Sunday the 9th of June saw 16 Fireballs contest the Staunton Harold Fireball Open. 4 races were set for this single day event arranged as a replacement for the 2 day event which had to be cancelled due to snow at the end of March. The weather was very much a contrast to that weekend with warm sunny conditions and a force 2 to 3 breeze allowing for some close racing. With the wind unsettled in direction competitors had to be on their toes. Race 1 saw brothers Matt and Simon Foskett get the first beat spot on to lead confortably at the first mark . Gillard and Wagstaff who had paired up for the day were 2nd with local veterans Grahame Newton and Mark Stevens 3rd. Newton and Stevens took the 2nd race from Tim Rush and Richard Pepperdine sailing the latest Weathermark Fireball.
Race 3 started after a break for lunch. By now the excesses of the previous evening were starting to hit some of the local boats hard. Having one of the fleet get married the day before your home open meeting definitely fails the PPP=PPP rule. Visitors Gillard and Wagstaff were not hindered taking race 3 from Newton and Stevens and team double Foz. Brother Tom with Lol Hayward scoring a 4th. The last race was tight Rush and Pepperdine lead for a some time before Gillard and Wagstaff rolled them on a reach. As the race progressed Gray and Saunders showed good upwind pace to pull through to 2nd with Newton and Stevens holding 3rd from Rush and Pepperdine with the Foskett boats 5th and 6th. Gillard and Wagstaff claimed the event from Newton and Stevens.
Further down the fleet there were some good performances from the youngest sailor Cora Kenmuir Hogg crewed by dad Kris who was first junior and leading lady helm. First Lady crew was Lucy Priest in 8th overall. Team Hardingham were the first classic boat.
