Fireball Grand Nationals on Lake Garda

Action from the Fireball Grand Nationals on Lake Garda © Jemima Line

Action from the Fireball Grand Nationals on Lake Garda © Jemima Line

Action from the Fireball Grand Nationals on Lake Garda © Jemima Line

The 2005 Fireball Grand Nationals took place on Lake Garda, Italy and attracted 48 competitors from Italy, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Ireland, Belgium and the UK. The venue, located about halfway down the lake does not experience the high afternoon winds associated with Riva and Torbole at the top end of Garda. Nevertheless the racing was very close and after 7 windward / leeward races only 1 point separated the top 3 teams.

Race 1 got underway in light, marginal trapezing (well for the swiss crews anyway) conditions. Kurt Venohoda & Sonja Zaugg established a big lead and as the wind died the course was shortened leaving the pair to win from Italian sailors Fabio Palmeri & Antonio Capizzi and another Swiss pair Maja Suter & Francois Schluchter 3rd. As the wind died completely, the remaining races were abandoned for the day. The OD then pulled his joker card – an 8.30am start for Saturday’s racing in order to catch the stronger, morning breeze blowing down from Riva.

After a barrel load of red wine and a missed breakfast, race 2 got underway in a force 3-4 at 8.30am sharp. Vince Horey & Gavin Tilson led at the first windward mark and as the fleet high wired down the run the leading boats struggled to see the leeward mark. Shane MacCarthy & Andy Thompson spotted it first and gybing early got a big lead which they held to the finish. Italians Paolo Brescia & Dario Pagliani were 2nd and Noel Butler & Hugh Butler 3rd.

In race 3 it was Horey & Tilson first to the windward mark again. The pair elected to high wire the run again but as the wind eased it was Penny & Ian Gibbs who made the correct decision to sail dead downwind and into first place. They held this lead for the next lap to win the race with Horey & Tilson holding 2nd and MacCarthy & Thompson 3rd. The fleet was then sent ashore for a few hours to allow the afternoon southerly breeze to fill in (the back edge of the famous Garda ‘aura’).

Race 4 was another lightwind afternoon race. Kurt & Sonja, fast becoming the lightwind experts won easily again. This time however Vince & Gavin were able to stay ahead of the other lightweight Swiss pairing Adrian Huber & Brigitte Mauchle to hold onto second. So at the end of Saturdays racing all the leading boats were counting 1 bad result. Kurt & Sonja were top of the table equal on points with Vince & Gavin.

Race 5 and another 8.30am start. Richard Estaugh & Damian Bracken led at the first windward but were subsequently passed by Horey & Tilson who went on to win. Estaugh & Bracken held onto second with MacCarthy & Thompson pulling through to third.

Race 6 and once again it was Estaugh & Bracken first to the top mark, this time by long way. Noel Butler, Vince and Shane were all close together but going up the next beat the wind died and then filled in from the opposite side. Estaugh had a big enough lead to make it across the finish before the breeze turned completely inside out. Kurt & Sonja, having gone hard right benefited the most from the change in the wind, leapfrogging through to second followed by Darian Chandler & Andy Scott.

The fleet were sent ashore again to wait for the afternoon breeze and a final lightwind race. With one discard now applying Vince & Gavin and Shane & Andy were tied in first place on 19 points in first with Kurt & Sonja and Noel & Hugh also tied 5 points behind, but with a light wind race to come anything could happen. Race 7 got underway in a force 1. As expected the Swiss led the way, Kurt & Sonja again establishing a big lead. Vince & Gavin were passed by Shane & Andy down the first run. Kurt went on to win the race (his 3rd race win) with Adrian Huber & Brigitte Mauchle 2nd and Frederic Duvoisin & Laurent Grob 3rd for a Swiss 1,2,3. Shane covered Vince to beat him by one place and win the event by a point.

Next years Grand Nationals is due to take place on Lake Lipno in the Czech Republic.

Overall Results: