Fireball National Championships at Tenby Sailing Club - Day 4

Fireball National Championships day 4 at Tenby © Alistair Mackay

Tom Gillard & Richard Anderton win the Fireball National Championships at Tenby © Alistair Mackay

Event Sponsored by Harken, Performance Penguin, fbm Holidays

With the scores tight at the top, and an interesting weather forecast, there was some tension in the boat park as the 45 entries readied themselves for another day of battle. After a welcome day off, spent for many enjoying the local attractions; golf, coastal walks, local watering holes and for others, fettling and fixing after 3 days of tough sailing.

The launch off the North Beach was the longest of the week, with the tide just about all the way out and the offshore westerly breeze deceptive in the lee of the land. Once on the racecourse about 2 miles downwind, the full force of a building 15+ knots was felt. Bring it on!

Race 1 got underway with another gate start and the pathfinder protected by 2 guard boats. In a breeze that was dropping, the leaders Gillard and Anderton made a bit of a mess of the 1st beat and rounded 6th. They managed to climb to 4th by the leeward mark and by the end of the 2nd beat had established a lead that was to prove unassailable. The chasing pack of Dobson/Linsell, Burge/Wheeler and Alex Taylor/Tim Saunders traded places throughout just behind them.

Race 2 was delayed due to the changing conditions with a couple of course adjustments needed and an aborted sequence to further delay things. With many teams running fully powered rigs, the race got underway as suddenly the weather changed again. Within minutes of the pathfinder going off, there was 20 knots blowing and boats down across the race course. Gillard & Anderton started late and went straight up the middle, and despite the arrival of Hurricane George catching just about everyone on the wrong settings, it was again Gillard & Anderton who dominated the 1st beat and subsequently the rest of the race.

Fireball National Championships day 4 at Tenby - photo © Alistair Mackay

The 2 bullets gave Gillard & Anderton the win with a day to spare and they could not contain their delight. "This feels so special as I have never won a Fireball Nationals before" said Tom. "I have managed to win the Worlds, the Euros and the Inlands a number of times but this is my 1st Nationals and it feels amazing, especially to win it with Richard and with a day to go." When asked if the rather excellent beard he is currently sporting had anything to do with his form he was happy to share the secret "It's actually the water holding properties that the beard has that gives me extra weight on my chin, allowing me to apply more lateral pressure when hiking, thats what really made the difference. " Hilarious!

Richard Anderton was also suitably happy with how the week had gone. With a 3rd Nationals win to add to his collection of International and domestic titles, he was in good spirits at the bar last night. "It's your round!" he said, before elaborating "I am absolutely chuffed to be in this position. Tom is such a great sailor, it's a real pleasure to sail with him and we have had a really great week. The highlight has to be a race early in the series when we rounded the windward mark about 20th but still managed to win the race. This week just about everything has worked for us and we have had speed to burn. It's been an excellent week."

The boys will have to wait until tonight for the grand prize giving to collect their trophy. Last night in the club there was an idiot of the day award with lots of nominations following plenty of lay day party shenanigans. There was also a live band and lots of great spot prizes, provided by generous sponsors, Harken, North Sails and P&B. They were shared with sailors further down the fleet and went down a storm.

There is one more day's sailing today and lots of other prizes to play for in the Silver and Bronze fleet. Tenby has been amazing!

Results after Day 4: (eight races, 2 discards)