Gul Golden Dolphin Fireball Open at Blackwater Sailing Club
by Dave Hall 6 Jun 2023 17:31 BST
3-4 June 2023
Blackwater SC welcomed the Fireball fleet to last of the Gul Golden Dolphin series for 2023. The weather gods delivered, giving sunshine and breeze across the weekend. In fact, it was said that the Sunday was the best sail of the year. With a guest team from Australia and an invited 420 youth team it was looking to be a competitive - if selective event.
The fleet got clean away for the first race in the building - but shifty breeze. The majority of the fleet played the shifts, but Tom Gillard & Andy Thompson went right coming out just in front of Joe Jones & Ario Braund and Dave Hall and Paul Constable. Joe & Ario fell back down the reaches allowing Dave & Paul to take second with Mark Jarred & Richard Foulds following in 3rd place.
With a building breeze for race 2 three boats arrived at the first mark all close together, Tom & Andy, Dave & Paul along with Kevin Hope & Andy Stewart. After much place changing and a close tussle between Kevin & Andy and Dave & Paul it was once again a first place for Tom & Andy and a second for Kevin & Andy.
The tide changed for the last race of the day and with the breeze building several of the fleet were over the line. Those who realised they were over went back - some did not. Dave & Paul lead all the way around with Tom & Andy having to work their way through the fleet after going back to the line. Dave & Paul crossed the line to silence allowing Tom & Andy their third win.
Sunday promised more wind with the see breeze forecast to build. It did. What a day! Wind and sun!
It was the usual suspects who lead the fleet. Tom & Andy lead followed by Dave & Paul. Dave and Paul took the lead down the second triangle and held it for a lap only to let it slip up the last beat. On the last drop Dave & Pauls spinnaker ripped to shreds. A fast sail back to the club for a sail change was not enough to make the last start on time. However, they just got back to the start line to start within the 4mins and chased the pack lead by Tom & Andy. The fast learning 420 team of Joe & Arlo chased round in second place and were only overhauled on the last downwind by Kevin & Andy.
A great weekend racing with Tom & Andy once again topping the leader board. All well run by the BSC race team. A big thanks to them and to Gul for their continued support.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 15122 | Tom Gillard | Andy Thompson | | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2nd | 15133 | Kevin Pope | Andy Stewart | Notts County SC | ‑4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 3rd | 15155 | Dave Hall | Paul Constable | Blackwater SC | 2 | 3 | (OCS) | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| 4th | 1490 | Joe Jones | Arlo Braund | Rutland SC | 5 | ‑6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 17 |
| 5th | 14948 | Mark Jarred | Richard Foulds | Blackwater SC | 3 | ‑7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 17 |
| 6th | 15066 | Mark Maskell | Nigel Sheppard | Blackwater SC | ‑6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
| 7th | 14905 | Charlie Stewart | Sue Gibson | Blackwater SC | 7 | 5 | (OCS) | 7 | 7 | 26 |
| 8th | 14805 | Hatty Norman | Emilie Hood | Blackwater SC | ‑9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 30 |
| 9th | 14946 | Stephanie Gunn | Matthew Gunn | | 8 | (DNF) | 7 | 9 | DNF | 34 |