The Scottish Fireball Championships were held at ASYC over the weekend (19/20 Sept 2009) with eight boats competing. A southerly force 3-4 blew all weekend that made for some very close racing. The tone was set for a weekend of competitive racing with a General Recall on the first start. The restart saw Elspeth & Alan get to the windward mark first and they held that position until the finish. Colin & Keith finished second, with Ian & Lucy third. Races two and three belonged to Ian & Lucy, but places changed throughout both races. Colin & Keith finished second in both races. Elspeth & Alan and Paul & Doug each took a third place. In the pub afterwards Lucy was confident of victory on Sunday….
Sunday racing was even closer than Saturday's. Ian & Lucy secured a sizeable lead in Race 4 with a strong run on the first lap, but lady luck paid Colin & Keith and Elspeth & Alan a visit on the last lap as Ian & Lucy sailed into lighter airs on the right hand side of the course. Colin took first from Elspeth then Ian. In Race 5 Elspeth and Alan rounded the windward mark and immediately gybed onto Port to sail close to the shore while the rest of the fleet sailed out to sea. As the boats came together at the leeward mark there was very little between them with Elspeth and Alan leading. Two further laps of the fleet separating followed but at the end Elspeth held on for first. Colin and Ian were second and third respectively. With five races completed it was winner takes all in Race 6. Another Windward Leeward course saw Ian & Lucy sail clear of the fleet on the first offwind leg. However, they capsized when gybing and it was 'hero to zero'. This left Elspeth & Alan in the lead for the next lap and a half, but Colin & Keith remained close and sneaked passed as the boats approached the windward mark for the last time. A closely fought offwind leg followed but Colin & Keith held their nerve (while someone behind was loosing his head!) and held on for the victory and the championship.
Thanks to Graham & Darren and Malcolm & Julie for travelling down from Shetland and Thurso respectively.
Results:
1st. Colin Ladd & Keith Stewart: 8 pts
2nd. Elspeth Fraser & Alan Fraser: 9 pts
3rd. Ian Priest & Lucy Lingard: 11pts
