Gul Fireball World Championship at Yacht Club de Carnac - Day 3
by Chris Payne 29 Aug 2018 08:26 BST
25-31 August 2018
After brilliant sailing on the first two days, finally the wind machine was turned off. The PRO showed excellent judgement to keep the fleet on shore for an extra hour, but the hint of a breeze appeared and the fleet was sent out.
On arrival at the start line the wind stopped to keep the fleet under postponement. After another short delay a 5 knot wind appeared and put the race management into gear. With a slight tide against the fleet, the race got away with no general recalls. In the difficult conditions the fleet split across the whole course causing a wide separation throughout the 100+ boats. The current top four boats were also spread across the course with Ian Dobson & Richard Wagstaff (GBR) and current world champion Tom Gillard & Geoff Edwards (GBR) going right while Penny Clark & Russell Clark(GBR) and Matt Burge & Daniel Schieber(GBR) went left. The left just paid with Matt/ Daniel just scraping around in front.
Johana Napravnikova Koranova Johanka & Jakub Napravnik(CZE) rounded second wth Fireball International Commodore Christina Haerdi & Cedric Landerer (SUI) and Alois Verkest & Jean Robillard (FRA) hot on their heels. Penny & Russell were also in the top bunch with Ian & Richard and Tom & Geoff a little further back. Two difficult reaches saw little mixing, but allowed ex European Champion Claude Mermot & Reudi Moser (SUI) move into the top few followed by Heather Macfarlane & Chris Payne (AUS).
The race was shortened at the next top mark with Matt & Daniel still maintaining their lead from Johanka & Jakub and Alois & Jean third. Interesting to note that four female skippers from four different countries finished in the top seven, showing the diversity of the class at the top level.
The PRO again showed good judgement to not try for a second race and the fleet headed for the club for an excellent social night with fantastic local crepes. The social event also included presentations for the upcoming worlds in Montreal (CAN) 2019 and Howth (IRE) 2020, and Europeans in Czech Republic in 2019. With the look of these events, followed by Worlds in Geelong, Australia in 2022, show that the future is very bright for the Fireball class.
At the half way mark the leaderboard is still very close with the top three boats within two points after one drop and all still to play for.
Results after Day 3 can be found here.