The GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series is the perfect place to get a head start for next year's Fireball UK World Championships in Pwllheli.
Six fireballs in search for some breeze and good weather turned out to the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash over the weekend. 4 quick fire races on Saturday taxed the brain – lots of different speed boats and lots of shift made the racing very tactical. With the wind diminishing through race 3 and into race 4, it looked like navigation lights may be needed, but the fleet managed to get ashore before sunset. A great result by the race team to get all 4 races in.
Sunday brought little wind, and so the fleet was left to drift around Draycote Water for a lap. The fireballs fared well, though not in their ideal conditions.
Ian Dobson sailing with Ben Ainsworth took first fireball, closely followed by Rob Gullan and Tim Linsell.
Hopefully we will have better breeze at the next event taking place at Datchet Sailing Club. The International Fireball National, European and World Championship takes place in Pwllheli from the 15th – 28th August 2015.
If you are interested in taking part– probably the largest dinghy sailing event on the calendar – visit www.fireballsailing.org.uk for details of new and used boats.