Gul Fireball UK National Championship 2023 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Overall
by UKFA 29 Jul 2023 16:57 BST
22-25 July 2023
The weather forecast for the final day of the championship was not encouraging with light opposing winds and rain showers promised. The fleet were held on shore until a light south easterly filled in. The plan was the get the last two races away before the cut off time.
After the first black flag of the week Arran and Will won the pin end going left and took an early lead. The usual suspects joined them apart from Kevin & Andy and Dave & Paul who went right, they looked dead until a late shift allowed them to join the front runners. A battle ensued between the top three challenging for the championship. Arran & Will held onto the lead to take their first gun while Tom & Andy pulled up to 2nd. Dave & Paul and DJ & Vyv had a close battle to the end only just holding off light wind specialists Allan & Chrissie Tyler. As the wind died to the finish DJ & Vyv pipped Dave & Paul. The last race of the day never happened as the wind continued to die and come in from all directions. This left Tom & Andy Champions and DJ & Vyv on equal points with Dave & Paul but DJ & Vyv taking the runner up place on count back.
The Nationals is not just about the overall winners. There are many prizes and categories through the fleet that include young and old, along with the spot prizes and free Gul gloves the fleet did very well!
A fantastic event run by the very efficient team at RTYC, a big thankyou to them. Thanks must also go to the main sponsor Gul along with P&B and North Sails.
Category Results
Under 26 Helm, Rachel Elliott
Under 26 Crew, William Heathcoat
1st Under 26 boat, Rachel Elliot & Rory Stretch
Toby Hammer Trophy, Rachel Elliot & Rory Stretch
1st Lady Helm, Georgia Booth
1st Lady Crew, Chrissie Tyler
1st Master Helm, DJ Edwards
1st Master Crew, Andy Thompson
1st Grand Master Helm, Dave Hall
1st Grand Master Crew, Chrissie Tyler
Most improved team, Simon Kings & Jon Loe
1st Classic boat, Jemima & Jo Line
Perseverance trophy, Hatty Norman & Emilie Hood
Gold
1 Tom & Andy
2 DJ & Vyv
3 Dave & Paul
Silver
1 Mike Dean & Richard Botting
2 Allan Tyler & Chrissie Tyler
3 Simon Lomas & Rob Daniels
Bronze
1 Jemima & Jo Line
2 Damian Abbatt & Steve Digby
3 Jason Cahill & Kerry Webb
Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Fireball nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here
Pos | Nat | Sail No | Boat Name | Fleet | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts |
1st | GBR | 15122 | | Gold | Thomas Gillard | Andy Thompson | Staunton Harold SC | 3 | ‑4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
2nd | GBR | 15144 | | Gold | DJ Edwards | Vyv Townend | Bough Beech SC | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ‑6 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
3rd | GBR | 15155 | Not So | Gold | David Hall | Paul Constable | Blackwater SC | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ‑5 | 15 |
4th | GBR | 15113 | | Gold | Arran Holmann | William Heathcote | Sutton Sailing Club | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | ‑8 | 1 | 20 |
5th | GBR | 15133 | | Gold | Kevin Hope | Andy Stuart | Notts county sailing club | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | ‑22 | 3 | 35 |
6th | GBR | 15091 | | Gold | Graham Cook | William Cook | Lyme Regis Sailing Club | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 6 | ‑12 | 41 |
7th | GBR | 15166 | Good Vibrations | Gold | Simkn Kings | Jono Loe | Hisc | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | ‑13 | 10 | 13 | 50 |
8th | GBR | 15120 | Team Allen / Pinbax.com | Gold | Vincent Horey | James Hunt | King George Sailing Club | 4 | 5 | (DNF) | 11 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 52 |
9th | GBR | 14940 | Shrek | Gold | Georgia Booth | Fresh Abendstern | HISC / RDNBYC | 12 | ‑22 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 58 |
10th | GBR | 14928 | Blue Tack | Gold | Anthony Willcocks | James Willcocks | Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club | 16 | ‑21 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 62 |
11th | GBR | 14941 | Southpaws | Gold | Derian Scott | Andy scott | Chew Valley Lake SC | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 7 | ‑14 | 64 |
12th | GBR | 15127 | Alan | Silver | Mike Deane | Richard Botting | Draycote Water | ‑19 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 67 |
13th | GBR | 15086 | Granny on the wire | Silver | Allan Tyler | Chrissi Tyler | Lyme Regis SC | 15 | 10 | 17 | 10 | 9 | ‑20 | 6 | 67 |
14th | GBR | 14785 | Wol | Silver | Simon Lomas Clarke | Rob Daniels | TCYC | 9 | 13 | 8 | ‑17 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 68 |
15th | GBR | 14837 | Jeff | Gold | Russ Cormack | Ali Cormack | Budworth Sailing Club | 17 | ‑25 | 21 | 18 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 81 |
16th | GBR | 15045 | Norbert | Silver | Christine Slater | Graham Slater | Paignton S C | 14 | ‑20 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 92 |
17th | GBR | 15041 | | Silver | Maria Richards | Graham Hoy | Blackwater | 21 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 16 | ‑26 | 21 | 101 |
18th | GBR | 15096 | Dacyhrys | Silver | Michael Whitehouse | Adam Whitehouse | Chelmarsh / Whitstable | 13 | 15 | 14 | 21 | ‑22 | 17 | 22 | 102 |
19th | GBR | 15115 | Wave Rider | Silver | Mark Jarred | Nigel Sheppard | Blackwater Sailing Club | ‑24 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 102 |
20th | GBR | 15148 | | Silver | Bryan Sargeant | William Sargeant | Dabchicks Sailing club | 10 | 11 | 11 | 27 | 24 | 24 | (DNC) | 107 |
21st | GBR | 14844 | Buckaroo | Gold | Kath Broatch | Thomas Broatch | Port Dinorwic | 23 | 18 | 18 | ‑26 | 23 | 13 | 20 | 115 |
22nd | GBR | 15075 | Tricks of the Trade | Silver | Andy Willcocks | Andrea Willcocks | Portishead Y & SC | 22 | 24 | (RET) | 23 | 21 | 21 | 11 | 122 |
23rd | CAN | 15024 | Pointless | Silver | Joe Jospe | Tom Egli | Pointe Claire Yacht Club | 18 | 17 | 24 | 22 | 20 | ‑25 | 24 | 125 |
24th | GBR | 14754 | A spot of bother | Silver | Andrew Service | Chris Owen | Delph | RET | (DNC) | 22 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 27 | 133 |
25th | GBR | 14889 | Milleinm Falcon | Silver | Barry Smith | Rick Spring | Thornbury Sailing Club | 20 | 19 | 20 | 25 | ‑28 | 27 | 26 | 137 |
26th | GBR | 14391 | Blue | Bronze | Jemima Line | Jo Line | Portishead Y & SC | 25 | 23 | ‑28 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 145 |
27th | GBR | 15046 | Slippers | Silver | Phillip Popple | James Popple | Shoreham Sailing Club | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 20 | 26 | 19 | 19 | 150 |
28th | GBR | 14994 | | Bronze | Damian Abbatt | Steve Digby | Draycote Water Sailing Club | 27 | 26 | 23 | ‑28 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 154 |
29th | GBR | 14876 | The fat and the furious | Bronze | Jason Cahill | Kerry Webb | Club Hwylio Y Felinheli/PDSC / Bartley S | 26 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 29 | (DNC) | 167 |
30th | GBR | 14805 | Luna | Bronze | Hatty Norman | Emilie Hood | Blackwater Sailing Club | 28 | 28 | 25 | ‑30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 169 |
31st | GBR | 14574 | Pier pressure | Bronze | Rachel Elliott | Rory Stretch | Clevedon Sailing club | (NSC) | 29 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 179 |
32nd | GBR | 15168 | Diamond | Bronze | Paul Davies | Jeni Davies | Starcross Yacht Club | RET | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNS | DNC | 28 | 192 |

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