News

Gillard wins preworlds - now for the real action

22 August 2015

 

UK Fireball Nationals - the International Perspective

While there can be no doubting that the UK is the spiritual home of the Fireball Class, the reality is that as an international class there is a multi-national facet to the character of the class and that manifests itself even more when the Worlds are hosted in the UK. Thus, while this past week has been a UKFA Nationals, it has also served as a Pre-Worlds/International Week before the World Championships, sponsored by GUL commencing tomorrow, Sunday. Consequently there are other nationalities competing at the event as a prelude to the Worlds.

Representatives from fleets in Ireland, France, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Belgium and South Africa have contested the UK Nationals and while the organisers would have liked to see more nations here and more numbers from those who are, those that are here add an added dimension to the event both on and off the water.

For most, the quest for success this past week is tempered with getting their boats sorted for the main business of next week so there are scores on their cards that mightn't otherwise be there, but just to give you a feel of where they featured this article is dedicated to them.

Tom Gillard and Richard Anderton (GBR 15127) wrapped up the business of securing the UK title yesterday with another two wins on the water to register a nett score of 7pts for the regatta. Yesterday we saw the strongest breeze of the event with the last reach of the last triangle of the regatta sailed in two-sail mode for even some of the top guys.  That doesn't appear to have upset the march of the winners to the title.

In second place were the defending World Champions from Thailand 2014, Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey (GBR15107) who scored a 3 and retired form the last race. This left them with a nett score of 12pts.

The overnight occupants of third and fourth swopped places as a consequence of yesterday's proceedings leaving James Peters & Fynn Sterritt (GBR 15129) in 3rd after a 6, 2 compared to Ian Dobson & Ben Ainsworth's (GBR 15089) 13, 10. This gave third overall to the former pairing with a nett of 27pts to the latter's score of 30pts.

The top five was closed out by another British combination - Jonny McGovern & Max Todd (GBR 15094) with a nett score of 42pts.

The first visitors were the French pairing of Remy Theuillier & Mathieu Corruble (FRA14917)in sixth place with 50pts followed by the Irish pair of Barry McCartin & Conor Kinsella (IRL 15114) in 10th place on a score of 55pts.

 

UKFA NATIONALS, PWLLHELI, NORTH WALES.

TOP FIVE OVERALL & FIRST VISITORS BY NCA.

R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

Nett

1

Tom Gillard & Richard Anderton

GBR 15127

3

2

1

1

1

1

1

7pts

2

Christian Birrell & Sam Brearey

GBR15107

1

1

2

3

2

3

61

12pts

3

James Peters & Fynn Sterritt

GBR15129

26

4

9

2

4

6

2

27pts

4

Ian Dobson & Ben Ainsworth

GBR 15089

2

3

6

4

5

13

10

30pts

5

Jonny McGovern & Max Todd

GBR 15094

9

8

8

8

8

2

8

42pts

6

Remy Theuillier & Mathieu Curruble

FRA 14917

12

5

61

9

16

5

3

50pts

10

Barry McCartin & Conor Kinsella

IRL 15114

19

9

4

7

12

17

6

55pts

18

Jaroslav Verner & Pavel Winkler

CZE 15110

11

20

16

19

17

18

13

94pts

22

Christine & Cedric Landerer

SUI 14859

21

30

18

11

32

29

24

133pts

29

Ben Schulz & Doug Shepherd

AUS 15062

22

14

20

61

61

11

61

189pts

30

Robert Levy & Jonathan Driver

CAN 15043

27

27

25

23

27

61

61

190pts

40

Roel & Sam Peerlinck

BEL 14445

46

41

40

38

33

34

25

211pts

41

Anthony Parker & Ferdinand Holm

RSA 14904

51

48

61

41

25

33

16

214pts

 

As this report is being written another suite of visitors has arrived at Pwllheli to boost numbers even further from the 60 boats that contested the Nationals. The Irish will swell their numbers at the regatta with another five boats, but the vast majority of boats arriving or en route will be British to swell the fleet to 106 boats.

In previous reports I referred to the International Race Officer as Peter Caxton - my apologies to Peter, it should be Peter Saxton. He ran seven very good races even though the fleet must have tried his patience. The last race of the series got away at the 6th attempt. However, his course setting was very impressive, his turn-around of races was appropriate and he did as much as he could to get racing in given the weather conditions we have had this week. Yesterday in particular was very difficult with fluctuating wind strength and fluctuating visibility.  Next week there will be more of a challenge with a 106-boat start-line.