Light winds (F2) and sunshine greeted the 16 Fireballs for the Blackwater SC Open meeting.
The PRO set a big course for race 1, in a strong flooding tide local knowledge paid off. Early leaders were Martin Scarth/Tony King and Charlie Stewart/Rachel Marden however an early decision to cross the tide cost dearly as Maskell/Sheppard and Steve Jarred/Sue Sheppard crossing later in a building sea breeze rounded the second leg windward mark and with tide under them on the run sailed away. 1st Maskell/Sheppard, 2nd Jarred/Sheppard, 3rd Carter/Pennel.
Race 2 was a shorter course and ebbing tide caught a few out in the start, so first general recall of the weekend. Maskell/Sheppard led to top of the beat and first run followed by Scarth/King and Stewart/Marden. The now infamous not writing the course down properly demon struck so while Maskell/Sheppard rounded up to beat to the next mark the chasing pack reached across the estuary to the next mark. Scarth/King held on to take the win, Maskell/Sheppard managed to claw back from 5th to take 2nd and Stewart/Marden were 3rd.
Race 3 Sunday, Charlie Stewart won the start and led from start to finish showing impressive boat speed and could not be caught. Maskell/Sheppard and Jarred/Sheppard had a close race to finish in this order with Simon Lomas Clark and Graham Hoy pushing both hard to finish in 4th.
With Stewart winning race 3 to win the event Stewart had to win the last race. Bryan Sergeant and William Sergeant this time made the best start and led the first round with Maskell/Sheppard and Lomas Clark/Hoy and Scarth/King in close contention. On the second beat the Sergeants went a little low for the next mark allowing Maskell/Sheppard and Lomas Clark/Hoy through. Stewart was still buried in the pack having had a bad start for once. On the long run down against the tide, Scarth/King, Lomas Clark/Hoy , Sergeant/Sergeant catching closed right up on Maskell/Sheppard, but they managed to round in front and reach to the finish line in 1st place and win the event. 2nd was Lomas Clarje/Hoy and 3rd was Sergeant/Sergeant.
Overall Results: (top five)
1st 15066 Mark Maskell & Nigel Sheppard (Blackwater SC) 4pts
2nd 14905 Charlie Stewart & Rachel Marsden (Blackwater SC) 9pts
3rd 14982 Martin Scrth & Tony King (Blackwater SC) 9pts
4th 14317 Steve Jarred & Sue Sheppard (Blackwater SC) 9pts
5th Simon Lomas Clark & Graham Hoy (Stokes Bay/BSC) 12pts
