Sixteen Fireballs made the journey to Rock for the Golden Dolphin and South West Series event on Spring Bank Holiday. It was a starry fleet with no fewer than ten former National or European champions sailing. The race committee, with Martin Hough officiating were faced with some heavy conditions in which to work and are to be complimented on an extremely successful meeting.
On Saturday, with wind strengths varying from 15 to 25 knots and plenty of showers about, the fleet sailed in the Camel Estuary, two races back-to-back. Saturday evening saw the fleet indulge in a BBQ on the quay, powered by Pimms and encouraged by the late start the next day the party went on long in to the night, with many a gallon of doom bar drunk. On Sunday there were similar conditions – dry this time but with 12 to 20 knots of wind. Again, sailing was in the Estuary: two races back-to-back. One boat was clocked at 20 mph down a spinnaker reach!
On Monday, conditions allowed the fleet to sail in Polzeath Bay; four short races back-to-back. Conditions were much lighter: wind speed for race one up to six knots then for the next three, steady at 12 knots.
Winner of the series were Matt Burge and Richard Wagstaff in Kevlar Footprint, from Poole Yacht Club, second were Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson in It’s a Trap from Sheffield Viking, while in third place were Alex Taylor and Richard Anderton from Budworth Sailing Club.
Full results:
Series Place | Sail No | Boat | Helm | Crew | Club | Series Points | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 5 | Race 6 | Race 7 | Race 4 | Race 8 |
1 | 15036 | Kevlar Footprint | Matt Burge | Richard Wagstaff | Poole YC | 8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
2 | 15041 | It's A Trap | Tom Gillard | Any Thompson | Sheffield SC | 14 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
3 | 15031 | Alex Taylor | Richard Anderton | Budworth SC | 16 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 5 | |
4 | 15056 | Mutleys Revenge | Tim Rush | Richard Byne | DWSC | 23 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
5 | 15045 | Sleep Terriorist | Dave Wade | Simon Pots | RSWSC | 24 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 17 |
6 | 14941 | Southpaws | Derian Scott | Andy Scott | CVLSC | 26 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
7 | 14954 | The New Bossy | Becky Priest | Tim Saunders | Staunton Harold SC | 30 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
8 | 14909 | Mashed Potato | Ian Priest | Lucy Ingrid | Scaling Dam | 42 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 6 |
9 | 14953 | Funbuyer.co.uk | Bex Partridge | Geoff Edwards | Budworth SC | 53 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 |
10 | 14565 | Riverdance | Elaine Slater | Graham Slater | Paignton SC | 59 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
11 | 14430 | Hannah Showell | Barry Smith | Thornbury SC | 59 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 9 | |
12 | 14761 | Which Way Is Up? | Mark Dinwoodie | Helen Dinwoodie | CVLSC | 63 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 11 |
13 | 14894 | Where R U 2 Den? | Chris Owen | Steve Jobson | Oban SC | 65 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 17 |
14 | 14945 | Steve Patten | Brian Aldgate | Penzance SC | 73 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 17 | |
15 | 15016 | May Contain Nuts | Peter Slack | David Slack | DWSC | 85 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 17 |
16 | 14873 | Hakuna Matata | Lynda Beck | Stuart Beck | Netley Cliff SC | 100 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |