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Gul UK Fireball National Championships at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 1

by Georgia Booth & Dave Hall 26 May 2019 09:09 BST 25-28 May 2019

The 2019 Fireball Championship is taking place over 4 days using the late May bank holiday. A healthy entry of 44 boats have turned up including many past World, European and National champions it is going to be a very competitive series.

The fleet was greeted by a lovely day in the English riviera, not quite with the wind that was forecast but the race team was hopeful to get the 2 planned races sailed.

The fleet launched on time and headed out to the race course on time for the first start, some found this process trickier than others as sailing ability out on the course clearly doesn't translate into launching ability as previous world champions struggled.

Race 1

5-7 knots, warm and sunny! The wind started in the SE and slowly tracked right throughout the race.

Gul Fireball Nationals at Torbay day 1 - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com
Gul Fireball Nationals at Torbay day 1 - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

Ben Rhodes and Ian Martin rounded the top mark first followed by Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff then Christian Birrell. The wind dropped off during the second beat, filling in slightly on the left. The eventual race winner Dobson and Wagstaff after taking Ian & Richard at the last mark.

Race committee took a few attempts to get the second race in including an abandonment half way up the first beat as the wind continued to track right. Settling in the West the wind built to 15knots albeit somewhat shifty

Race 2

Started finally in a good 15 knots steady breeze, Matt Burge David Schieber rounded top mark first with the fleet close behind. Wind then slowly dropped off for the second beat to 10 knots with much place changing. Race winner Burgee and Schieber.

Gul Fireball Nationals at Torbay day 1 - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com
Gul Fireball Nationals at Torbay day 1 - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

Overall a tricky, fun day to kick off the Nationals!

Results after Day 1:

PosSail NoHelmCrewFleetR1R2Pts
115161Ian DobsonRichard WagstaffGold134
215123Matt BurgeDan SchieberGold415
315144Christian BirrellVyv TownendGold325
415124Pete KyneTom KyneGold8513
515122Ian martinBen rhodesGold21315
615120Vince. HoreyAndrew ThompsonGold6915
715143David wadeRichard PepperdineGold7815
815162Isaac MarshOliver DavenportGold9716
915147Paul CullenSimon ForbesGold51520
1015073Sam MettamTim SaundersGold17421
1115130David WinderBen RaynerGold18624
1214928Anthony WillcocksJames WillcocksGold111425
1315155Dave HallPaul ConsatbleGold101626
1415133Kevin HopeRussell ThorneGold121729
1514941Derian ScottAndy ScottGold141832
1614870Pete GraySimon FoskettGold231134
1715145Steve GoacherTom GoacherSilver251237
1815114John HayesJoel JamesGold132437
1915150Angus HemmingsCaroline StockmanGold192140
2015151Martyn LewisRichard ByneGold311041
2115148Jack GroganWilliam SargeantSilver221941
2215097Roger EtheringtonpannellBronze162844
2315157Keith WalkerNick ReesSilver212344
2415086Allan TylerChristina TylerSilver202747
2515099Simon KingsJono LoeSilver292049
2614940Georgia BoothSam PlattSilver262551
2715160Pete BadhamSteve DigbyBronze154055
2815045Christine SlaterGraham SlaterSilver243256
2914950Chris ThorneLawrence CreaserSilver362258
3013944Dan JohnsonBen LathamSilver322658
3114662Anthony ProcterAlan GouleBronze273158
3214991Andy RobinsonTim MorganBronze303060
3314889Barry SmithRick SpringSilver283361
3414600Ben AltmanRobin SimpsonBronze352964
3514994Damian AbbattQuentin HayesBronze343468
3614789Hannah FinlayGordon FinlayBronze333972
3714964David MasonChris OglethorpeBronze393574
3815075Andy WillcocksAndrea WillcocksSilver383674
3915127Jeremy AtkinsRichard BottingSilver373875
4014592Charlie SansomChris JenkinsBronze413778
4115121Bryan ThompsonSimon BensonBronze404181
4214622Jane CollisonPatrick CollisonBronze424284

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