Gul Fireball World Championship at Yacht Club de Carnac - Day 5
by Dan Vincent 31 Aug 2018 10:19 BST
25-31 August 2018
The International Fireball fleet got down to the boat park - after their lay day - early this morning (Thursday) in preparation for a three race day. However, they were greeted by a fickle offshore breeze and a pessimistic forecast that caused many a Gallic shrug.
But the sun shone and the temperature rose so much that even Geoff Edwards took off his puffa jacket. The breeze flicked to the west, strengthened and the fleet were released. The first race started after the obligatory three attempts and six boats (including your author) in the black flag sin bin, although all the big names escaped censure.
It did at least give us a chance to spectate an interesting race, dominated by Tom Gillard and Geoff Edwards, but with most of the contenders relegated to mid-fleet by an almighty shift on the first beat. That did give a few unfamiliar faces the chance to shine and Frederic Le Bas and Ludovic Collin (FRA 15053) wore the biggest smiles after hanging on to a well deserved second place.
Race 2, and by now the wind was blowing F4 and Fireballs were raking their rigs and stretching their legs. Gillard and Edwards won again closely pursued Dobson and Wagstaff and Penny and Russ Clark. Dave Sayce and Nick Rees had their best race so far with a fourth.
The final race and whitecaps were present and correct across the bay. Penny and Russ shot out of the start and into the lead, harried by Dobson and Wagstaff, but their bid for the lead was halted by a kite-up capsize and subsequent tangle at the gybe mark. Burge and Schieber chipped away (probably, I was far too far back to see) and wrested the lead from the pacey Clark's, to go on to win.
These results puts the Burge and Schieber boat into pole position leading into the last day, but assuming we sail tomorrow (and the forecast isn't good) and get a second discard then it all tightens up with Burge, Clark and Gillard all within a few points of each other. Bring it on.
Results at www.yccarnac.com/fireball-world-champioship-2018-gul-results.html