UK fleet loads containers for 2010 World Championships in Barbados. 2010 Fireball World Championships, 24th April ~ 7th May, 2010 Barbados Yacht Club - Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies 5 Containers loaded at Portsmouth. Fireballers from all over the UK, Ireland converged on sponsor Geestline's, Portsmouth depot early on Saturday morning. A complex logistics plan was put into operation, with experienced older hands working quickly to build the Fireball specific framing inside containers, and the rest of the team sorting boats for each container. The condition of all boats was logged and then loading into the forty foot long high top containers commenced. In addition to the boats and sailing equipment a other few essentials went in to, the odd mountain bike, windsurfer, even a supply of nappies! All this was completed in a little over 4 hours! Impressive stuff. The return journey means packing in the heat of Barbados, but the organisers have promised that there will be a range of chilled beverages available to make the process a little easier, although perhaps not quite as efficient. Around 70 boats from 13 countries are set to take part in the 2010 Fireball World Championships including several boats from the home nation. The prevailing easterly trade winds and warm temperatures are expected to make superb sailing conditions for the two week event. An international week regatta in the first week and the World Championships in the second. Support for the event from the Barbados Government and Tourist board could not be better and a whole host of sponsors have also put their support behind the event: Virgin Atlantic, Barbados Sailing Association, Barbados Yacht Club, Mount Gay Rum, Digicel, Terra Carribean, Williams Industries, Doyle Sails, Ursudio, Geestline, Banks Beer and Stoute Car Rental. For more on The 2010 Fireball World Championships visit; www.fireball-worlds.com Geest Line has fostered trade links between the UK and the Caribbean for more than 50 years and today carries more cargo between Europe and the Windward and Leeward islands than any other shipping line. The origins of the service lie in the shipment of bananas eastbound. Instead of the ships returning in ballast, it provided the perfect opportunity for establishing a general cargo service carrying everything from small packages to large project machinery. The flexibility of the service is maintained today with a wide range of breakbulk and containerised cargo carried on the weekly westbound departures which sail from Portsmouth and also Le Havre in France. Surveys show that Geest Line has the highest schedule reliability for round-trip crossings and the shortest transit times to the first port of call in the Caribbean. The movement of perishable fruits means that ships must arrive and depart on time, enabling Geest Line to offer a precise, fixed day service which allows UK exporters to be certain their goods will arrive at the scheduled time. In addition, our experience in the Caribbean puts us in an unrivalled position to offer efficient, careful handling and swift clearance of cargo.
