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News / Sunny Shoreham

With a fantastic forecast, the annual combined Fireball / Merlin open meeting at Shoreham attracted 52 boats. Reputed for its easy launching, and amazing guaranteed sunshine, wind and waves Shoreham did not disappoint, and neither did the weather.

With the Gul Fireball World Championhips only 2 weeks away, and with over 100 entries, confirmed  Shoreham was the last warm up event. Of the top teams, only Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey sailed both days, with DJ Edwards and Vyv Townend turning up on Sunday to stretch their legs.

Race 1 got away in a stable 15kts of breeze and Andy Palmer-Felgate sailing with Richard Anderton stamped their authority on the race by leading from the start, and after a 3 lap duel with Christian and Sam clinched 1st place by a matter of boat lengths. Vince Horey and Bob Gardner (DC) came in third.

Race 2 saw Andy and Richard start firmly last after a start line 'racing incident' and a long swim. Christian and Sam, and Vince and DC – both also temporarily hindered by the afore mentioned incident - managed to pull through the fleet to take 1st and 2nd, with Andy recovering to 3rd.

Further down the fleet, and the action was close fought as well, most of the fleet finished within minutes of each other, and places were not certain until the finish line. Phil Popple sailing with Andy Phillips posted an impressive 4th in the second race; while locals Martin Walker and John Piatt held in for a respectable 9th.

After the customary BBQ and the annual egg throwing competition, the fleet relaxed in the bar for the rest of the evening in preparation for more fantastic conditions on Sunday.

DJ and Vyvo turned up on Sunday and managed to take 1st in race 3 – though they had to fight hard with Vince and DC all the way around the course. Andy and Christian fought it out for 3rd, with Andy just coming out on top. Anthony and James Willcocks rounded the first mark in 3rd, and managed to hold on for a 5th place finish.

Race 4 saw DJ and Vyvo get off to a slow start, but then took the lead on lap 2 never to be challenged again. With Vince off to his mothers' 80th birthday party, the fight was left to Andy and Christian to settle the open. Andy held on to the lead over Christian, and eventually Christian conceded and went ashore to look at sail shapes.

First lady went to Christine Slater who sailed consistently and finished 9th overall.

Next up is the National Championships, and the Gul Fireball Worlds – both in Pwllheli through the last 2 weeks of August. 57 boats are entered for the nationals, and 102 for the worlds. If you're still undecided – you are running out of time to be part of the largest Fireball event for many years.

www.warwickpics.com

Results

 

Pos Boat Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 15127 Andy Palmer-Felgate Richard Anderton 1 -3 3 2 6

2nd Makira 15107 Christian Birrell Sam Brearey SMVC 2 1 4 (RET) 7

3rd 15120 Vince Horey Bob Gardner King George 3 2 2 (DNC) 7

4th 15093 David Winder Matt Calvert Hollingworth Lake 4 (DNC) 6 3 13

5th 14801 Richard Cornes James Goodfellow HISC 7 5 -10 4 16

6th Simples 4 15122 David Hall Paul Constable Blackwater 5 6 -7 5 16

7th Darth Winkle 15070 Phil Popple Andy Phillips Shoreham 8 4 -13 7 19

8th Blue Tack 14928 Anthony Willcocks James Willcocks Portishead 6 8 5 -9 19

9th Norbert 15045 Christine Slater Graham Slater Paignton -9 7 8 6 21

10th 15096 DJ Edwards Vyv Townend Bough Beech (DNC) DNC 1 1 23

11th Wol 14785 Simon Lomas-Clarke Rob Daniels Paignton -12 10 9 11 30

12th 15041 Maria Richards Graham Hay Blackwater 11 11 -15 10 32

13th 14804 Tobias Hamer Torie Morley HISC 13 -14 12 8 33

14th Curveball 14579 Martin Walker John Piatt Shoreham 10 9 -14 14 33

15th Sijabybo 14821 Nick Hurst Jake Elsbury HISC -14 12 11 12 35

16th Ginja I 14982 Maia Walsh Peter Bentley Blackwater 15 13 -16 13 41

17th Aussie Blew 14109 Ted Coday Jon Chetland Blackwater 16 15 -18 15 46

18th 2 Fat Laddies 14991 Andy Robinson Fenella Williams Datchet (DNC) DNC 17 16 54

19th 14860 Peter Bettles Richard Bettles Broxbourne 17 (DNC) 19 DNC 57

20th 15073 Tim Rush Tim Saunders Staunton Harold (DNS) DNC DNS DNF 63

 


WHY JOIN THE UKFA?

  • You will be able to attend the organised events
  • We work with various suppliers to bring you discounts
  • The UKFA Coordinate fireball opens and organise National and inland champs
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