3 September 2012
The fireball fleet reconvened for a late summer open meeting at BlackWater Sailing Club. 18 boats made the journey and were greeted with a warm welcome and the prospect of some some close racing in the blackwater estuary.
The 1st race of the day commenced in a light breeze of 8 knots with the tide still flooding in. Sam Mettam/Richard Anderton led around the upriver windward mark, closely followed by Mark Maskell/Nigel Shepherd. Turning downstream and into the tide, the boats followed the lengthy and interesting course, with the best boats trying to use the tide to their advantage. Mettam/Anderton went close to the shore to avoid the tide, and managed to consolidate their lead to lead around the leeward mark, a position they went on to win from. Local boys Charlie Stewart/ John Gibson were 2nd with Martin Scarff/Tony King completing the local podium.
In the second race, the tide had turned, favouring a tack up the 1st beat through the moorings. Local team Bryan Sergeant and his son Will led around the windward mark, with the majority of the fleet rounding bunched up tightly behind them. They all set off on their downwind run trying their best to stay with the now ebbing tide. The Sargeants had a flyer and stretched a great lead out to lead by half a leg from the chasing peloton. Steve Jarod/Mark Wild were the closest behind them, with Scarff/King 3rd at the leeward mark. Up the second beat Mettam/Anderton charged through into 2nd place, hotly followed by Mariah Richards/Graham Hoy. There were plenty of place changes throughout, and the final order was only decided on the 3rd beat with Mettam/Anderton making up more ground to take the lead and their second bullet of the day. The Sergeants came home second with Stuart/Gibson romping into 3rd.
The fleet retired to the welcoming clubhouse for some cheap but excellent beer, some local fish and chips and a plan to hit the Queens Head for some evening social.
Following a legendary night of Blackwater hospitality, the somewhat sore-headed Fireball fleet got back out onto the water for more racing today in light winds and a some late summer sunshine.
Another "rounds lots of different cans" course was set down the estuary and race 3 of the series got underway with a large wind shift turning the first beat into drag race. The usual suspects, Mettam/Anderton squeezed ahead of Father/Son team, Simon &Tom Maskell to take the lead around the 1st mark. The Maskell's weren't going to give up the chase and showed great determination, applying pressure right to the very last of what turned out to be a short first race. Mettam/Anderton held their nerve and theircposition to take their 3rd bullet of the series, sealing their 1st place in the overall standings. The Maskell's came home second and local helm Maria Richards, the fleet captain at Blackwater& her crew Graham Hoy took a well deserved 3rd place.
With the open sewn up, Mettam/Anderton swapped the nappy to become Anderton/Mettam for the final race. Waldringfield sailors Fiona Gray/Joe Hunt got off to a flyer and took advantage of the favoured right hand side of the beat to lead from Anderton/Mettam and theMaskells. Gray/Hunt held their lead throughout the 1st lap but a good 2ndbeat propelled Anderton/Mettam into the lead, which they held onto until the penultimate mark. Apoor tactical call took them to the wrong side of the tide and as the majority of the fleet followed the locals onto the other bank, the race order changed with Anderton/Mettam eventually coming home 10th. The Maskellssailed really well and went on to win the race and almost take 2nd overall. Local pairings Charlie Stewart/John Gibson were 2nd with Mark Maskell/Nigel Sheppard completing the podium.
There were prizes awarded for the last place boat to finish all 4 races, for the only capsize of the weekend and also for the top 4 placed boats. The fleet was delighted with the well organized racing and hospitality shown by the club and are now eagerly anticipating the Inland Championships at Draycote later this month.
The final standings were:
1st 15081, Sam Mettam/Richard Anderton - Rotherham SC
2nd 14905 Charlie Stewart/John Gibson - Blackwater SC
3rd 14886 Simon Maskell/Thomas Maskell - Hunts SC
4th Bryan Sargeant/Will Sargeant - Blackwater SC
5th Mark Maskell/Nigel Shappard - Blackwater SC
6th Martin Scarth/Tony King - Blackwater SC
7th Maria Richards/Tony King - Blackwater SC
8th George Whitchurch/Brian Gibson - Blackwater SC
9th Fiona Gray/Joe Hunt - Waldringfield SC
10th Pete Badham/Jez White - Draycote SC
11th Ed Sadd/Steve Kuhl - Blackwater SC
12th Steve Jarred/Mark Wild - Blackwater SC
13th Andy Robinson/Jonathan Chetland - Datchet Water SC
14th Ian Johnson/Nicky Johnson - Blackwater SC
15thRorie Ash/Hatty Norman - Blackwater SC
16th Nigel Clark/Colin Hennessy - Blackwater SC
17th Chris Rust/Ollie Newman - Brightlingsea SC
18th Dave Hall/Laura Hall -Thorpe Bay SC
