Fireball World Championship 2016 at Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club - Day 1
by Cormac Bradley 12 Dec 2016 13:26 GMT
4-16 December 2016
Fireball Worlds in South Africa day 1 © Stuart Parker
There is a very modest Fireball fleet assembled in Mossel Bay, South Africa, for the Fireball Worlds which got underway yesterday, Sunday 11th December. While there is quality in the fleet with the current title holders, Tom Gillard and Richard Anderton (GBR15127) and the new European Champions (2016), Claude Mermod and Ruedi Moser (SUI 14799) in attendance, perennial competitors, Ben Schulz (Aus 15113), Joe Jospe & Tom Egli (CAN 15024), Derian and Andy Scott (GBR14924) and FI Commodore Steve Chesney, the depth is not what it should be for a Worlds.
A six race pre-Worlds was dominated by the Swiss pairing, to the extent that they did not need to sail the last race which went to Ben Schulz and Jack Lidgett, but this was not enough for the Aussie pair to finish behind the Swiss, that position went to the Czech pairing of Johana Koranva Napravnikova & Jakub Napravnik (CZE 15109) who counted two second places in their tally of scores.
Day 1 of the pre-Worlds was blown out but as the regatta progressed it seems that the wind got lighter and on the last day racing was shortened due to the fading breeze.
After the flag-raising ceremony for the Worlds yesterday morning (Sunday 11th), the fleet launched in big winds, big seas and sunshine. A British-Swiss-Aussie 1-2-3 was recorded with Gillard & Anderton, Mermod & Moser and Schulz & Lidgett taking the podium places. There are plenty of photos from the day's racing on the Fireball Worlds 2016 Facebook site for all to enjoy.
Results after Day 1:
| Pos | Nat | Sail No | Helm | Crew | R1 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | GBR | 15127 | Gillard Thomas | Anderton Richard | 1 | 1 |
| 2nd | SUI | 14799 | Mermod Claude | Moser Ruedi | 2 | 2 |
| 3rd | AUS | 15113 | Schulz Ben | Lidgett Jack | 3 | 3 |
| 4th | KEN | 14535 | Bush Alastair | Carroll David | 4 | 4 |
| 5th | GBR | 14791 | Watsone Hugh | Chesney Steve | 5 | 5 |
| 6th | CAN | 15024 | Jospe Joe | Egli Tom | 6 | 6 |
| 7th | GBR | 14941 | Scott Derian | Scott Andy | 7 | 7 |
| 8th | RSA | 14910 | Divaris Yogi | Holm Ferdinand | 8 | 8 |
| 9th | RSA | 14422 | Provoyeur Jj | Macrobert Ian | 9 | 9 |
| 10th | CZE | 15109 | Koranva Johana Napravnikova | Napravnik Jakub | 10 | 10 |
| 11th | RSA | 14901 | Laing Dave | Chris | AGF | 12 |
| 12th | GBR | 15102 | Scarth Martyn | Johnson Thomas | AGF | 13 |
| 13th | RSA | 14321 | Statt Cundle | Laing Rory | AGF | 14 |
| 14th | RSA | 14723 | Watkins Imogen | Watkins Ian | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | RSA | 14299 | Parker Richard | Parker Grant | DNC | 23 |
| 14th | FRA | 11059 | Hernandez Denis | Hernandez Esteban | DNC | 23 |
| 14th | RSA | 14904 | Parker Anthony | Parker Diane | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | GBR | 14872 | Newson Barbara | Newson Guy | DNC | 23 |
| 14th | SUI | 14859 | Haerdi‑Landerer Christina | Landerer Cedric | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | RSA | 15047 | Allers Nikolai | Allers Florian | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | CZE | 14864 | Veit Martin | Krejtza Filip | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | RSA | 14411 | De Engel Jay | Nel Dewet | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | SUI | 15063 | Erne Mianne | Poulson Clay | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | NAM | 14415 | Sturm Fridolf | Allers Pascal | DNF | 23 |
| 14th | FRA | 14793 | Lidgett Scot | Nouel Jean‑Francois | DNF | 23 |
For more information on the event visit the official web site at www.fireballworlds2016.co.za or the facebook page.