Fireball Open at Grafham Water Sailing Club
by Dave Hall 18 Apr 2016 09:45 BST
16-17 April 2016
The Fireball fleet were greeted with some unseasonable weather for the first day of the Annual Grafham open. Freezing rain and a strong Northerly wind welcomed the hardy as they rigged their boats. By launch time the rain had stopped but so had the wind.
Racing started in what some might say typical Grafham conditions – that is lots of unpredictable wind shifts. David Sayce and Nick Rees took the first race in a real snakes and ladder tussle. Race two was again more snakes and ladders and it always seemed there were more snakes than ladders. Vince Horey and Rob Garner took the second race with Tom Gillard and Richard Anderton winning the last race of the day. With three different winners at the end of day one and the ever consistent Dave Hall and Paul Constable collecting 2nds and 3rds the event was still wide open going into day two.
Sunday brought bright sunshine and a very light wind – not only light but it also played vanishing tricks along with the shifts.
Tom and Richard read the shifts and holes well to win the first two races of the day. The last race looked as if it would give the fleet a good sail as some wind filled in across the course. However, at the windward mark it completely disappeared leaving everyone becalmed. As the fleet drifted to the wing mark it was Tom and Richard who were patient enough to sit tight and grind out a lead. So with three wins on the last day Tom and Richard won the event followed by Dave and Paul.
Big thanks to Grafham and the race team who in limited wind got all six races in.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew | Sail No | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Thomas Gillard | Richard Anderton | 15127 | Sheffield Viking | 2 | ‑3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2nd | David Hall | Paul Constable | 15122 | Blackwater SC | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | ‑6 | 15 |
| 3rd | Vince Horey | Rob Gardner | 15120 | King George SC | 5 | 1 | (DNC) | 2 | 3 | 7 | 18 |
| 4th | David Sayce | Nick Rees | 15112 | Hayling Island | 1 | 5 | ‑7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 18 |
| 5th | Petre Wood | David Merritt | 15042 | Draycote Water SC | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 7 | (DNC) | 27 |
| 6th | Simon Lomas‑Clarke | Rob Daines | 14785 | Paignton Sailing Club | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | (DNC) | 27 |
| 7th | Simon Maskell | Thomas Maskell | 14886 | Hunts SC | 8 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 6 | (DNC) | 33 |
| 8th | Richard Platt | Dave Borrett | 15125 | Rutland SC | 6 | 8 | 6 | ‑9 | 8 | 5 | 33 |
| 9th | Geoff Holden | Sophie Holden | 14784 | Northampton | 9 | ‑10 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 35 |
| 10th | Lawrence Creaser | Nick Devereux | 15113 | Northampton | (DNC) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 36 |