UKGlobal 2016 Fireball Nationals at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Day 1

Fireball UK Nationals at Hayling Island day 1 © Peter Hickson

Day 1 of the UKGlobal 2016 Fireball National Championships at Hayling Island was an incredible advert for sailing Fireballs on the south coast. The competitors were treated to what can only be described as champagne conditions with 15-18 knots from the west, waves and sunshine. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

The PRO got Race 1 off 1st time and pretty much everyone went hard right to the beach for an ice cream but favourites Tom Gillard and Richard Anderton stayed left and made it pay. They rounded the windward mark with a large gap between them and 470 class Olympic Squad members, Sophie Weguelin and Eildh McIntyre in second. Anderton and Gillard never looked like being troubled, although Vince Horey and Robert Gardiner managed to battle through to 2nd and take a little out of Gillard & Andertons lead. Dave Hall and Paul Constable had a great battle with Matt Burge & Richard Wagstaff and Christian Birrell & Vyv Townsend but it was Hall & Constable who managed to bag 3rd spot.

After a general recall in the second race, the fleet got away 2nd time. After going right on the 1st beat, Claude Mermod and Ruedi Mosler, the newly crowned European champions, showed their form and rounded the windward mark 1st with returning Gold Fleet helm Sam Mettam (who flew in from Canada for the championships) and Tim Saunders rounding second, followed by Gillard and Anderton. Split gybes on the 1st run saw a handful of boats reach the leeward mark together. Kevin Hope and Russell Thorne managed to lead up the next beat before being caught by Gillard & Anderton who managed to keep the lead from Birrell & Townend. 3rd spot went to Burge & Wagstaff.

There are lots of local boats at Hayling and the highest placed local boat is currently David Sayce & Nick Rees, although local Fleet Captain and event organiser Chris Turner and Jono Loe deserve a special mention for 2 solid results as do relatively new sailors and Father/Daughter team, Simon and Laura Benson. Laura is only 13 and was crewing a fireball on the open sea in conditions that were pretty testing for experienced teams, well done Laura! The varied fleet really shows how accessible and exciting the Fireball is for sailors of any ability.

The fleet later reconvened in the bar for the Commodores reception with free drinks and canapés, prize giving, dork of the day award and team quiz.

With 3 races planned for today and a similar forecast, this competition is just getting started.

The generous sponsors, including the title sponsor and Class Associations preferential sponsor UK Global, along with Hyde Sails, P&B, Winder Boats, Harken and North Sails have donated plenty of prizes that will be shared throughout the fleet at the various socials.

Results after Day 1: