Fireball Open at Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club

The weather was again unkind to the Fireball fleet who attended the second of the Scottish Travellers Series at Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club. Conditions were variable and grey, however this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the club as hosts, and as ever the class enjoyed great hospitality and race management.

Last years champions Donald Smith and Margaret Ponsonby from Aberdeen and Stonehaven YC came out of hibernation for their first event of the season.

Race one took place in a 12 knot easterly and was very keenly contested between Smith/Ponsonby, Pete Hay/Liam Sullivan and Euan Sellar/Matt Summers. A snapped twinning line for Hay, let Smith through to take victory and Hay just hung on to second from Sellar/Summers.

Race two started in a dying force 2 and again Smith and Hay changed places at the front. Colin and Anna Ladd revelled in the dying breeze and eventually passed both boats, taking the gun from Hay/Sullivan near the finish line.

Sunday brought more wind, and it was again a close three way battle between Smith,Sellar and Hay. Smith and Hay edged ahead and after a tight tussle, Hay came out on top. Sellar followed up in third and the Ladds were 4th.

Going in to race 4, each race had been won by a different boat. The event was tight and either Smith or Hay could take the event by winning the last race. Both boats were aware of this and both were over the line at the start!!!!! With both having to return to recross the start line, this allowed Sellar/Summer to build a small lead. The Ladds held second for a lap, however were passed by both Smith and Hay mid race. With Hay keeping a tight cover on Smith it looked likely that Sellar would take first spot. Typically, the thunder clouds that had threatened the racing broke and caused the breeze to go very patchy and swing significantly. Approaching the windward for the last time, Smith got clear of both Sellar and Hay and lead round the top mark. However with the wind veering it was Hay who eventually found the best breeze and took the race by a boat length from Smith with Sellar following in third and the Ladds close behind in fourth.

Overall Results: