Please select your home edition
Edition
GJW Direct 2024 Dinghy
Product Feature
Allen 20mm Dynamic Tii-On Block
Allen 20mm Dynamic Tii-On Block

Gul UK Fireball National Championships at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 3

by Christine Slater & James Willcocks 28 May 2019 06:37 BST 25-28 May 2019

A gusty and shifty F3-F4 westerly with large holes and some sunshine greeted the fleet as they launched for races 5 and 6 of the 2019 Gul Fireball National Championship.

There was a short delay as the race committee did a good job to set the course in the challenging and shifty conditions. A black flag set the tone for the day with the race committee keen to get the fleet away. The fleet started on the first attempt with Christian Birrell and Vyv Townend the only casualty of the black flag something that may well prove critical at the end of the event.

The wind conditions proved very unpredictable with big gains to be had for those who managed to be in the right place and were fortunate to be able to play the shifts. The result of this was lots of place changing and tight racing throughout the fleet.

The first reach was very tight with some electing to two sail the reach, only hoisting their spinnakers about half way along and a number of Aussie drops.

After three laps, the runaway winners of race 5 were Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff in boat 15161.

Race 6 got away on the second attempt with the current leaders Matt Burge and Dan Schreiber black flagged along with Kevin Hope and Russell Thorne.

With the wind remaining unpredictable, there was a large right hand shift on the first beat causing some consternation on the left of the fleet and some excitement for everyone else!

Showing their characteristic good form, the winners of race 6 were once again Dobson and Waggers, pushing them into the overall lead of the championship.

After a tough day's sailing the fleet was more than ready for the BBQ and the prize draw featuring Gul wetsuit, Gul drysuit and a Hyde spinnaker.

Heading into the final day, the battle for first place is between Ian Dobson/Richard Wagstaff and Matt Burge/Dan Schieber, separated by only 2 points. Dave Wade and Richard Pepperdine sit in third with only 3 points to fourth place Dave Hall and Paul Constable.

Further down the standings, the silver fleet is being comfortably led by Jack Grogan and William Sargeant. The leaders of the bronze fleet are Roger Etherington and Dave Pannell with an impressive 27 points to the next bronze fleet boat.

Results after Day 3:

PosSail NoHelmCrewFleetR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
115161Ian DobsonRichard WagstaffGold13245118
215123Matt BurgeDan SchieberGold411134510
315143David wadeRichard PepperdineGold78462423
415155Dave HallPaul ConsatbleGold1015344526
515120Vince. HoreyAndrew ThompsonGold699318734
615122Ian martinBen rhodesGold21281015335
715147Paul CullenSimon ForbesGold51475121039
815162Isaac MarshOliver DavenportGold9710861140
914870Pete GraySimon FoskettGold23111328842
1015151Martyn LewisRichard ByneGold321020165657
1115144Christian BirrellVyv TownendGold3264545258
1215124Pete KyneTom KyneGold851145191558
1315130David WinderBen RaynerGold1861712111258
1415073Sam MettamTim SaundersGold174361871359
1515114John HayesJoel JamesGold1324189221981
1614928Anthony WillcocksJames WillcocksGold11132114232281
1715148Jack GroganWilliam SargeantSilver22181519102082
1815133Kevin HopeRussell ThorneGold121654594587
1915099Simon KingsJono LoeSilver30191626131690
2015157Keith WalkerNick ReesSilver21231222451492
2114940Georgia BoothSam PlattSilver26252213161793
2215024Joe JospeTom EgliSilver3322351714995
2314941Derian ScottDerek JarvisGold14171915303595
2415150Angus HemmingsSteve ChesneyGold19201421252397
2515145Steve GoacherTom GoacherSilver254524112821109
2615086Allan TylerChristina TylerSilver20273073230114
2715097Roger EtheringtonDave PannellBronze162827281732116
2813944Dan JohnsonBen LathamSilver342623203418121
2915156Daniel ThompsonHarry ThompsonSilver272929232027126
3015045Christine SlaterGraham SlaterSilver243326272624127
3114950Chris ThorneLawrence CreaserSilver382125442131136
3215160Pete BadhamSteve DigbyBronze154128333829143
3314991Andy RobinsonTim MorganBronze313131243328145
3415075Andy WillcocksAndrea WillcocksSilver403732252725146
3514964David MasonChris OglethorpeBronze413640352426161
3614889Barry SmithRick SpringSilver293437294133162
3714662Anthony ProcterAlan GouleBronze283242303737164
3815127Jeremy AtkinsRichard BottingBonze393934312936169
3914994Damian AbbattQuentin HayesBronze363533343138169
4014592Charlie SansomChris JenkinsBronze433839323634179
4114600Ben AltmanRobin SimpsonBronze373038363940180
4214789Hannah FinlayGordon FinlayBronze354041373539186
4314622Jane CollisonPatrick CollisonBronze444344384041206
4415121Bryan ThompsonSimon BensonBronze424243394245208

Related Articles

Young Sailors Invited to the 2025 Fireball Worlds
A special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants for the event at Lake Garda Circolo Vela Arco and Fireball International are inviting young sailors from around the world to take part in the 2025 Fireball World Championship at spectacular Lake Garda, with a special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants. Posted on 1 Jul
Fireballl Munster Championship at Monkstown Bay
Another spectacular event with warm medium breezes on Saturday and stronger conditions on Sunday Eighteen Fireballs gathered at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club last weekend (21/22 June) for their Munster Championship, kindly sponsored by Doyle Sails. Posted on 24 Jun
Fireball Inland Championship at Chew
Race team did an excellent job of keeping the race track away from weed After a lively Nationals at Looe the fleet were looking to enjoy some freshwater sailing on some flatter water. The forecast was for a moderate breeze on Saturday with and increasing wind on Sunday. Posted on 18 Jun
Fireball World Championship preview
38 entries from the UK and 17 from Australia, going to Lake Garda It's still two months away but entries for the 2025 Fireball Worlds on Lake Garda have already reached 127 boats. Posted on 12 Jun
P&B Zhik Fireball Nationals overall
One big wind race on the final day Day 4 of the P&B Zhik Nationals. With the first two positions already decided, Tom and Shandy, and Vyv and DJ had already packed up their boats by the time the remaining 15 or so hardy souls decided to venture out for one last race. Posted on 31 May
P&B Zhik Fireball Nationals day 2
A day from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again The fleet was all planning for war at sea, but by the time we were going down the first run of race 3, we were frantically pulling out the fast pins. Race 3 was won by the championship leaders, Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson. Posted on 26 May
P&B Zhik Fireball Nationals day 1
36 boats in Looe, fuelled by the biggest Cornish pasty ever baked Thirty-six boats entered and were ready to go. Back in Looe, we were greeted by an extremely welcoming shore team and an intimate dinghy park. Fuelled by the biggest Cornish pasty ever baked, we reached down to the starting area. Posted on 25 May
Fireball Worlds coming to English Riviera in 2026
Royal Torbay YC are pleased to host The Royal Torbay Yacht Club are pleased to announce that the Fireball World Championship will be held in Torquay in July 2026. Posted on 24 May
Enter now for Chichester Harbour Race Week
Last year nearly 600 competitors in 383 boats attended Book your place at the biggest dinghy and keelboat regatta in the UK! With the website open, you can now reserve your place in this year's 'must attend' event. Starting on Monday 11th August, ending on 15th. Posted on 24 May
Final call for event delivery to Looe
The P&B and Zhik Fireball Nationals takes place this weekend The P&B and Zhik Fireball Nationals take place at Looe Sailing Club this weekend, the fleet's looking strong, as are the conditions! If you need an order taking we can arrange that for you. Posted on 22 May