Event Sponsored by Noble, Harken & Typhoon
Fireball Grand Nationals 2013
Day 1
47 well fettled boats made the trip to the beautiful village of Looe for the 2013 Fireball Nationals. The club provided a warm welcome and slickly organised berthing/drop off procedure that made the best of the tight local area.
With the recent summer sun well departed, day one dawned with a few spots of rain and a building southerly wind. After some deliberation the fleet got away off the sandy beach for 1 practice and 2 real races.
With practice completed the race team attempted to get the 1st real race underway. On the 3rd attempt it was race on! With testing conditions and a building sea state, it was certainly not for the fainthearted. A 15 knot breeze and 2 meter swell was enough for most teams and too much for some.
After an epic battle with a few place changes and some fruity reaches, Christian Birrell & Richard Anderton battled through to come out on top, taking a great win in the 1st race from Tom Gillard and Simon Potts with Vince Horey and Rob Gardner in 3rd
In the second race the even bigger waves and incrementing breeze (up to 25 knots!) saw off quite a few competitors but those that stayed out were treated to some simply amazing action. The win looked nailed on for Birrell/Anderton as they rounded the windward mark with a healthy lead which they promptly lost as they capsized just after the mark. This let 5 or 6 boats through and Chips and Vyv went on to win with Birrell/Anderton recovering to 2nd and Dave Wade and Dan Ellis claiming a fine 3rd.
Further down the fleet, the action was equally enthralling. The teams were treated to some evidence of it as the safety crews had made some fantastic footage of the action on the water. Veronica & Ben Falat made a starring appearance with their “wash off” in a massive wave which saw them briefly become an additional windward mark.
Tired but exhilarated, the battered crews made it back to shore and onto their trolleys with the able assistance from the excellent club team.
The Commodores Reception, buffet and prize giving and idiot award are on the social calendar for tonight with the promise of more amazing conditions tomorrow.
