Fireball World Championships 2019 at Pointe Claire Yacht Club of Montreal

20th - 30th August 2019

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     Reports:      North American Championship   |   World Championship

                                                                     Results                                                                     Results

     
                                                                                 click pics to enlarge

Reports by Derian Scott

 North American Championship, 21 - 23 August 2019

Day 1:

The boat park was pretty empty early in the morning as we all hid from the rain, thunder and lightening. By noon the rain had stopped and we launched in a light southerly wind which built to F2-3.

Race 1

After a short postponement the fleet got away on a very pin end biased line. Most at the pin were caught out by the current and a further left shift and were unable to cross the line on starboard. Right seemed favoured up the beat with our FI Commodore Christina Haerdi (SUI), sailing with brother Cedric, leading with Walker and Rees first of the Brits. They were eventually overtaken by Mermod and Moser (SUI) with Dobson and Wagstaff (GBR) climbing to third.

Race 2

The wind was lighter and flipping around a bit. Again the fleet got off cleanly and this time those who went left came out on top. Derian and AndyScott (GBR) rounded the windward mark first followed by the same two Swiss teams, Walker and Rees, and Heather Macfarlane and Payne (AUS). The Scotts held their lead for a lap and in the dying breeze the two Swiss teams sneaked in front at the second windward mark rounding.

Down the run it looked like the Brits might have regained the lead, but as the wind dropped completely, the race was abandoned and we were all towed back to the club.

Nachos and dips were provided to the fleet to keep us sustained until the evening's delicious BBQ.

We're aiming for three races on day 2 to catch up on the series.

Day 2:

Re-run Race 2

Before the start of the re-run race 2, there was sunshine and around 18 knots from the west on the course. By the time we started it had dropped to around 10 knots. Minutes after the start, there was a 50 degree shift to the right. With the whole fleet heading straight at the mark, the Race Officer abandoned the race and we came back for yet another go at race 2!

Finally the race got away with a Canadian boat falling victim to the black flag. There were plenty of shifts and pressure changes to keep the fleet on their toes. Dobson and Wagstaff (GBR) took the win, in 2nd Mermod/Moser (SUI), 3rd Walker/Rees (GBR)

Race 3

Race 3 got away in slightly lighter airs. The local team (and occasional honorary brits at our Nationals) Jospe and Egli, lead the race from start to finish. Thuillier and Collin (FRA) took 2nd followed by Heather Macfarlane and Payne in 3rd.

Overall, 1st are Mermod and Moser (SUI), Dobson and  Wagstaff (GBR) are in 2nd and Jospe and Egli (CAN) in 3rd. 

Day 3:

Race 4

The wind and sunshine both showed up. Out on the race course the wind was 14 knots gusting 18, and shifting enough to cause the Race Officer to postpone one start, recall the second, re-lay the course and try again!

We all got away under the black flag. We fought the usual shifts up the beat and Martin Kubovy and Roman Rocek (CZE) rounded first with Frank Miller and Ed Butler (IRL) on their tails in 2nd. Up went the kites and the fleet went powering down the reach towards the leeward mark!

The boats that rounded later spotted that the gybe mark was high, and two sailed down taking chunks out of the early bunch. Frank and Ed dropped into the 20s but had a storming 2nd beat and got back to 2nd which they held to the finish. Dobson and Wagstaff spotted the gybe mark position first, dropped their kite and took the lead, which they held to the finish.

Race 5

The wind had increased a bit for race 5 with even crazier shifts! After a huge left shift before the start, Dobson and Wagstaff port tacked the fleet but boats heading further left gained and Marsh and Davenport were looking to leading round the windward mark. However, another roll of the dice bumped Dobson and Wagstaff up into that 1st rounding position, which they held to the finish with Mermod and Moser finishing 2nd and Marsh and Davenport in 3rd.

Race 6 wasn't held so the North American Championships has finished with Dobson and Wagstaff (GBR) taking the title, Mermod and Moser (SUI) 2nd and Jospe and Egli (CAN) 3rd.

The Saturday is a day off sailing, allowing Fireball sailors from all over the world to explore Montreal. The World Championship begins on Sunday. The forecast is currently looking light, but experience from this week shows that doesn't mean we will get light winds!

Overall Results:

Sailed: 5, Discards: 1, To count: 4, Entries: 40, Scoring system: Appendix A

                                                                                                            

Fireball 2019 World Championship

Pointe Claire Yacht Club    25 - 30 August

 

Reports by Derian Scott

Day 1, Sunday 25th August

Races 1 & 2

Despite the forecast of 5 knot easterly winds, the fleet launched in beautiful sunshine under the flight path of the aeroplanes headed for Montreal airport. Crews were even trapezing out to the start!

The wind was further south than expected, but after the first recalled start, it settled from the east at 6-7 knots, the course was quickly relaid and we got away under a black flag. Our Irish heroes from last week unfortunately fell foul of the flag. Those starting at the pin end took full advantage of the line bias. Dobson/Wagstaff (GBR) won the pin, banged the left and rounded first just in front of Mermod/Moser (SUI) (who had gone hard right!). Things nearly turned inside out on the run with the two Czechs "powering" straight down the run in 5knots of breeze, but Dobson/Wagstaff just held on and took the first win of the championships with the Czechs, Jedlicka/Gemperle and Kubovy/Rocek in 2nd and 3rd, Aussies Heather Macfarlane/Payne in 4th and Mermod/Moser in 5th.

In race two the wind had dropped slightly and the fleet got off first time under the Blue Peter. Derian and Andy Scott headed right and rounded in 2nd just behind the French team of Collin/Thuillier. Mermod/Moser moved into 2nd after the gybe and Macfarlane/Payne into 3rd. Back on the beat, Derian and Andy worked their way into the lead and headed off down a nail biting lead from Mermod/Moser. The Swiss stayed slightly higher and just squeezed through in front of the Scotts at the leeward mark to take race 2 with Derian and Andy 2nd, Heather Macfarlane/Payne 3rd and Dobson/Wagstaff 4th.

The top Swiss and British teams are tied at the top on points.

More light winds are forecast for tomorrow, but who knows what we'll actually get?!

 

Day 2, Monday 26th August

Races 3 & 4

Both races were sailed in light easterly winds that proved challenging for both the sailors and the race officials alike.

The wind direction meant that there was the St Laurence River current was pushing boats over the line, making the starts difficult, and also making the final running leg of the triangle sausage course extremely long and tricky.

After three postponements and a few general recalls race 3 got away with the right hand side paying and Claude Mermod and Ruedi Moser (SUI) leading the charge. They held this lead throughout the race with the battle for the minor places swapping around during the race.

Ultimately Thuillier and Ludovic Collin (FRA) finished second and Heather Macfarlane and Chris Payne (AUS) third with class commodore Christina Haerdi and Cedric Landerer (SUI) fourth.

The second race of the day started in similar conditions, but there were some lifting puffs on the left hand side that meant that side was favoured on the first beat this time around. Heather Macfarlane and Chris Payne started at the pin end and after a short time found they were able to tack and cross the whole fleet and were never headed.

Claude and Ruedi, who were series leader at the time, tried the right hand side, (which had proved so successful for them the race before) and ended up buried at the first mark and had to work hard to wriggle their way up to 10th by the finish.

A pack of four to five boats tussled it out behind Heather and Chris with ultimately Ludovic and Remy finishing second again, with Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff (GBR) third.

The consistency of Heather and Chris now mean that they lead the series going into the third day with 1, 3, 3, 4 results, from Ian and Richard, and Remi and Ludovic.

Unusually for Fireballs, the top five boats are from different countries and this bears out the truly international nature of the event.

Tomorrow's forecast is similar, with two races scheduled, but there is hope of stronger breezes after the lay day later in the week.

Day 3, Tuesday 27th August

Race 5 & 6

After a short delay, race day number 3 of the 2019 Fireball World Championship got under way. A new wind direction and new challenges tested the crews with the same sunny skies and warm water.

Large shifts were the order of the day with an unstable 6-12knts. To this end Dobson and Wagstaff punched out from the middle of the line and on to the first shift to take control of the race. They led from Swiss team Haerdi/Landerer.

The ever solid French team of Thuillier/collin rounded out the top 3 with Aussies Macfarlane/Payne recovering well to finish 4th. 

   photo © Urs Haerdi

A similar flavour to race number 6 unfolded when an early left shift kept moving left to reward GBR's Derian and Andy Scott with a well earned lead which they held for nearly all of the race... Dobson and Wagstaff consolidated into 3rd behind Canadians Debbie Kirkby/Greg Ferguson. The French team once again punched in to the top five with other top runners (Aussies and Swiss team Claude/Ruedi) deeper in the pack. So on to the final beat when the front six boats wallowed in the centre of the course chasing large left and right shits before the hard right came good and allowed boats further down to capitalise. It was none other than the Aussies and Swiss who popped round and held on to the finish in front of Dobson and Wagstaff and the Scotts.

It's worth a mention the the only all female team of Mianne and Manuela from Switzerland rounded the first mark of race 6 first! 

  photo © Urs Haerdi

It's now all tight at the front of the pack and the Ashes firmly in the balance (slender advantage AUS) with 4 more races to go and more breeze anticipated. Not before some pre-layday beers in downtown Montreal however.

Wednesday 28th August was a lay day.

Day 4, Thursday 29th August 

Races 7 & 8 

Race 7 started in around 8-10 knots of breeze, building throughout the race. The first beat was hard to call with boats getting into different shifts and pressures on both sides of the course.

It was Claude and Ruedi (SUI) who rounded first, with Derian and Andy Scott (GBR) 2nd and Martin Kubovy and Roman Rocek (CZE) 3rd. The tight first reach was offset by a very broad second reach and the Swiss continued to extend their lead throughout the race. The final run turned very biased towards port tack with Martin and Roman taking second and Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff pulling up to third. 

    photo © Urs Haerdi

Race 8 started in the perfect range of 15-18 knots and the dreaded individual recall, however the fleet lead by Ian and Richard made it up to the top mark and enjoyed two flat out exciting reaches. The breeze held for the race, still throwing out shifts to keep the fleet on its toes. Ian and Richard extended their lead to take a comfy win, followed by Heather and Chris then Remy and Ludovic.

   photo © Urs Haerdi   

Overall the front remains extremely tight with Heather and Chris dropping into second, only one point shy of Ian and Richard. There's a 6 point gap from 1st to Claude and Ruedi in 3rd, but with the second drop coming in tomorrow, it's possible for any of the top 3 to win the championships. More breeze is forecast for the last day so we will see how things pan out!

Day 5, Friday 30th August

Races 9 & 10 

What a day and what a night! The fleet awoke to pouring rain but with a forecast for sunshine and wind that did not disappoint.

Race 9 got away first time in a 15 knots westerly. The wind clocked right on the first beat and Heather and Chris locked into this, rounding in first and blasting off down the broad first reach, never to be caught. Dobson and Wagstaff, who had rounded in second, capsized at the leeward mark and dropped to 6th. They then sailed a spectacular beat rounding the second windward mark in 2nd and holding this to the finish. The French team of Remy and Ludo again had fantastic speed and took the 3rd spot, followed by Isaac Marsh and Olly Davenport (GBR) in 4th. The battle for the title was still on!

In Race 10 the wind was building while the race committee set up for the final race. A few teams decided to head for shore, but the majority stayed out to start in 22 knots. Again, right paid and Dobson and Wagstaff had a good lead by the first mark, despite nursing a damaged rudder. All teams chose to 2 sail the 1st reach, fighting gusts of 28 knots. Fireballs were reaching warp speed, bouncing over chaotic waves, and many teams took the opportunity to inspect their slot gaskets!

The 2nd reach was broader and up went the kites. Both Czech teams of Martin Kubovy and Roman Rocek, and Jan Jedlicka and Jiri Gemperle were relishing the conditions, but Isaac and Olly turned on their magic to take 2nd place, followed by Martin and Roman in 3rd.

  photo © Urs Haerdi                                        Ian Dobson / Richard Wagstaff in winning style

The rudder held together, and the final race win enabled Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff (GBR) take the title of World Champions, with Heather macfarlane and Chris Payne (AUS), who sailed the regatta of their lives, just 4 points behind in second. The French team of Remy Thuillier and Ludovic Collin took the 3rd spot, having sailed a fantastically consistent series, discarding a 5th and a 6th.

Then on to the final competition of the day... loading the containers! The UK container narrowly beat the the European one, despite the UK team needing to work in close proximity to Isaac's under-pant garden (which he hopes to take home in hand luggage).

The evening prize giving was a sumptuous affair, with a sophisticated 5 course meal. Peter Kelly kept proceedings on track in a very entertaining manner, with the Mayor of Pointe Claire and FI Commodore Christina Haerdi awarding the trophies. Several crews' union prizes were presented to worthy recipients, including Urs Haerdi for taking amazing photos from the smallest inflatable boat ever, and Jean Francois Nouel (aka Cantona) for having crewed in the most Fireball World Championships... 23!

                                      World champions Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff   

Ian Dobson, wearing his new champions lumberjack shirt, gave an entertaining speech and spoke for the fleet in thanking the organisers, the race officer, Madeleine, and her race team, and the competitors. Thanks also went to John McGuinness and Peter Kelly for entertaining us all week. What a fantastic event!

Overall Results

Pos	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	R1 Aug 25	R2 Aug 25	R3 Aug 26	R4 Aug 26	R5 Aug 27	R6 Aug 27	R7 Aug 29	R8 Aug 29	R9 Aug 30	R10 Aug 30	Nett Total
1	15161  GBR	Royal Thames Yacht Club	Ian Dobson	Richard Wagstaff	1.0	(5.0)	(5.0)	3.0	1.0	3.0	3.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	15.0 25.0
2	15152  AUS	Black Rock YC	Heather Macfarlane	Chris Payne	4.0	3.0	3.0	1.0	4.0	1.0	(11.0)	2.0	1.0	(7.0)	19.0 37.0
3	14917  FRA	SRBrest	Ludovic Collin	Remy Thuillier	(6.0)	4.0	2.0	2.0	(5.0)	5.0	5.0	3.0	3.0	5.0	29.0 40.0
4	14799  SUI	RC Oberhofen / SC Walensee	Claude Mermod	Ruedi Moser	5.0	1.0	1.0	(10.0)	9.0	2.0	1.0	4.0	(10.0)	8.0	31.0 51.0
5	15162 GBR	Dovestone SC	Isaac Marsh	Oliver Davenport	7.0	(8.0)	6.0	5.0	3.0	(14.0)	7.0	5.0	4.0	2.0	39.0 61.0
6	15019 CZE	YC Lazne Tousen / YC Neratovice	Martin Kubovy	Roman Rocek	3.0	(9.0)	7.0	4.0	7.0	7.0	2.0	(10.0)	8.0	3.0	41.0 60.0
7	14941 GBR	Chew Valley Lake SC	Derian Scott	Andy Scott	(16.0)	2.0	12.0	(16.0)	6.0	4.0	4.0	6.0	13.0	12.0	59.0 91.0
8	14981 CZE	YC Neratovice	Jan Jedlicka	Jiri Gemperle	2.0	12.0	(17.0)	7.0	(13.0)	13.0	10.0	7.0	5.0	6.0	62.0 92.0
9	14859 SUI	DSSC	Christina Haerdi	Cedric Landerer	12.0	(17.0)	4.0	13.0	2.0	11.0	13.0	11.0	12.0	(16.0)	78.0 111.0
10	15140 BEL	Hofstade Sailing Club (HZC)	Bart Meynendonckx	Francis De Roeck	11.0	10.0	10.0	9.0	8.0	(19.0)	8.0	12.0	(14.0)	10.0	78.0 111.0
11	15157 GBR	Hayling Island Sailing Club	Keith Walker	Nicholas Rees	14.0	14.0	9.0	6.0	(17.0)	(43.0 OCS)	6.0	14.0	7.0	14.0	84.0 144.0
12	15113 AUS	Largs Bay Sailing Club	Ben Schulz	Joel MacKensie	9.0	15.0	(18.0)	17.0	10.0	(26.0)	12.0	9.0	9.0	4.0	85.0 129.0
13	15134 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Joe Jospe	Tom Egli	(21.0)	(21.0)	19.0	11.0	19.0	6.0	9.0	8.0	6.0	9.0	87.0 129.0
14	14911 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Pierre Carpentier	Thomas Bird	15.0	7.0	8.0	15.0	12.0	9.0	(16.0)	15.0	11.0	(43.0 OCS)	92.0 151.0
15	15043 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Robert Levy	Jon Driver	10.0	13.0	11.0	8.0	15.0	16.0	14.0	(43.0 DNF)	16.0	(43.0 DNS)	103.0 189.0
16	14959 FRA	CN Pornic	Patrice Olivier	Jean-François Nouel	8.0	19.0	14.0	26.0	18.0	15.0	(43.0 DNF)	16.0	15.0	(43.0 DNF)	131.0 217.0
17	14766 CAN	Glenmore Sailing Club	Debbie Kirkby	Greg Ferguson	13.0	6.0	13.0	12.0	14.0	8.0	(43.0 DNF)	(43.0 DNC)	23.0	43.0 DNF	132.0 218.0
18	15098 CAN	Royal Victoria Yacht Club	Robert Thompson	Francis Westlake	17.0	18.0	23.0	18.0	16.0	12.0	(25.0)	21.0	(25.0)	17.0	142.0 192.0
19	14768 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Bill Strath	Dave Munro	23.0	11.0	21.0	21.0	20.0	17.0	(26.0)	17.0	21.0	(43.0 DNF)	151.0 220.0
20	14964 GBR	Weir Wood Sailing Club	David Mason	Chris Oglethorpe	18.0	(33.0)	20.0	24.0	(32.0)	10.0	23.0	19.0	17.0	22.0	153.0 218.0
21	14877 RSA	George Lakes Yacht Club	David Laing	Mark Dee	24.0	25.0	(27.0)	(27.0)	26.0	20.0	15.0	13.0	20.0	13.0	156.0 210.0
22	15106 CAN	Cadboro Bay Sailing Association	Mark Cummings	Evelyn Chisholm	22.0	22.0	22.0	22.0	22.0	(32.0)	(30.0)	18.0	19.0	18.0	165.0 227.0
23	15063 SUI	SCH	Mianne Erne	Manuela Liechti	20.0	16.0	16.0	23.0	24.0	18.0	(28.0)	28.0	22.0	(43.0 DNF)	167.0 238.0
24	14757 CAN	Royal Victoria Yacht Club	Robert Warren	Gary Bishop	26.0	20.0	(31.0)	(30.0)	11.0	22.0	20.0	22.0	24.0	23.0	168.0 229.0
25	14647 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Eric Owston	Peter Kelly	19.0	29.0	15.0	25.0	(33.0)	(31.0)	19.0	29.0	18.0	15.0	169.0 233.0
26	14713 IRL	DMYC	Frank Miller	Ed Butler	(43.0 BFD)	27.0	28.0	(29.0)	29.0	28.0	21.0	23.0	26.0	11.0	193.0 265.0
27	14482 CAN	Glenmore Sailing Club	Hamish Ferguson	Fraser Keith	25.0	23.0	29.0	28.0	21.0	21.0	17.0	30.0	(43.0 DNC)	(43.0 DNC)	194.0 280.0
28	15033 CAN	Wabamun Sailing Club	Ken Tichkowsky	Neil Tichkowsky	29.0	(43.0 OCS)	25.0	14.0	31.0	27.0	22.0	20.0	28.0	(43.0 DNF)	196.0 282.0
29	14464 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Laura Malonda	William Kelly	28.0	24.0	26.0	19.0	23.0	25.0	31.0	25.0	(43.0 DNF)	(43.0 DNF)	201.0 287.0
30	14481 CAN	St. Mary's Sailing Club	Richard Quinlan	Liam Quinlan	31.0	28.0	(32.0)	(34.0)	25.0	29.0	18.0	24.0	32.0	20.0	207.0 273.0
31	13946 CAN	Cadboro Bay Sailing Association	Shannon Gallins	Eric Diller	(32.0)	30.0	30.0	20.0	28.0	23.0	29.0	(33.0)	30.0	21.0	211.0 276.0
32	14907 CAN	Alberta Sailing Association	Liz Brennan	Evan Mah	27.0	(43.0 OCS)	(33.0)	32.0	27.0	24.0	27.0	26.0	27.0	24.0	214.0 290.0
33	15034 USA	Arizona Yacht Club	Clay Poulson	Lukas Klier	30.0	26.0	(34.0)	31.0	30.0	(35.0)	32.0	27.0	29.0	25.0	230.0 299.0
34	14680 CAN	Royal Victoria Yacht Club	James Cox	Ged McLean	33.0	(43.0 OCS)	24.0	33.0	34.0	34.0	24.0	35.0	(43.0 DNF)	43.0 DNC	260.0 346.0
35	14872 GBR	Pentland Firth Yacht Club	Barbara Newson	Guy Newson	37.0	38.0	36.0	(41.0)	(41.0)	40.0	35.0	31.0	31.0	19.0	267.0 349.0
36	14678 CAN	Nepean Sailing Club	Philip Locker	Thomas Locker	34.0	31.0	(38.0)	35.0	38.0	37.0	34.0	32.0	33.0	(43.0 DNF)	274.0 355.0
37	11451 USA	Harbour Island	Chandler Owen	Jeremy Kennedy	35.0	35.0	37.0	40.0	35.0	30.0	36.0	34.0	(43.0 TLE)	(43.0 TLE)	282.0 368.0
38	14123 FRA	YCVL	Estébàn Hernandez	Mathias Schlick	(43.0 DNC)	32.0	35.0	36.0	40.0	33.0	(43.0 TLE)	43.0 TLE	43.0 DNC	43.0 DNC	305.0 391.0
39	14915 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Thibault de Servigny	John-Thomas Kelly	(43.0 DNS)	34.0	39.0	37.0	36.0	36.0	37.0	(43.0 TLE)	43.0 TLE	43.0 DNF	305.0 391.0
40	1504 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	Katherine Walker	Dylan Scott	36.0	37.0	40.0	39.0	39.0	39.0	33.0	(43.0 TLE)	(43.0 DNF)	43.0 DNF	306.0 392.0
41	14465 CAN	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	John McGuinness	François Fortier	38.0	36.0	41.0	38.0	37.0	38.0	38.0	(43.0 TLE)	(43.0 TLE)	43.0 DNF	309.0 395.0
42	12847 USA	Moraine Sailing Club	Fred Steward	Sarah Steward	(43.0 DNC)	(43.0 DNC)	43.0 DNF	43.0 DNC	43.0 DNC	43.0 DNC	43.0 DNC	43.0 DNC	43.0 DNC	43.0 DNC	344.0 430.0

Results can be found on-line at:
gnsracing.com/2019/Results/Fireball_Worlds_2019.htm

Scoring codes used

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