Australian Fireball National Championship 2026 at Adelaide Sailing Club - Day 1
by Heather Macfarlane 2 Feb 14:30 GMT
2-6 February 2026
2026 Fireball Australia National Championship day 1 © Heather Macfarlane
Yesterday, in the training day preceding the Nationals, sailors were tested by strong winds and sizeable waves.
Today, the sailors' patience was tested as the race officer waited for the land breeze and sea breezes to compete and see which would most likely enable fair racing. Sailors were sitting in breezes that felt like they were doing the 360 degree turns - in reality moving from 140 to 280 degrees.
The Race Officer, Malcolm Hughes, used all the information from his various course boats to pick the earliest possible start. The sailors get over eager and there was a general recall with almost the entire fleet on course side before the start.
A 2nd attempt under code flag U got away cleanly with one group leading off from the pin and another group sailing high from the starboard end. At the top mark it was the pin end boats that went left that led onto the reaches. Rain Forbes and Pat Di Stefano are new to the Fireball fleet, but their work in the couple of short months since they bought their fireball paid off as they led the fleet around mark 1, race 1.
Overtaking opportunities and rig dramas saw a few place changes happening during the race at both the top and tail end of the fleet, and great sailing enjoyed by all. In the end it was the experienced team John Heywood and Daniel George that pipped Rain and Pat to take out the win in race 1.
Race 2 started in a slightly softening breeze with pressure ebbing and flowing to levels where the fireball crews had to adjust from full trapezing to bent knees and half trapezing. Again tight tussles occurred at several parts of the fleet. At the front race 1 winners John and Daniel tussled closely with the newly formed team of Chris Dance sailing with experienced fireball crew Chris Payne.
In the end Chris Dance and Chris Payne managed the last gybe to the finish to edge in front for the win. The father and son team Calin and Chris Went edged out Jeni and Peter Danks of take 3rd place. A few boats further back the young Italian team of Matteo Bevilacqua and Elisa Ascoli managed to hold out the experienced sailors teamed up for the first time: Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson.
Full Results