The first Fireball Fat Burner certainly lived up to its name as 20kt winds and 30kt gusts greeted the fleet for the opening race on Sunday. After two races of 40 minutes apiece, most of the competitors felt as though they had been to the gym for a good workout.
This mini-series of 8 races over the 4 Sundays in February is taking place at Datchet Water Sailing Club in Berkshire and the results for the Fat Burner are extracted from the Datchet "Winter Warm Up" open handicap series.
Among the 30 boats that launched for the "Winter Warm Up" were 4 Fireballs competing for the Fat Burner trophy but unfortunately two suffered damage due to the conditions and retired to the shore DNS. This left Dave and Michelle Ryder standing toe to toe with Stewart Scarff and Tyler Harmsworth.
Race 1 saw Scarff / Harmsworth start from the pin end on a slightly port biased line and going left almost as far as the wall. The Ryders went up the middle and followed Scarff / Harmsworth round the windward mark of the triangle/sausage course. Up went the kites and off went the Fireballs like scalded cats. With the gybe mark safely negotiated the second reach proved too tight for the kites so on a blistering two sail reach the Ryders went high and gained but dropped back when they bore away to make the leeward mark. The order was maintained until the final beat when the Ryders went hard right into the top corner and took the lead. The lead then changed a couple of times as the boats crossed with Scarff / Harmsworth just nicking it on the line.
Race 2 saw the same very close racing and much swapping of places up the beat made for some nail biting competition with the Ryders leading round the windward mark on the first lap. Scarff / Harmsworth chased the Ryders down the first reach after they hour glassed the kite. The order was then maintained again until the final run when neck and neck, a sledge hammer gust thundered over the dam wall and a fairground ride ensued. Both boats held on until Michelle Ryder, flat wiring down the run, was treated to a spectacular double tea-bagging which loaded up their rig causing them to wipe out in style. Scarff / Harmsworth bottled the gybe and wore round with only the final beat standing before them and their then inevitable second win leaving them 4th overall in the Winter Warm Up and leading the Far Burner.
There are 2 discards so it isn't over yet if you want to join in with the next pair of races starting next Sunday the 13th of February.
Details;
http://www.dwsc.co.uk/Winter%20Warm-Up%20Entry%20Form.doc
http://www.dwsc.co.uk/Website2010/WinterWarm2011NoR.pdf
http://www.dwsc.co.uk/Website2010/2011WinterWarmUpSIs.pdf
