Harlow Blackwater Sailing Club held their Fireball Open Meeting on 19 and 20 July. Sailors were greeted with very strong winds on the Saturday, 25 – 35 mph, which were testing conditions for all. Mark Maskell and John Watkins (Fireball 14805) from Brightlingsea Sailing Club were outstanding and won both races, closely followed by Martin Scarth and Nigel Sheppard from Blackwater Sailing Club (Fireball 14982). Malcolm Cross and Tony Everett (Fireball 14606) and Terri Sharman and Tony King (Fireball 14704) both from HBSC finished 3rd and 4th respectively.
If anything, conditions worsened on Sunday and some very exciting racing took place, especially a screaming reach down to the furthest mark on the course where the wind was blowing a constant 30 mph and gusting. Mark Maskell and John Watkins continued their success by winning the 3rd race of the series with Martin Scarth and Nigel Sheppard winning the 4th race. All boats sailed well in difficult conditions with some particularly close racing between Maria Richards and Phil Stoneham (Blackwater SC), Dave and Michelle Ryder (Blackwater SC) and Tim Riley and Chris Tuckett (Oulton Broad SC) with Maria and Phil coming out on top.
Prizes were awarded by the Rear Commodore to the first four boats.
Overall Results:
1st Mark Maskell and John Waktins (Brightlingsea SC)
2nd Martin Scarth and Nigel Sheppard (Blackwater SC)
3rd Malcolm Cross and Tony Everett (Harlow Blackwater SC)
4th Terri Sharman and Tony King (Harlow Blackwater SC)
