

Comments: (via Facebook)

Ben Schulz (AUS 15062): First and a second today! Pretty tight at the top with two races to go! Keep it simple, two wins required. No pressure:-)

Jean Francois Nouel (FRA 14793): Wrong rake (quete) at the first race made us go sloooooow – 10th. Then back to normal with a 8th. 8th overall, 2pts behind nos amis les quebecois, joe and tom. No mercy tomorrow:-). And now? Guess what, more beer!

Chris Payne (AUS 15048): Haven't finished outside the top six yet, but only just inside the top six overall. Two races to go with guaranteed light winds and black flag – so here is hoping:-)

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