Fireball World Championship at Pointe Claire Yacht Club - Day 1

Despite the forecast of 5 knot easterly winds, the fleet launched in beautiful sunshine under the flight path of the aeroplanes headed for Montreal airport. Crews were even trapezing out to the start!

The wind was further south than expected, but after the first recalled start, it settled from the east at 6-7 knots, the course was quickly relaid and we got away under a black flag. Our Irish heroes from last week unfortunately fell foul of the flag. Those starting at the pin end took full advantage of the line bias. Dobbo and Waggers won the pin, banged the left and rounded first just in front of Claude and Ruedi (who had gone hard right!). Things nearly turned inside out on the run with the two Czechs "powering" straight down the run in 5knots of breeze, but Dobbo and Waggers just held on and took the first win of the championships with the Czechs, Jan and Jin and Martin and Roman in 2nd and 3rd and Aussies Heather and Chris in 4th.

In race two the wind had dropped slightly and the fleet got off first time under the Blue Peter. Derian and Andy Scott headed right and rounded in 2nd just behind the French team of Ludovic and Remy. Claude and Ruedi moved into 2nd after the gybe and Heather and Chris into 3rd. Back on the beat, Derian and Andy worked their way into the lead and headed off down a nail biting lead from Claude and Ruedi. The Swiss stayed slightly higher and just squeezed through in front of the Scotts at the leeward mark to take race 2 with Derian and Andy 2nd, Heather and Chris 3rd and Dobbo and Waggers 4th.

The top British and Swiss teams are tied at the top on points.

More light winds are forecast for tomorrow, but who knows what we'll actually get?!

Results after Day 1: