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Maritimo M75

Fireball National Championships at Looe Sailing Club - Overall

by Andrew Robinson 3 Aug 2013 15:39 PDT 27 July - 2 August 2013

Event Sponsored by Noble Marine, Harken & Typhoon

The final day of the Fireball Nationals brought some sunshine to Looe bay for the first time this week. With results tight at the top and the previous day lost to light winds, there was all to play for and nerves in the boat park were tense.

The series leaders, Christian Birrell and Richard Anderton knew it was as easy to win it as lose it, with lighter winds than in previous days. Before the race Richard said "I knew we needed to focus. A 2 point lead is nothing with 3 races to come, I knew it was going to be tight. Light airs are ultra tough and require precise concentration."

After a general recall and under black flag, race 1 got away in about 8 knots of breeze from the south. Birrell & Anderton, like a lot of the fleet, were set up more for the forecasted 15 knots of breeze and on 22.6" rake, were underpowered for the conditions. It was Matt Burge and Richard Wagstaff, current European Champions, who made the most of the marginal trapezing conditions and they took the bullet from Dave Wade, sailing with current National Champion Dan Ellis. Tom Gillard and Simon Potts took 3rd, closing the gap on leaders Birrell & Anderton who finished 4th.

With pressure mounting, the second race of the day got underway with the gold fleet regulars out in front on lap 1. On the 2nd beat Gillard & Potts spotted a shift, banged hard left, got 1st to the mark and went on to lead the next lap and half. On the penultimate reach Burge & Wagstaff rolled Gillard & Potts, pulling them high of the mark, allowing Birrell & Anderton to get water on Gillard & Potts and take second at the gybe mark. Birrell & Anderton then managed to roll Burge & Wagstaff on the final reach and take the bullet. "Boom" said Richard after the race, knowing that made their lead unassailable.

Race 3 was a formality with Birrell & Anderton already champions. Regardless, they sailed to the end in the lovely summer sunshine to finish second and complete their net series score of 10, discarding a DNF and a 4th place to score 1's and 2's across the board. The final race was won by the fleet boat, sailed by Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett who finished 6th overall. 2nd place went to Gillard & Potts and 3rd to Chips Howarth & Vyv Anderton.

After the racing the teams gathered at Looe SC for the final prize giving followed by some live music. There were some generous prizes donated by the sponsors Typhoon and Harken and winners in various categories including; Individual race winners, over 50 helm and crew, 1st lady helm and crew, Brixham trophy for the highest place helm and crew to never win an open or place in the top 10 at a nationals, novice helm and crew, youth helm and crew, perseverance trophy for the lowest place boat to finish all races, classic boat trophy, 1st, 2nd, 3rd in Bronze and Silver fleets and also the top 10 finishers overall.

After being awarded their deserved title Richard Anderton said; "It's been an awesome week, great conditions and great social. Really looking forward to coming back to such an amazingly well organised event next year". With a set of results like that it's no surprised he enjoyed it.

A big thanks to the team at Looe SC for putting on such a spectacular event.

A full list of all winners is available on www.fireballsailing.org.uk

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Fireball nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

PosFleetSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9Pts
1Gold15089 Christian BirrellRichard Anderton 122‑5011‑41210
2Gold15091Ollie Loves OwlsThomas GillardSimon PottsSheffield Viking SC/ Northampton SC2‑12124333‑5018
3Gold15096 Chips HowarthVyv TownendBewl Valley SC‑61312265‑5020
4Gold15083P&BDave WadeDan Ellisnorthampton SC4343‑542‑6525
5Gold15093Stanley LambchopMatt BurgeRichard WagstaffPoole YC‑137‑1163912735
6Gold15080 Matt RainbackSimon FoskettStaunton Harold SC5‑8‑977754136
7Gold15094 Tim RushSam PascoeNottingham SC & Weymouth SC8454‑125‑97336
8Gold15050 Kevin spunky HopeRussell ThorneNotts County SC75‑1251061010‑1253
9Gold15073Bossy ThreePeter GrayTim SaundersStaunton Harold SC‑1467‑1261189855
10Gold14877 Ian DobsonWill MorganSouthampton Male Voice Choir (SMVC)‑99898878‑5057
11Gold15081 Niki BirrellGeoff EdwardsParkstone Y.C.10‑3317891518‑211390
12Gold14941SouthpawsDerian ScottAndy ScottChew Valley Lake SC‑501610101412‑25141692
13Silver15045NorbertChristine SlaterGraham SlaterPaignton SC111513141813‑3012‑2396
14Gold15070Darth WinklePhilip PoppleJohn PiattShoreham SC16‑1916131318‑22169101
15Gold14892Pigs on the RunPenny GibbsIan GibbsBrightlingsea SC1513‑24‑311516211111102
16Gold15085Gill Race TeamVince HoreyRobert GardnerKing George SC3‑50611111015‑5050106
17Silver14807Clandogg MillionaireConor ClancyJames ClancyRoyal St George YC‑2410‑29162121121710107
18Silver14928Blue TackAnthony WillcocksJames WillcocksPortishead Y&SC2117‑382117‑2411224113
19Silver15092RayVeronica FalatBen FalatGt Yarmouth & Gorleston SC12‑501517‑3319322514134
20Silver14837JEFFRuss CormackAli CormackBudworth SC‑502827‑50202913136136
21Silver15066 Mark MaskellNigel SheppardBlackwater SC19‑501423‑4625191920139
22Silver14977 Jonathan CarterGareth WilkinsonChelmarsh SC‑50‑5023202426142015142
23Silver14886 Simon MaskellThomas MaskellHunts SC‑3220‑30252623161518143
24Silver15041 Maria RichardsJeremy WhiteBlackwater SC202321221620‑50‑2422144
25Silver15024PointlessJoe JospeTom EgliPointe Claire YC27‑5019‑361914242319145
26Bronze14778Cruel and UnusualMike DeaneIain JenningsDraycote Water SC31‑502628‑4522172617167
27Silver15075Tricks of the TradeAndy WillcocksAndrea WillcocksPortishead Y & SC25‑502224222726‑2921167
28Silver14798Blew GenesLucy RileyTim RileyBlackwater SC1821252927‑502927‑32176
29Silver14889Millennium FalconBarry SmithBen BallardThornbury SC28182815293128‑39‑34177
30Silver14801 Richard CornesJames GoodfellowMilton Keynes SC17112019‑5017‑505050184
31Silver14621Not Hot & No BallsJeremy HurstAndrew HurstParkstone YC221433‑40393727‑5027199
32Silver15038Rock 'n' RollaStewart ScarffDavid WarnerShoreham SC‑50‑5018182332373636200
33Silver14821JamboNick HurstJake ElsburyShoreham SC23‑5031332530‑503329204
34Bronze14391www.boatrepaircentre.co.ukHannah ShowellJo Line ‑502732‑383434313024212
35Bronze14398Otters PocketTom JohnsonIan JohnsonBlackwater SC41‑50‑50262835232835216
36Bronze14991Two Fat LaddiesAndy RobinsonJon ChetlandDatchet Water SC26‑50412730‑42383126219
37Bronze14885 Fiona GrayRichard NurseWaldringfield SC332436‑50312835‑4133220
38Bronze14893On A MissionElaine TudorWarren TudorBrightlingsea SC‑50‑5050503233201825228
39Bronze14229Pink PantherGeoff HoldenSophie HoldenNorthampton SC3526353236‑383332‑37229
40Bronze14514Ultra VioletDale GilesNatalie SansomPaignton SC3825343035‑4036‑4038236
41Bronze14470 Matt JaycockPeter GreenwoodLooe SC303242‑50373641‑4328246
42Bronze14579CurveballMartin WalkerKaren HilesShoreham SC37‑50373438‑39343730247
43Bronze14872MagiicBarbara NewsonGuy NewsonPentland Firth YC3630403740‑41‑503539257
44Bronze14682Crocodile GordonMichael BryantKeith TaftHarlow (Blackwater) SC40313935‑41‑43393840262
45Bronze14264Nibble Nobby's NutsGareth ShawVerity PopeLooe Sailing Club‑5029433942‑44404231266
46Bronze11076 Tim CoxKingsley CoxNewhaven & Seaford SC4234444144‑4543‑4542290
47Silver14994Licken on both sidesPete BadhamSteven BadhamDraycote Water SC2922‑50‑505050505050301
48Bronze14463CrackerChris TurnerJamie PrescottHayling Island SC/Dell Quay SC39‑50‑50504350424441309
49Bronze14960roaring fourtiesMelanie LedererMichael Sch"ferSwitzerland34‑50‑50504750503450315

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