2025 Fireball World Championship at Circolo Vela Arco - Day 2
by Elena Giolai 25 Aug 19:13 BST
24-29 August 2025
Classic Garda conditions and British dominance
The second day of racing at the Fireball World Championship, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco on Lake Garda, brought two more races and confirmed the event's high technical and competitive level. With 136 boats from 14 countries, this is one of the largest Fireball fleets ever assembled outside the UK.
After a spectacular and unpredictable opening day, Monday delivered classic Garda conditions: sunshine, steady Ora breeze between 14 and 16 knots, and a racecourse that rewarded the right side under the cliffs of Ponale—an iconic tactical feature of Alto Garda. At the top of the leaderboard, DJ Edwards - Vyv Townend (GBR) extended their lead with a 3-1, followed by Australians Brendan Garner - Ben O'Brien in second and fellow Brits Graham Cook - William Cook in third.
The British are currently dominating the standings, with six teams in the top ten, proving once again their depth and experience in the Fireball class. Strong performances also came from Czech sailors Jiri Paruzek - Jakub Kosvica, currently sixth overall, and French duo Xavier Broise - Robin Trystan, in eighth with two top-eight finishes as their best scores so far. Ireland's Daniel and Herry Thompson continue to lead the U25 ranking, while the British team of David Hall - Paul Constable deserve special mention as the first OVER125 (combined age) team, just outside the top ten.
Among the Italians, twelve-time national champion Paolo Brescia had a much stronger day after tuning his new boat and adjusting to unfamiliar sails. With a 7-5 scoreline, he moves up the standings and remains in contention. "It was a classic Garda day, and we finally found the right setup," Brescia commented. "The level is extremely high, and any small mistake costs a lot of positions." Also sailing consistently is the mixed crew of Giovanni Dagnino and Paola Capizzi, currently 22nd overall and second in the mixed category, behind Ireland's Chris Bateman - Lucy Loughton.
Racing continues tomorrow with more action expected in stable Garda conditions.