Australian Fireball National Championship 2026 at Adelaide Sailing Club - Day 4
by Heather Macfarlane 5 Feb 15:06 PST
2-6 February 2026
Australian Fireball National Championship 2026 at Adelaide Sailing Club - Day 4 © Heather Macfarlane
Race 7:
Race 7 was sailed on a three-lap course in a solid and building breeze of 17-24 knots standard Adelaide sea breeze direction of 220 degrees, delivering the most demanding conditions of the championship so far. With plenty of pressure across the course, it was a proper Fireball race that rewarded strong boat handling, confident trapezing and good decision-making at the marks.
The start saw a clear bias towards the pin end, and it was Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026) who led the fleet away cleanly from the pin. They were followed closely by Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173), Ryan Kelly and Darcy Higgins (15032), Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152), Jake and Dan Miller (14811) and Davin Conigrave and Mitchell Kelsey (14599), with the fleet quickly stretching out in the fresh breeze.
After the first windward leeward lap Brendan and Ben (15026) had stretched to a significant 40 second lead demonstrating the power of their leverage and skill in the conditions. Chris and Chris (15152) followed with a 13 second gap to Phill and Pete (15027). Calin and Chris Went (1503) rounded next, with John Heywood and Daniel George (14786), Jeni and Peter Danks (15159) and Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15175) all close behind in a tightly packed chase group. The pressure through the triangle legs began to spread the fleet further, with especially the first reach proving to be too tight for many boats outside the leading bunch. Clean manoeuvres at the marks proving critical with several capsizes resulting in position changes and gear breakage.
By the bottom mark after the triangle 15026 continued to control the race from the front, and the first 3 places remained the same as the previous lap. John Heywood and Daniel George (14786) rounded next, followed by Calin and Chris Went (1503). Behind them, Nick and Simon Gunner (15175), Jeni and Peter Danks (15159) and Myles Gavin and Finn Buckley (14777) rounded together, with 15032 not far adrift. Unfortunately 14786 who has had a very consistent regatta, and 14777 who were clearly revelling in the breeze were both On Course Side (OCS) and disqualified.
With three laps to complete and the breeze remaining strong, the racing was physical and fast. The front group remained largely intact as they negotiated the downwind legs at speed, while further back there were plenty of individual battles as crews worked hard to keep the boats upright and moving through the gusts.
Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026) led convincingly from start to finish, converting their early advantage into a dominant win. Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152) followed them home after a solid and controlled race, with Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027) completing the podium. John Heywood and Daniel George (14786) added yet another consistent finish to their regatta, while Calin and Chris Went (1503) rounded out the top five after a strong showing in the heavy air.
As might be expected from their lead, the results of Race 7 were:
1. Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026)
2. Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152)
3. Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027)
4. Calin Went and Chris Went (1503)
Race 8:
Race 8 was sailed on a three-lap course in a similarly strong breeze of 17-25 knots from between 210 and 220 degrees. Following the dramatic first race of the day that saw multiple capsizes and some carnage around the course, only two thirds of the fleet came to the start line, setting the scene for another demanding heavy-air contest.
In a case of déjà vu for observers it was Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026) who led the fleet away cleanly from the pin. The next group included Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173), Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152), Liam and Andrew Kean (14943) and Ryan Kelly and Darcy Higgins (15032), with the fleet quickly spreading out as the waves continued to build.
By the end of the first lap there had already been several changes as boats battled for speed and control in the increasing sea state. Brendan and Ben (15026) continued to lead, but were now joined at the front by Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173). In a change from the starting order, Phil Peverell and Pete James (15027) had moved into third, with Nick and Simon Gunner (15175) revelling in the breeze, close behind and very much in contention.
A capsize near the next top mark proved costly for Phil and Pete (15027), dropping them behind both Nick and Simon (15175) and Chris and Chris (15152) as the fleet powered off down the next leg. The breeze and waves continued to test boat handling, and gains and losses were often decided by who could keep the boat upright and moving through the gusts.
Jeni and Peter Danks (15159) had a strong tussle with Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152) over the following lap, with the two teams swapping places multiple times. In the end it was Chris and Chris who won that particular battle, using their speed downwind to pip the Danks team on the final run and secure fourth place.
At the front, Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026) once again sailed a controlled race to claim another convincing win. Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173) followed them home in second, with Nick and Simon Gunner (15175) rounding out the podium after a solid and well-managed race in the heavy air.
As might be expected from their lead, the results of Race 8 were:
1. Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien (15026)
2. Ben Schulz and Andy Thompson (15173)
3. Nick Gunner and Simon Gunner (15175)
4. Chris Dance and Chris Payne (15152)
5. Jeni Danks and Peter Danks (15159)
Full results