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Gul Fireball UK National Championship 2023 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 3

by Adam Whitehouse 25 Jul 2023 11:52 BST 22-25 July 2023

We headed out in the drizzle with a light NNE which started to build as we got closer to the starting area. After an extended postponement due to visibility challenges and direction changes the race got under way in the forecasted 14-17 mph breeze.

Tom and Andy rounded just ahead of DJ and Vyv but when DJ/Vyv gybed onto starboard down the first run they lost pressure and dropped a couple of places to Dave and Paul and Arron and Will. There were significant gains and losses to be made on the down wind legs throughout all three races. Tom and Andy closed out a relatively short race in first followed by Dave and Paul and then Arran and Will.

Race two started with the pressure down a couple of notches on Race 1 with more holes across the course. Russ and Ali cashed in on their port end start as they worked up the left hand side of the beat into the lead at the first mark but then lost a couple of places on a very challenging run with Dave and Paul managing to find the best pressure and edge into the lead. They were challenged by Tom and Andy up the next beat but managed to dial into a couple of great shifts with pressure, the last taking them into the windward mark, they then managed to hold their nerve down the next two legs despite pressure building from the harbour side of the course - a fantastic win for the experienced pairing moving them into contention. Tom and Shandy hung on to 2nd with Graham and Will Cook from Lyme Regis posting their best result of the champs so far rounding out the top three.

With a bit more breeze than race 2, race 3 started with the rain finally easing and we could all start to use our tell tales again, this was Dads excuse for a couple of indifferent results in the first two races. A great first beat saw DJ and Vyv round the windward mark in first but they were then passed down the run by Tom and Andy and Georgia and Fresh who had gybed off and found better breeze on the left side. The Pea green assassins managed to hold onto their 2nd up the next beat behind Tom and Andy with DJ and Vyv in third.

Overall Tom and Andy move into the lead on 8 points with DJ and Vyv on 11 points along with Dave and Paul. A nice three way battle for the championship with two races scheduled on the 25th and much lighter breeze forecast.

Results after Day 3:

PosNatSail NoBoat NameFleetHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1stGBR15122 GoldThomas GillardAndy ThompsonStaunton Harold SC3‑411218
2ndGBR15144 GoldDJ EdwardsVyv TownendBough Beech SC1124‑6311
3rdGBR15155Not SoGoldDavid HallPaul ConstableBlackwater SC22‑421411
4thGBR15113 GoldArran HolmannWilliam HeathcoteSutton Sailing Club53335‑819
5thGBR15091 GoldGraham CookWilliam CookLyme Regis Sailing Club88‑973632
6thGBR15133 GoldKevin HopeAndy StuartNotts county sailing club67667‑2232
7thGBR15166Good VibrationsGoldSimkn KingsJono LoeHisc7659‑131037
8thGBR15120Team Allen / Pinbax.comGoldVincent HoreyJames HuntKing George Sailing Club45(DNF)11121244
9thGBR14940ShrekGoldGeorgia BoothFresh AbendsternHISC / RDNBYC12‑2215515249
10thGBR14941SouthpawsGoldDerian ScottAndy scottChew Valley Lake SC119‑131311751
11thGBR15127AlanSilverMike DeaneRichard BottingDraycote Water‑191471214552
12thGBR14785WolSilverSimon Lomas ClarkeRob DanielsTCYC9138‑1781452
13thGBR14928Blue TackGoldAnthony WillcocksJames WillcocksPortishead Yacht and Sailing Club16‑2112810955
14thGBR15086Granny on the wireSilverAllan TylerChrissi TylerLyme Regis SC151017109‑2061
15thGBR14837JeffGoldRuss CormackAli CormackBudworth Sailing Club17‑25211841171
16thGBR15045NorbertSilverChristine SlaterGraham SlaterPaignton S C14‑201016191574
17thGBR15148 SilverBryan SargeantWilliam SargeantDabchicks Sailing club101111‑27242480
18thGBR15041 SilverMaria RichardsGraham HoyBlackwater2112161516‑2680
19thGBR15096DacyhrysSilverMichael WhitehouseAdam WhitehouseChelmarsh / Whitstable13151421‑221780
20thGBR15115Wave RiderSilverMark JarredNigel SheppardBlackwater Sailing Club‑24161914181885
21stGBR14844BuckarooGoldKath BroatchThomas BroatchPort Dinorwic231818‑26231395
22ndCAN15024PointlessSilverJoe JospeTom EgliPointe Claire Yacht Club1817242220‑25101
23rdGBR14754A spot of botherSilverAndrew ServiceChris OwenDelphRET(DNC)22191716106
24thGBR14889Milleinm FalconSilverBarry SmithRick SpringThornbury Sailing Club20192025‑2827111
25thGBR15075Tricks of the TradeSilverAndy WillcocksAndrea WillcocksPortishead Y & SC2224(RET)232121111
26thGBR14391BlueBronzeJemima LineJo LinePortishead Y & SC2523‑28242523120
27thGBR15046SlippersSilverPhillip PoppleJames PoppleShoreham Sailing Club(DNC)DNCDNC202619131
28thGBR14994 BronzeDamian AbbattSteve DigbyDraycote Water Sailing Club272623‑282728131
29thGBR14876The fat and the furiousBronzeJason CahillKerry WebbClub Hwylio Y Felinheli/PDSC / Bartley S26272629‑3029137
30thGBR14805LunaBronzeHatty NormanEmilie HoodBlackwater Sailing Club282825‑302930140
31stGBR14574Pier pressureBronzeRachel ElliottRory StretchClevedon Sailing club(NSC)2927313131149
32ndGBR15168DiamondBronzePaul DaviesJeni DaviesStarcross Yacht ClubRET(DNC)DNCDNCDNSDNC164

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