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Ocean Safety 2023 - New Identity - LEADERBOARD

Fireball National Championships at Looe Sailing Club - Day 3

by Andrew Robinson 1 Aug 2013 11:48 BST 27 July - 2 August 2013

Sponsored by Noble Marine, Harken & Typhoon

After a sunny lay-day the sailors gathered in Looe Sailing Club for a fun packed evening in the bar, with a game show along the lines of "I'm sorry, I haven't a clue", culminating in a hilarious game of 'hats on - hats off' which saw Geoff Edwards crowned "Mr Fireball 2013".

Wednesday morning conditions were drizzly and overcast for day 3 of the Fireball Nationals at Looe SC.

The fleet were well rested after a lay day on Tuesday and keen to get going. With less wind than forecast it was due to be an easier ride on both the competitors and the safety crew.

Race 1 got away 1st time and Christian Birrell and Richard Anderton rounded the windward mark 1st, after digging their way out of a bad start. Tom Gillard & Simon Potts were keeping them honest, with Chips Howarth and Vyv Townend right up behind.

At the line Matt Burge and Richard Wagstaff posted their best result of the series so far, finishing the race 3rd, behind Chips & Vyv in second, with Birrell & Anderton claiming their 2nd win of the series although a protest meeting for Thursday morning may well change the result.

Richard Anderton said; "After a bad start we were pleased to be able to round 1st. There are so many great sailors here, and both Chips and Gilly are tough to beat, so we are always happy to be ahead of them on the water. This was the 3rd day of perfect conditions and were really enjoying the chance to sail on some fantastic waves"

In race 2 a general recall led to the fleet getting away 2nd time. Birrell & Anderton habitually rounded 1st, with Chips & Vyv hot on their heels and Gillard & Potts in 3rd. With all the usual suspects at the front of the pack, it was a hotly contested affair for places further down the pecking order. Birrell & Anderton were in top form again and their lead remained untouchable, seeing them take a second bullet on the day.

Last years winning boat, 15080 the Class Association Fireball is at the event, being sailed by Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett. They are having a solid event and have been described by the Gold Fleet as "damn quick". The boat is handed over to talented youth sailors each year, giving them a chance to compete at the highest level in a properly sorted, fully sponsored boat. The Ellis brothers won the nationals in her last year and Dan has stayed on, crewing for Dave Wade in this years event.

After sailing the teams headed back to the club for the prize giving, the feckwit award and a team quiz. Beach games, pasties and a disco are on the social agenda for this evening.

Results after Day 3: (six races, 1 discard)

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st15089 Christian BirrellRichard Anderton 122‑50117
2nd15096 Chips HowarthVyv TownendBewl Valley SC‑6131229
3rd15091Ollie Loves OwlsThomas GillardSimon PottsSheffield Viking SC/ Northampton SC2‑12124312
4th15083P&BDave WadeDan Ellisnorthampton SC4343‑5418
5th15094 Tim RushSam PascoeNottingham SC & Weymouth SC8554‑12527
6th15050 Kevin spunky HopeRussell ThorneNotts County SC74‑12510632
7th15080 Matt RainbackSimon FoskettStaunton Harold SC58‑977734
8th15093Stanley LambchopMatt BurgeRichard WagstaffPoole YC‑1371163936
9th15085Gill Race TeamVince HoreyRobert GardnerKing George SC3‑50611111041
10th14877 Ian DobsonWill MorganSouthampton Male Voice Choir (SMVC)‑99898842
11th15073Bossy ThreePeter GrayTim SaundersStaunton Harold SC‑14771261143
12th15081 Niki BirrellGeoff EdwardsParkstone Y.C.10‑3317891559
13th14941SouthpawsDerian ScottAndy ScottChew Valley Lake SC‑50161010151263
14th15045NorbertChristine SlaterGraham SlaterPaignton SC11151314‑191366
15th15070Darth WinklePhilip PoppleJohn PiattShoreham SC16‑191613131876
16th14801 Richard CornesJames GoodfellowMilton Keynes SC1711‑2019141778
17th14892Pigs on the RunPenny GibbsIan GibbsBrightlingsea SC151324‑31161684
18th14807Clandogg MillionaireConor ClancyJames ClancyRoyal St George YC2410‑2916222193
19th15092RayVeronica FalatBen FalatGt Yarmouth & Gorleston SC12‑501517341997
20th15041 Maria RichardsJeremy WhiteBlackwater SC20‑2321221720100
21st14928Blue TackAnthony WillcocksJames WillcocksPortishead Y&SC2117‑38211824101
22nd15024PointlessJoe JospeTom EgliPointe Claire YC27‑5019362014116
23rd14889Millennium FalconBarry SmithBen BallardThornbury SC2818281530‑31119
24th14798Blew GenesLucy RileyTim RileyBlackwater SC1821252928‑50121
25th15075Tricks of the TradeAndy WillcocksAndrea WillcocksPortishead Y & SC25‑5022242327121
26th14886 Simon MaskellThomas MaskellHunts SC‑322030252723125
27th15066 Mark MaskellNigel SheppardBlackwater SC19‑5014235025131
28th15038Rock 'n' RollaStewart ScarffDavid WarnerShoreham SC41‑5018182432133
29th14821JamboNick HurstJake ElsburyShoreham SC23‑5031332630143
30th14977 Jonathan CarterGareth WilkinsonChelmarsh SC‑505023202526144
31st14621Not Hot & No BallsJeremy HurstAndrew HurstParkstone YC221433‑504037146
32nd14885 Fiona GrayRichard NurseWaldringfield SC332436‑503228153
33rd14837JEFFRuss CormackAli CormackBudworth SC‑502827502129155
34th14778Cruel and UnusualMike DeaneIain JenningsDraycote Water SC31‑5026285022157
35th14514Ultra VioletDale GilesNoah SprentPaignton SC3825343036‑40163
36th14229Pink PantherGeoff HoldenSophie HoldenNorthampton SC3526353237‑38165
37th14391www.boatrepaircentre.co.ukHannah ShowellJo Line ‑502732383534166
38th14991Two Fat LaddiesAndy RobinsonJon ChetlandDatchet Water SC26‑5041273142167
39th14470 Matt JaycockPeter GreenwoodLooe SC303242‑503836178
40th14398Otters PocketTom JohnsonIan JohnsonBlackwater SC42‑5050262935182
41st14872MagiicBarbara NewsonGuy NewsonPentland Firth YC36304037‑4141184
42nd14579CurveballMartin WalkerKaren HilesShoreham SC37‑5037343939186
43rd14682Crocodile GordonMichael BryantKeith TaftHarlow (Blackwater) SC4031393542‑43187
44th14264Nibble Nobby's NutsGareth ShawVerity PopeLooe Sailing Club‑502943394344198
45th14994Licken on both sidesPete BadhamSteven BadhamDraycote Water SC2922‑50505050201
46th11076 Tim CoxKingsley CoxNewhaven & Seaford SC43344440‑4545206
47th14893On A MissionElaine TudorWarren TudorBrightlingsea SC‑505050503333216
48th14463CrackerChris TurnerJamie PrescottHayling Island SC/Dell Quay SC39‑5050504450233
49th14960roaring fourtiesMelanie LedererMichael Sch"ferSwitzerland34‑5050505050234

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