The Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Fireball Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club

Twenty-three boats made the annual Fireball jaunt to Draycote for the Spring Championship. Numbers were a little down on last year, perhaps reflecting a reluctance to travel with diesel nudging £2 a litre, and a busy Fireball calendar offering plenty of other chances to sharpen skills ahead of the Worlds in Torquay this July.

Race 1

The weekend kicked off with exactly the conditions many had signed up for: 17mph gusting 24mph. It soon became clear, however, that consistency was not going to be on the menu. DJ Edwards and Vyv Townend leapt into an early lead which they never relinquished. After a less-than-perfect start, they tacked off to the right side of the beat, rode a lift all the way to the windward mark, and disappeared into the distance. Adam Whitehouse and Mike Hanson followed, with the usual suspects close behind.

Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Fireball Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club - photo © Malcolm Lewin / malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com

Things stayed relatively orderly for three laps, but on the final reach a notable drop in pressure at the wing mark caused a tightly bunched and somewhat chaotic rounding. This was swiftly followed by a screaming three-sail reach to the finish as the breeze came crashing back in again. Martyn and Daniel Lewis emerged from the mayhem to take second, with Peter Gray and Rich Pepperdine claiming third.

Race 2

Race two delivered similar conditions, with plenty of swings and lulls to keep everyone guessing. Once again, DJ and Vyv escaped from the start and controlled the race to the finish. Peter and "Pep" followed them home, with Kev Hope and Andy Stewart rounding out the podium in third.

Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Fireball Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club - photo © Malcolm Lewin / malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com

Race 3 (and an extra one)

The wind variability continued throughout Saturday, ranging from almost nothing to 30mph gusts at times. Digital compasses were rendered largely ornamental, and several crews sampled the water. Race three was particularly eventful for DJ and Vyv, who suffered a tiller-dropping, scooping-tack incident that relegated them to eighth. Peter and Pep took the win, followed by Kev and Andy, with Martyn and Daniel in third.

Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Fireball Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club - photo © Malcolm Lewin / malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com

With a questionable forecast for Sunday, the race officer wisely added an extra race. The top four mirrored race two, setting the overnight order and giving everyone plenty to think about.

Sunday Racing

Only two races were scheduled for Sunday. Conditions didn't look too bad at launch, but five minutes later the fleet found itself parked in almost nothing, before the breeze flicked back to a breezy 12mph. It was clearly going to be one of those days.

Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Fireball Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club - photo © Malcolm Lewin / malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com

To their credit, the race team took a pragmatic view, setting an average start line between the left and right shifts and cracking on. Being on the right side of the 30-degree shifts was absolutely critical — immensely satisfying when they paid off, and deeply unjust when they didn't.

Race 5

Race five saw the familiar faces at the front, but this time Peter and Rich worked their way through the extreme variability to take the win, followed by DJ and Vyv, with Kev and Andy in third.

Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Fireball Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club - photo © Malcolm Lewin / malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com

Race 6

The final race was more of the same. DJ and Vyv battled back from a tricky first beat to cross the line first, only to be undone by line discipline — a UFD proving costly. Kev and Andy took the race win, rounding off a very tidy regatta to secure second overall, Paul Cullen and Simon Forbes bagging their best result of the weekend at the final attempt. Peter and Richard claimed the overall victory with 4th still leaving the 3 points clear.

Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Fireball Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club - photo © Malcolm Lewin / malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com

A particular highlight of the final race was Martyn and Daniel Lewis flying the kite up the final beat and tacking it across the line — it really was that sort of day.

In such challenging and changeable conditions, the consistency shown by the top three was nothing short of impressive. And a massive thank you to the Fireball legends race team for keeping things moving and getting us away on schedule.

Prizes were awarded to:

• Endeavour - Andrew Taylor and Dave Haslam
• First youth and Lady - Katie Byne
• First Silver - Finlay Lomas- Clarke and Will Bailey
• Master - Dave Hall
• 3rd - DJ Edwards and Vyv Towned
• 2nd - Kevin Hope and Andy Stewart
• 1st - Peter Gray and Richard Pepperdine

Overall Results: