Australian Fireball National Championship 2026 at Adelaide Sailing Club - Overall

Australian Fireball National Championship 2026 at Adelaide Sailing Club - Day 5 © Denise Gaskell

Race 9

Race 9 was sailed on a three-lap course in 8-13 knots from 220 degrees sea breeze direction. The lighter breeze on the final day brought a very different challenge after the heavy-air racing of Day 4. With the championship still very much alive, last-day nerves were evident across the fleet.

The first start attempt ended in a general recall, before the fleet got away cleanly on the second start under Code Flag U. Off the line, Davin Conigrave and Mitchell Kelsey (14599) led away from the pin, followed closely by Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173), Nick and Simon Gunner (15175), Jake and Dan Miller (14811), Ryan Kelly and Darcy Higgins (15032) and Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026).

Before the start, the championship-leading boats were clearly keeping a close eye on each other, with Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152) crossing the line in front of John Heywood and Daniel George (14786) as they headed up the first beat behind the rest of the fleet. It was clear that overall positions were very much on everyone's mind.

At the top mark Calin and Chris Went (1503) emerged in the lead, having judged the shifts well on the opening beat. By the first bottom mark 1503 still led, followed by Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027), Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173), Rain Forbes and Patrick DiStefano (14545), Davin and Mitchell (14599) and the French team Olivier Burgaud and Florence Devaux (15072). Notably, the championship leaders found themselves well back in 16th and 17th positions at this early stage.

At the front the race order stabilised, with the leading three boats opening up a good gap on the chasing pack. Behind them there was a tight group battling for positions from 4th through to 9th, with small gains and losses depending on lane choice and pressure.

By the bottom mark after the triangle Davin and Mitchell (14599) had moved into the lead, followed by Brendan and Ben (15026), Ryan and Darcy (15032) and Glenn Peverell and Bruno Lanato (14414) pulling their way forward through the fleet. Chris and Chris (15152) staged a remarkable recovery through the middle of the fleet to round in 8th, while the boats sitting second overall in the championship were grouped further back in the 12th to 14th range. A particularly good tussle developed between Don White and Nicholas Luff (15000) and Liam and Andrew Kean (14943), with neither boat giving an inch.

At the finish Calin and Chris Went (1503) returned to the front to take the win, followed by Phil and Pete (15027) and Ben and Andy (15173). There was then a significant gap back to the next group, led by Rain Forbes and Pat DeStefano (14545) who had pulled through the fleet with good shifts both upwind and downwind on the last lap. Davin and Mitchell (14599) and Brendan and Ben (15026) and Glenn and Bruno (144 14) hung in there just behind the leading bunch. Further back, the battle between 15000 and 14943 continued all the way to the line, with 15000 just pipping 14943 in a very close finish.

1503 leading the fleet around the bottom mark - Australian Fireball National Championship 2026 at Adelaide Sailing Club - Day 5 - photo © Denise Gaskell

As might be expected from their lead, the results of Race 9 were:

1. Calin Went and Chris Went (1503)
2. Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027)
3. Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173)
4. Rain Forbes and Patrick DiStefano (14545)
5. Davin and Michael (14599)
6. Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026)

Race 10

Race 10 was sailed in conditions similar in strength to the opening race of the day, but with a significantly more challenging sea state as the tide turned and the waves continued to build. With the championship still finely poised, Code Flag U was again in operation, adding an extra layer of pressure at the start. Three boats received U Flag Disqualifications (UFD), including championship leaders Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152), underlining the tension on the final start of the series.

From the pin end at the start the early leaders were Davin and Michael (14599), Chris and Chris (15152), Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026) and Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173), as the fleet powered up the first beat in the building waves.

At the top mark Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173) rounded first, followed by Chris and Chris (15152), then Calin and Chris Went (1503) and Rain Forbes and Patrick DiStefano (14545). By the bottom mark Ben and Andy (15173) had a significant lead with Rain and Pat (14545), Chris and Chris (15152) and Calin and Chris (1503) all in very close contention. A second group followed only slightly behind, including Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027), the Italian team Matteo Bevilascqua and Elisa Ascoli (14503), Nick and Simon Gunner (15175) and Ryan and Darcy (15032).

On the second beat a significant right-hand shift compressed the fleet, reducing the gap from Ben and Andy (15173) back to the chasing boats and setting up a wide-open contest as the race unfolded. With two of the top four boats ultimately receiving U Flag Disqualifications (15173 and 15152), the scene was set for Calin and Chris Went (1503) to continue their winning form from earlier in the day. Rain Forbes and Patrick DiStefano (14545) also showed excellent consistency across Races 9 and 10, remaining firmly in the leading group.

Tussles and position changes continued throughout the fleet, with gains and losses largely occurring within established groups rather than through large jumps. Calin and Chris Went (1503) rounded out a superb final day by taking the win in Race 10. In the final stages John Heywood and Daniel George (14786), sitting second overall in the championship, managed to squeeze ahead of Rain and Pat (14545) to secure second place in the race, with Rain and Pat close behind in third. Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026), winners in the windier Day 4 conditions, and Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027) completed the top five.

Race 10 results:

1. Calin Went and Chris Went (1503)
2. John Heywood and Daniel George (14786)
3. Rain Forbes and Patrick DiStefano (14545)
4. Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026)
5. Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027)

Overall Results: