Gul Fireball National Championship at Penzance Sailing Club - Day 4

Aussies dominate day 4 in Penzance to shake up the leaderboard with a day to go.

With two days to go at the Gul Fireball National Championships it looked like Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff were running away with the event, however after three hot and very light wind races in 5-6kts the leader board has closed right up. Starting an hour earlier to make up for races lost on Tuesday the fleet headed out into Mounts Bay under a blazing sun. The gentle gradient wind had settled with a steady F2 across the bay allowing the race officer to set a course for sausage, triangle, sausage to encourage more interactive racing downwind.

Race 5 started under black flag and it quickly became apparent this was a day for the lighter weight crews to make hay. With the wind shifting only 5-10 degrees and with almost no change in strength across the course the start was crucial to success. As the fleet split up the first beat the visiting Australian pair of Heather Macfarlane and Chris Payne showed the fleet a clean pair of heels leading into the first mark from the right-hand side. They never looked back (although I'm sure they did...) and despite attacks from Penny and Russ Clark they led from start to finish. Ian and Richard resigned to third.

Gul Fireball National Championship at Penzance day 4 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Race 6 followed a similar pattern. However, the light wind ninjas of Anthony and James Willcocks crossed the fleet to challenge the Aussies for the lead and the two boats duelled the whole way around the racetrack. Clearly buoyed by their earlier success the Aussies held off the fleet finish to claim a second trophy in as many races.

Race 7 belonged to the Willcocks lads. With a total combined crew weight of 110kgs (yes, you read that right) and as the breeze decreased, they were the only ones left trapezing. Not only were they quick, they raced smart and led the fleet from start to finish. As the heat of the day reached its peak the pair kept their cool to take their first ever win at a National Championships and were followed home by Heather and Chris in second and the consistent Penny and Russ in third.

Gul Fireball National Championship at Penzance day 4 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Throughout the fleet, sailors suffered cramped necks and sore eyes from staring at wandering telltales and curling spinnaker luffs, sunburn and unusually for the Fireball fleet, a hydration challenge. To the amusement of all some over-enthusiastic roll tacking saw one boat take an unexpected cooling dip, a remarkable achievement in so little wind that nearly won them 'the' special prize for the day, but that winner's tale is another story (and you had to be there)!

So, after three difficult, hot and mentally draining races Friday's racing to decide the 2018 Fireball National Champions is now a four-boat race. With a discard now in play and another beckoning it is going to go to the wire...

On the social side, Thursday evening was the Grand Draw. Generous prizes from Hyde Sails and Gul including drysuits and a spinnaker were up for grabs if your sail number was pulled out and you were there to collect.

Gul Fireball National Championship at Penzance day 4 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Results after day 4:

Gul Fireball National Championship at Penzance day 4 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk