Fireball Open at Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Fireballs at Staunton Harold © Helen Jacks

Fireballs at Staunton Harold © Helen Jacks

Fireballs at Staunton Harold © Helen Jacks

An epic weekend of sailing

With a Worlds in the UK in August, the 2015 season promises to be big for the Fireball, and it started in epic style at the first open of the year at Staunton Harold Sailing Club over the weekend of 28th and 29th March.

With winds of 15 to 25 knots, and squalls and gusts of over 35, it tested the stamina of crews and boats alike.

For Race 1, the early leaders were Christian Birrell/Sam Brearey, Tom Gillard/Richard Anderton and DJ Edwards/Vyv Townend. Race Officer Tim Gray set a challenging course with lots of corners and this proved to be a race of attrition. In the end, the slow and steady of age and experience prevailed over the fast and furious of youth and exuberance as Edwards/Townend were the only boat to sail around the course without capsizing to take a comfortable win. Gillard/Anderton took second and Kevin hope/Russell Thorne third.

A slightly less complicated course was set for Race 2 and this time, with fewer corners to turn, Birrell/Brearey managed to keep the metal above the water to take the race win from Gillard/Anderton and Edwards/Townend.

Race 3 saw the usual suspects at the front with Gillard/Anderton taking the winning gun, with Edwards/Townend 2nd and Birrell/Brearey 3rd.

With the wind increasing to over 20 knots, the race officer took pity on the fleet for the final race of the day and set a simple windward leeward course. Gillard led from start to finish. Birrell and Edwards had quite a tussle all the way around until Birrell went to put a covering tack on Edwards and capsized in the process leaving Edwards to take 2nd and Vince Horey and Bob Gardner 3rd.

Fireballs at Staunton Harold - photo © Helen Jacks

After 4 very exciting and tiring races, the fleet adjourned to the clubhouse to be treated to an awesome curry supper laid on by the galley staff and then onto the bar.

Sunday dawned with no let-up in the weather. With a forecast of over 40 mph by lunchtime, it was going to be touch and go as to whether all 3 scheduled races would be completed.

Birrell and Brearey were obviously feeling refreshed after clubbing until 3am and won the first race from Edwards and Townend with Gillard and Anderton 3rd.

The 2nd race of the day proved to be an epic. With the wind freshening, the gusts caused carnage amongst the fleet. Birrell/Brearey and Gillard/Anderton had quite a tussle at the front but a good last beat brought Edwards/Townend back into contention.

The last spinnaker reach proved to be the leg of the weekend. Edwards, Gillard and Birrell all gybed close together and, as they settled down for the reach, they were hit by the mother of all gusts. Edwards had to bear away so he was travelling at terminal velocity at 90 degrees to his intended course (and towards the dam wall), Birrell just got flattened in the most spectacular wipe-out of the day and Gillard was probably grateful he was 2 sailing because he had broken his pole on the previous leg. Edwards managed to drop his kite to sneak around the mark to go on and take the race win from Hope in 2nd and Gillard 3rd.

With the wind approaching 35 knots and sensing the general apathy (or was it fear?) in the fleet, the race officer abandoned the final race leaving Edwards and Gillard on equal points but Edwards taking the meeting on count back.

A big thanks goes to Staunton Harold SC who ran an outstanding meeting both on and off the water. The race management was exceptional given the challenging conditions and the galley staff kept the sailors' energy levels topped up with an endless supply of bacon butties.

Overall Results: