Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island Sailing Club

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island © Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com

The Fireball fleet descended on Hayling Island for their 2026 Open Meeting, with the early arrivals on Friday being treated to glorious sunshine and a delightful 20-knot breeze. It was all very pleasant and civilised, which should really have been taken as a warning.

Saturday - The One with No Sailing

Saturday dawned with a forecast of 48mph winds, causing several competitors to take one look at the sea, another look at their insurance excess, and decide that leaving the boats on the trailers was by far the most sensible course of action. Some crews didn't even bother putting their masts up, which was possibly the best decision made all weekend.

By 10 o'clock racing had been abandoned, as the wind was only going one way - from "sporting" to "call the Coastguard".

Not to be denied their competitive fix, twelve hardy souls immediately declared the inaugural Fireball World Championship of Go Karting open.

In the opening practice session, Tim Hartley laid down the gauntlet with the fastest lap, with Spanner just a quarter of a second behind. Rumours that Tim had secretly fitted a carbon tiller extension and polished centreboard to his kart remain unsubstantiated.

The reverse-grid Grand Prix followed, allowing the slower drivers a brief but glorious taste of fame before reality reasserted itself. Simon Forbes, affectionately known as "Little Legs", struggled to reach the pedals and spent much of the race looking like a six-year-old who'd wandered into the wrong birthday party.

The racing itself proved every bit as physical as Fireball sailing. Elbows were out, friendships temporarily suspended, and Spanner charged through the field to take the win, although Tim once again claimed the honour everyone really wanted - fastest lap and therefore bragging rights until next year.

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Rob O'Neill

The Night of the Living Rigging

Those staying in tents and vans soon discovered that "camping" and "endurance event" are pretty much the same thing.

Torrential rain hammered down while the wind transformed every loose halyard in the dinghy park into a percussion instrument. Most competitors enjoyed approximately 17 minutes of sleep. Even those in the luxurious château accommodation found themselves awake, wondering whether the roof tiles would still be attached by breakfast.

By dawn, the entire fleet looked like extras from a zombie apocalypse film, although fortunately coffee exists.

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com

Sunday - Four Races and Several Near-Death Experiences

Launching was called for 9am, prompting everyone to stumble out into a fresh southerly breeze of around 15mph. Low tide meant an epic sail to the start line. Some competitors were beginning to suspect they had accidentally entered the Fastnet Race.

Race 1

The wind increased steadily throughout the day, eventually gusting over 25 knots.

Unfortunately, Dave Winder and Ben Rayner's race lasted roughly as long as a politician's promise. Half a lap in, they capsized and broke their mast, thereby ensuring they had the best view of everyone else racing.

At the front, DJ Edwards and Vyv escaped from the pack with the sort of ease normally associated with pensioners getting the last discounted scones in a garden centre. Behind them, Dave Wade / Ian Blake and Paul Cullen / Simon Forbes fought it out for the chasing positions.

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Rob O'Neill

Race 2

The sea had by now turned into a washing machine with anger management issues.

DJ and Vyv once again disappeared into the distance, pursued by a bunch of increasingly damp sailors.

Meanwhile, Dave Wade capsized on the gybe. Naturally this was entirely Ian Blake's fault. Witnesses confirmed that Ian wasn't actually touching anything at the time, but that has never stopped him being blamed before and certainly wasn't going to start now.

A fierce battle developed for the podium places. Dave Hall / Paul Constable looked to have a chance of getting past Pete Gray / Richard Pepperdine, but Pete cunningly dumped his kite halyard at precisely the wrong moment, launching Dave skywards and nearly providing Hayling with its first manned flight since the Battle of Britain.

Pete and Richard held on to second, with Dave and Paul following close behind, probably muttering things that can't be printed in a family newsletter.

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com

Race 3

By now the breeze had increased yet again, accompanied by a growing collection of broken bits and emotionally damaged sailors.

Capsizes were everywhere. Boats retired. Equipment failed. People began questioning life choices.

Through all the carnage, DJ and Vyv simply carried on as though they were out for a pleasant Sunday afternoon sail, taking yet another win. Paul and Simon came second and Dave and Ian third.

Race 4

By the final race even DJ and Vyv had had enough.

Deciding that they were far too old for such nonsense, they sensibly retired ashore and used the last race as their discard, proving that wisdom comes with age - or possibly just aching joints.

Simon King then attempted what can only be described as a "send it and see" port-end flyer across the fleet. Against all odds, and several rules of common sense, it actually worked.

Meanwhile, Spanner and Simon, sailing with their shiny new M2 mast, finally discovered what all those bits of string do. Having spent most of the season experimenting with settings that NASA would struggle to understand, he rounded the windward mark in front and stayed there all the way to the finish.

Rory Odell and Oliver Davenport followed them home in second.

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Rob O'Neill

In the end, Bough Beech sailors occupied the top two places overall:

1st - DJ Edwards and Vyv - Apparently, retirement is agreeing with them.

2nd - Paul Cullen and Simon Forbes - Proof that "Little Legs" can reach things when sufficiently motivated.

3rd - Dave Wade and Ian Blake - Despite Ian's repeated sabotage attempts.

4th - Dave Hall and Paul Constable - Still discussing that kite halyard incident.

In the end, Hayling delivered exactly what Hayling always delivers: plenty of wind, plenty of swimming, broken boats, no sleep, questionable decisions, and enough stories to keep the bar entertained until next year's open.

And somewhere, in a garage not far away, Tim Hartley is still reminding everyone that he set the fastest lap. Again.

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com

Overall Results:

Fireball open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Rob O'Neill