Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

Fireball European Championship at Unione Velica Maccagno - Day 3

by Frank Miller 17 Sep 2024 08:53 PDT 14-20 September 2024
Fireball Europeans at Maccagno Day 3 © Urs Haerdi

Fireballs enjoyed fantastic conditions at Maccagno for day three of their European Championship. The fleet again faced an early alarm call for an 8.30am start, but racing was postponed for a short while as the breeze was perpendicular to the narrow lake.

Once the southerly wind was established boats were sent afloat and downwind to the favoured area where the committee set up for three races.

Race two of the championship was sailed in medium airs and the right hand side of the course appeared to pay off, though many leading boats also found a route up the left shore. Weirdly there remains a moderate north-south current caused by extreme winds a week ago so sailors have the unusual task of factoring in lake current into their considerations. The first race of the day (race 2 of the event) saw a right hand shift but other than that the breeze was fairly consistent. Event leaders DJ Edwards and Vyv Townend took that race, their second bullet of the series.

For race three the breeze was up a notch and for a while the better breeze appeared to be on the left side of the course. For those who went too far left however it was a disaster as the wind clocked further right by at least 30 degrees during the first beat. That race was won by Czech pair Milan Cap & Filip Prochazka with event leaders DJ & Vyv suffering a 31st place as a result of the shift.

Just before the start of race four the wind increased further, probably hitting close to twenty knots in some gusts. The short sharp gusts came with a sting in the tail, namely heading lulls leading to some teabagging of crews. Some top teams worked their way up the middle using shifts but definitely the best pressure was coming from the right side of the course. The reaches and the run for race four were absolutely spectacular. That final race of the day was won by Czech team Jiri Paruzek & Jakub Kosvica.

When the results were collated a new event leader emerged in the shape of father & son team of Martyn & Daniel Lewis whose very consistent scores lifted them to the top of the leaderboard. DJ & Vyv are now 2nd overall and another father & son team Graham & William Cook are 3rd overall, just one point adrift. Vince Horey & Dave Wade are now 4th overall with other top teams not far behind on points, including current world champions Tom Gillard & Andy Thompson.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, is a lay day and with a possibility of four races on Thursday this Fireball European Championship is still all to play for...

Full results so far can be found here.

Related Articles

2025 Fireball World Championship overall
Switzerland's Yves Mermod & Maja Siegenthaler crowned champions on Lake Garda The Fireball World Championship 2025 concluded on Friday, 29 August, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco (North Lake Garda, Italy), in what turned out to be a historic edition for both participation and the number of nations represented. Posted on 30 Aug
2025 Fireball World Championship day 4
Plenty of drama on the penultimate day on Lake Garda The penultimate day at the Fireball World Championship 2025, organized by Circolo Vela Arco in collaboration with the Italian Sailing Federation and the Italian and International Fireball Classes was, marked by unstable weather but also plenty of drama. Posted on 28 Aug
2025 Fireball World Championship day 3
The standings tighten up on Lake Garda - Trentino After three days of competition and six races completed, with the first discard now applied, the leaderboard of the Fireball World Championship 2025 is getting closer and more exciting. Posted on 26 Aug
2025 Fireball World Championship day 2
Classic Garda conditions and British dominance The second day of racing at the Fireball World Championship, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco on Lake Garda, brought two more races and confirmed the event's high technical and competitive level. Posted on 25 Aug
2025 Fireball World Championship day 1
Spectacular start for the 136 boat fleet on Lake Garda The 2025 Fireball World Championship kicked off in record-breaking style, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco and running on the waters of Lake Garda - Trentino until Friday, 29 August. Posted on 24 Aug
The countdown is on for the Fireball Worlds
Largest fleet ever recorded outside the UK The countdown is on for the Fireball World Championship 2025 on Lake Garda - Italy, organized by Circolo Vela Arco in collaboration with the Italian Sailing Federation, the Italian Fireball Association and the International Fireball Association. Posted on 21 Aug
Irish Fireball Exodus to Lake Garda is underway
20 sailors will be competing under the Irish flag at the Fireball Worlds 20 sailors will be competing under the Irish flag at the Fireball World Championship on Lake Garda from this weekend. The Worlds takes place at the Northern end of the lake at Arco hosted by Circolo Vela Arco. Posted on 20 Aug
Fireball Worlds 2025 Runners, Riders & Rascals
Team GB Storm Garda in the Italian job Picture this: a battalion of salty sea dogs squeezing into red, white, and blue Minis, armed with daisy roots and dry bags, storming across the Channel, charging through fine patisserie country, and scaling the Alps. Posted on 19 Aug
Fireball Irish National Championship at Tralee Bay
23 boats attend, with plenty of new young talent Barry MacCartin and Conor Kinsella are the 2025 Fireball National Champions after six races at Tralee Bay SC, Fenit, Co Kerry over the weekend. Twenty-three Fireballs competed in a breezy event. Posted on 11 Aug
Australian team gears up for Fireball Worlds
A record Australian contingent is ready to compete at Lake Garda Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, is set to host the 2025 Fireball World Championship - a first for the Fireball class at this iconic venue. Hosted by Circolo Vela Arco on the lake's northern shore, the event runs from 21-29 August 2025. Posted on 8 Aug
Selden 2020 - FOOTERSwitch One DesignNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast