Nine Fireballs took part in specialist coaching sessions at DMYC this weekend led by former Olympic sailor Phil Lawton. The event, supported by Irish Sailing, was geared towards optimizing crew work in a fast two-hander dinghy. Phil spent a solid year with Ger Owens practising and perfecting their techniques in the 470 for the Beijing Olympics so it was a real bonus for the Fireball class to pick his brains. Amongst the regular Fireballers were some younger teams relatively new to Fireballs including Harry Thompson with Jack McDowell as helm, Ben Graf and Alexander Farrell from Lough Ree, and young Clodagh Fischer sailing with her father Glen. The opening message to the sailors was simple - there are two crews in a two- handed boat, what each does is very different but they have the same goal. While the emphasis throughout the sessions was on the (front!) crew's role the importance of communications and mutual support was emphasised throughout. This philosophy underlined Phil’s approach through the many exercise sessions.

When a spinnaker drop is sticky for example the helm should be looking for the source of the problem at the back of the boat, which is frequently the location, rather than waiting for the crew to find the problem alone. And similarly, if at the leeward mark the kite drop is slow the helm should steer hard around the mark to get up on the new course, albeit with jib flapping and spinnaker tubed, rather than give distance away downwind. Throughout the many exercises, short windward leeward courses and rapid triangles the emphasis was on controlled aggression, smooth movements designed to keep the boat flat and driving. Smooth but firm crew movements were emphasised throughout. Phil suggested that the crew(s) actually write out each process on paper (starts, beats, reaches, runs, hoists, drops, mark rounding etc). When the process is fully recorded, assign tasks to each person in the boat. Analyse each action afterwards and see what are the problem areas, how can these be sorted out. Ask if tasks need reassignment - is one person overloaded, consider what happens to these processes in each of the different wind strengths – light, medium, heavy.

The exercises were fast and furious, designed to put teams under pressure and show up any deficiencies in technique or coordination. For example, at one point the course was changed without warning so that a gybe set was required at the top mark. The tiny start line had a strong starboard bias forcing sailors to compete for any available room and oxygen at that side. And to add further pressure on Saturday afternoon the wind kept shifting, shifting, shifting, keeping everyone on their toes. Courses set were deliberately set too short which made forced each leg and required co-ordinated action between crews if the boat was to successfully negotiate the course. During each 5 minute ‘race’ the emphasis was more on technique practice than on winners/losers although the fleet didn’t appreciate that too much and fought tooth and nail to be 1st over the line each time with several ‘liberal’ interpretations of the starting gun.

Amongst the tips from Phil were to break down and list all the duties/actions of crew and helm around the race course. Discuss and work out a breakdown of tasks, i.e. who does what and when and make this the standard routine. This is especially useful for spinnaker work; preparation, hoists, sets, gybes, drops. When it comes to spinnaker drops the crew should use the full height of their body and arms to get the kite down in a couple of pulls rather than “squirrelling”. Build body or muscle memory for these and other set pieces. Another exercise was to talk continually between each other about what you are doing and are about to do. The take-away suggestion was to get out on the water as a single boat and copy the practice sessions which we undertook at the weekend i.e. ultra-short mark rounding with either 1 or 2 buoys or other useful marks in the water at the time. This will build muscle memory. Without muscle memory established for each action, it is not possible to work on boat speed. Boat speed only comes after all the tasks required to sail the boat are innate.

Overall, this event was a great success and sets the stage nicely for the Fireball National Championships at the DMYC on the 7th, 8th and 9th of August. Competitors are invited to enter online now at dmyc.ie

Four Fireballs raced in the third of the Tuesday DBSC series in Dun Laoghaire last night.

Once again the harbour was the setting due to Covid19 restrictions on rescue personnel.

Any fears that the enclosed waters may have resulted in dull racing were blown away by the weather conditions. What initially looked like a quiet night proved to be anything but with 11 knot westerly winds gusting up to 20 knots and beyond during the two windward-leeward races. For the Fireballs, starting alongside the mixed PY fleet which included a sprinkling of Aeros, Finns and IDRA 14s it was an effective 5 lap burn around the harbour with a downwind finish.

For both races, the committee led by Suzanne McGarry set a slight pin end bias though with big wind shifts that could change as the clock counted down. Frank Miller sailing with Neil Cramer chose the pin with Owen Sinnott and Grattan Donnelly starting nearby while Cariosa Power/Marie Barry and Peter ter Horst sailing Nick Miller's boat started near the committee boat. Sinnott/Donnelly found very good speed and height to edge just ahead of Miller/Cramer at the weather mark. The latter had a marginally faster hoist and harassed the leaders down the run but despite a minor gybing match Sinnott/Donnelly led around the leeward. On the beat, with steadily increasing winds, Miller/Cramer got into the lead, a position they held to the finish, albeit with Sinnott/Donnelly hot on their heels, and at times Power/Barry chasing that pair down.

For race two the winds increased a notch but so efficiently did the race team turn things around that the Fireballers had to sail with their original lighter settings. This made for another hectic spin around the harbour, led by Miller/Cramer with several near capsizes for the Fireballs and baths for some of the surrounding Lasers. Power/Barry and Peter ter Horst both sat this one out and Miller/Cramer prevailed again, with Sinnott/Donnelly not far behind.

Once again there was a huge Laser fleet of 49 boats with various rigs, adding to the challenge of getting around the course cleanly. With two Tuesday nights of successful racing so far under the belt this curtailed season is proving a lot more interesting than many imagined it could.

Four Fireballs made it to the start line of the long-awaited first Tuesday DBSC races since lockdown. The forecast was not promising much more than 2 knots but actually sailors were greeted with a very decent force 2-3 southerly. On this auspicious occasion, Dun Laoghaire Harbour was dominated by a huge fleet of Lasers, unsurprisingly given that it appeared for many weeks that singlehanded boats might be the only dinghies allowed to race this season.

The single-handers also included at least four Aeros, two of which were sailed by Fireball National Champions Noel Butler and Stephen Oram. So it was that the Fireballs got away in the first PY start in a five-lap windward-leeward race - Frank Miller with crew Grattan Donnelly got their bow in front about 2/3 the way down the pin favoured line and maintained their lead over the course, finishing well ahead of Cariosa Power/Marie Barry and Owen Sinnott/Andrea, with Nick Miller/Paul Ter Horst a little further behind in their newly acquired ship. While racing the windward-leeward course was straightforward enough the interventions around the course of more than 30 Lasers added a layer of excitement to proceedings.

Race two got underway with a 2 lap challenge in slightly lighter air which had swung between ten and twenty degrees further south. Again the pin was slightly favoured but this time Power/Barry timed a perfect pin start with Miller/Donnelly just to windward. In the event Miller/Donnelly edged out in front with marginally better speed and height. Both tacked at the port layline with Miller/Donnelly managing to hold off the challengers to round in the lead. While Power/Barry closed the gap on several occasions they never quite threatened the leaders who took the gun again. In third were Sinnott/Andrea while Nick Miller /Ter Horst took a break.

All in all a terrific night's sailing with solid race management led by Suzanne McGarry and her team.

Results are here

In response to the global Coronavirus outbreak the Irish Fireball Association, Howth Yacht Club and Fireball International have been carefully evaluating plans for the Gul International sponsored Fireball Worlds in Howth in August 2020 and in a statement issued this evening, the organisers say "Given the severity of the current crisis and ongoing uncertainty around travel, social distancing, club functionality, and the impossibility of getting any fix on the timing of a return to normality we must, with great regret, now cancel our event in August".

The organisers say they will be engaging together and liaising with Fireball fleets worldwide to see if suitable dates can be found in 2021 or further into the future to welcome Fireballers to Ireland for a World Championships.

For those who have already registered and paid HYC will refund the entry fee on the next working day.

The Fireball class says it " would like to express our thanks to the many volunteers who have been working away in the background and most especially to those who have offered sponsorship and financial support, in particular Gull International, Fingal County Council, the Irish Sports Council, Irish Sailing and Irish Ferries".

The statement concludes: "we make this announcement with great regret but in the hope and expectation that we will hoist sails and raise a glass together in healthier and happier times in the not too distant future".

Fireball sailors are passionate about their boats to the point of not being able to "let go" when due to work, family or life distractions they park their dinghy boots. This passion is both a blessing and a curse for the class, resulting in a slew of competitive boats parked in garages, sheds and gardens around the country. The underlying reason for holding onto Fireballs is that the sailor believes in their heart of hearts that they will someday return to the fray.

Meanwhile, the boats sitting in the garages and gardens of Ireland depreciate in value while remaining unavailable to young sailors looking for good affordable competitive boats to join in the fun.

"Boats sitting in the garages and gardens of Ireland depreciate in value while remaining unavailable to young sailors"

The forthcoming #Howth2020 World Championships next August provides the perfect opportunity to free the "captive" boats into the hands of the next generation of sailors. For those holding dormant boats it is the watershed moment to examine their ability to return to competitive racing. It is time also to be realistic about the value of their boat, perhaps sitting idle for a number of years. While the hull, spars and sails are likely to be in perfect condition a refresh of cordage, control lines and possibly some blocks and cleats may be in order. It's a perfect time to sell or charter with local and international demand for boats for the #Howth2020 Worlds next August.

For those planning to travel from Australia, South Africa, Canada, USA and further afield it will be more cost-effective to charter a boat than to transport it by container to Ireland. By releasing dormant boats now owners will be doing themselves and the class a favour.

For information on how to sell or charter out your Fireball contact the class hon sec at [email protected]

Thirteen Fireballs gathered at Killaloe SC for the Fireball Munster Championships at the weekend. Initial indications were for a very wet and windy weekend but happily the fleet was rewarded with excellent sailing conditions on both days. While extremely wet most of the rain fell during the evenings and local hostel accommodation meant that nobody got too wet over the weekend. There was the small issue of a rugby match on the Saturday morning and commodore Sue Concannon hosted the entire fleet to breakfast at her home to watch the game.

Download results below

Screams and moans permeated the stunning landscape overlooking the lake. Once racing got underway Noel Butler and Stephen Oram dominated proceedings with three race wins from four races.

The top Fireballer pair didn't have things entirely their own way however and frequently had to fight their way to the front in the shifty conditions, with others often making it to the top mark ahead. Winds were decent with full trapezing unwind but with big variations in pressure and direction over the course. On day one the right side of the course was frequently paying dividends with better pressure and a useful wind bend. Those challenging the leaders were mainly the young Thompson brothers Daniel and Harry who continue to improve their pace, Frank Miller and Ed Butler recently returned from the Canadian Worlds, Josh Porter with new crew Cara McDowell, and Louise McKenna with Hermine O'Keeffe in their new boat who were always fast and consistent. Miller and Butler seemed to find good speed and often managed to judge the shifts and pressure zones well to stay near the front.

The pair put in a good start in race four, port tacked the fleet and took the gun. An unfortunate capsize in race three gave them an early discard, an over-reaction to a last-minute mark challenge attempt by the Thompsons. Canny veterans Neil Colin and Margaret Casey didn't find their usual pace at the event, despite a very good result in the recent FF15 Worlds, this being their first Fireball outing since the DMYC Frostbites. By close of business on day one saw Butler/Oram leading, the young Thompsons in a solid 2nd position overall with three seconds and a fourth, and Miller/Butler in third.

Saturday night was busy socially with grazing centred around superb sourdough bread and spreads at the hostel thanks to sponsorship from the Brezel Bakery whose ceo William Despard was sailing with his brother Philip in the event.

The agm took place immediately after snacking and then racers repaired to the local Pipers hostelry for an excellent dinner. Post dinner entertainment and drinks continued at the hostel well past midnight. Day two dawned with sodden conditions which happily dried up in time for racing. While winds were lighter North-Westerly they were a little more consistent and steadier than day one. Miller and Butler put their stamp on race five and took another gun, leaving overall places somewhat open. They led to the charge to the first mark in the final race also but were overtaken on the first reach when the lighter Thompsons made the best of a following gust to break through.

The young pair held onto their lead, extending it in the clear air and now somewhat lighter conditions. Noel Butler with Stephen Oram continued snapping at the heels of Miller/Butler and finally got through them on a shift near the top mark. The Thompsons took the final gun of the day, consolidating their second place overall and beating Miller/Butler into third position overall by three points. Butler/Oram won the event on seven points with three race wins and three second places before discards. The silver fleet was won by Owen Sinnott, a veteran Fireballer returning to the fray in the run up to the #Howth2020 Worlds, with SID sailor Paul Ter Horst on the wire. Second in silver were Dave Coleman and Glen Fischer. Local top dogs Jim Ryan and David Tanner won #Howth2020 hats as best local team and the classic trophy was won by Brian Keane with Ivan Coughlan.

PRO was Geoff O’Donoghue who with his team of volunteers ran everything smoothly with exemplary race turnarounds. At the AGM much talk surrounded the forthcoming World Championships at Howth YC in August 2020. With the upcoming worlds there is much excitement and signs of the fleet growing again – a combination of young sailors and veterans re-joining the fray.

One issue discussed was the shortage of boats for sale or for charter. The fleet is blessed and cursed with devotees who have “temporarily” hung up their dinghy boots but held onto their boats. Now is the time to see these boats put back into action and the fleet have plans to mobilise the many excellent “dormant” boats around the country. Anyone wishing to “free a Fireball” for sale, charter or loan should contact class secretary Frank Miller at [email protected]. Next business for the fleet is the extremely popular DMYC Frostbite series which kicks off on the first Sunday in November. The class expects to grow last year’s entry of eleven boats in the fast and furious winter series – all are welcome. To use the #Howth2020 motto, see you there…

Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff of the UK are the new Fireball World Champions after 10 races in Pointe Claire YC Montreal.

Racing took place on Lac St-Louis over 5 days with a wide variety of conditions ranging from 4 knots to 27. The early days of the event were especially tricky and shifty favouring Swiss team of Claude Mermod and Ruedi Moser who led for the first part of the event. Right up there at the top all the time were Aussie husband and wife team of Heather MacFarlane and Chris Payne. The pair sailed extremely consistently over the 5 days in all conditions. They led the event for 2 days and were ultimately were rewarded with a well deserved 2nd place.

Third overall were French team Ludovic Collin and Remy Thuillier who were extremely fast in their composite boat built using the Duvoisin mould. Dobson/Wagstaff were probably favourites from the start of the event but it was only in the final windier 2 days of sailing that they really dominated, ultimately leading the Aussies by 4 points. In the penultimate race the UK pair lost part of their rudder but still managed a 2nd place. They sailed ashore and returned in time for the final race with a new rudder. In the last race the wind got up to about 27/28 knots and the duo admitted considering tacking around the gybe mark such were the conditions. Ultimately dignity dictated a gybe which they managed perfectly to go on to win the race.

Interestingly three of the top seven helms in the Worlds 2019 were women and there is now talk of scrapping the "Ladies" prizes as the myth of the class being a male preserve has been well and truly put to rest.

Irish representatives Frank Miller (right) and Ed Butler

Irish representatives at the event Frank Miller and Ed Butler (DMYC/RSTGYC) finished 26th overall in the 42 boat fleet.  Struggling somewhat on the light and choppy days the pair lifted their game when the breeze was up, scoring an 11th in the final race and scoring a 2nd in a breezy race during the prequel North American Championships. Overall the event was a massive success with solid race management in tricky conditions and superb facilities and hospitality ashore. The apres-sail atmosphere was such that the fleet partied together ashore in the club for the entire 10 days. Next August the festivities move the Howth Yacht Club and a presentation to promote #Howth2020 was made in Montreal supported by Irish IRO David Lovegrove and HYC organisers Judith and Ian Malcolm.

Suffice to say there is huge International interest in coming to Howth for what promises to be a highlight of next year's racing calendar. With the local class growing again and new blood entering the fray there is demand at home and abroad for competitive boats to buy, borrow or charter. This winter's DMYC Frostbites promises to be a lively and busy testing ground for competitors getting regular racing practice and maintaining match fitness for Howth2020. Before that Fireballs gather in Killaloe SC for their final regional event on September 28th/29th. To use the #Howth2020 motto - See You There...

Five hours behind us time-wise, the forty-two crews at the 2019 Fireball World Championships hosted by Pointe Claire Yacht Club are still sleeping after a lay-day and what has been a light-wind regatta thus far writes Cormac Bradley.

Facebook reports suggest that Pointe Claire have been excellent hosts, but Mother Nature has been less generous in bestowing wind on the regatta, though by all accounts that is about to change for the last two days of the event, today, Thursday and tomorrow.

The event has attracted a good international attendance with American, Australian, Belgian, British, Czech Republic, French, Irish (1), South African and Swiss visitors as well as a host of Canadians.

Race wins have been shared equally between Heather McFarlane & Chris Payne (AUS 15152) [Race 4 & 6], Ian Dobson & Richard Wagstaff (GBR 15161) [Race 1 & 5] and the Swiss combination of Claude Mermod & Ruedi Moser (SUI 14799) [Race 2 & 3].

The nett effect of these race wins and additional scores is that the Aussies lead the regatta with six races completed by a single point from the Brits with the Swiss a further five points adrift. However, in terms of international détente, the United Nations would be delighted to see a single boat from each of five different countries occupying the top spots in the regatta as France occupied fourth place with Ludovic Collin & Remy Theuillier (FRA 14917), counting two seconds as their best scores, and the Czech Republic taking fifth overall, in the form of Martin Kubovy & Roman Rocek (CZE 15019) with best race finishes of third and fourth and a clatter of seventh places.

Our own Frank Miller and Ed Butler are not finding the light stuff to their liking and a BFD in the first race was not an ideal start. However, they are showing (slightly unwelcome) consistency as their finishes are in a tight range of three places, 27th to 29th. They will enjoy the forecasted stronger breezes of the last two days.

Other well-known Fireball characters at the regatta are; International FI Commodore, Christina Haerdi (SUI 14859) sitting in 8th overall, Derian and Andy Scott (GBR 14941) in 7th, Debbie Kirkby (CAN14766) in 12th, Ben Schulz (AUS 15113) in 15th “Monsieur Cantona” (FRA 14959) in 16th and hosts Joe Jospe and Tom Egli (CAN 15113) in 17th. Stronger winds over the last two days will suit many of these individuals and their respective crews.

Noel Butler and Stephen Oram (NYC) have retained their Fireball National Champions title after nine races at Howth Yacht Club.

The pair scored seven first places discarding a third and a fourth to take the title in style in a three-day event which featured a good variety of sailing conditions. The event started with light and patchy winds on Friday progressing to decent if shifty breezes on Saturday and to full on wind by Sunday.

Second place was won by Niall McGrotty and Neil Cramer (SSC) who sailed consistently well and counted a string of second and third places in their scores to consolidate their second overall.

Noel Butler and Stephen Oram (NYC) Photo: Frank Miller

Third were the up and coming youth team brothers Daniel and Harry Thompson from Wexford who were noticeably fast on the water. Just one point behind veteran Mick Creighton with crew Hermine O’Keeffe showed he hadn’t forgotten any tricks. Winners of the silver fleet prize were Cariosa Power and Marie Barry and the Classic Boat Trophy was taken home by Nick Miller and Cearball Daly of SID in the class loan boat.

Howth Vice Commodore Paddy Judge (left) with Niall McGrotty (right) and Neil Cramer (SSC) Photo: Frank Miller

The theme of youth and experience was a feature of the event, with veterans and new teams both jumping into the fray in the run up to the #Howth2020 World Championships in August next year. Thus we had Robin Nash (15) helming with her father Glen on the wire, the youthful Thompsons (17 and 14 respectively), and young bloods Josh Porter and helm Conor Twohig from Newtownards.

Daniel and Harry Thompson from Wexford

Besides Mick Creighton Eddie Ferris made a welcome return to action with another veteran Francis Rowan on the wire.

Also returning was Owen Sinnott with Paul Horst crewing.

International Race Officer for next year’s Worlds David Lovegrove agreed to take on PRO duties for this Nationals and he and his team ran things like clockwork, seamlessly getting in three races on a difficult and patchy first day and moving marks quickly and efficiently to keep courses square throughout the weekend. David is actually a veteran Fireballer himself and his name crops up on several key trophies including the National Championships of 1967.

Friday’s painful memories of patchy shifty airs were wiped away with perfect conditions on Saturday in breezes between 10 and 18 knots and Sunday presented the most exciting conditions with full-on 20-knot breezes at times and very exciting planing conditions both upwind and down. Another feature of the event was a coaching day on Saturday run by Barry McCartin. After helping people with optimum rig set up for the conditions Barry videoed the racing, gave tips between races and gave a debrief after racing which provided much food for thought for the Irish teams competing in these same waters for next year’s Worlds.

Among the challenges on the Saturday was judging which side to take on the beat, how far to go towards shore to pick up sometimes better offshore winds and the odd wind bend and even a slightly hooked tide in the sweep of the bay.

Although everyone had their ups and downs there was no disputing Noel and Stephen’s dominance over the nine races. With a little more speed and height on the beats and carving high angles down the runs the pair remained in control for most races with just the odd breakthrough by Niall and Neil and Mick and Hermine snatching the top spots.

There were signs however that the young pairings, in particular, were improving rapidly and may present a challenge by the time the Worlds land in Howth next year. After an exciting and brilliantly run event it’s championships everyone is relishing.

With a Worlds coming up in Montreal Canada in August 2019 and Ireland hosting the Worlds in August 2020 in Howth, as part of their 125th Anniversary celebrations, the Irish Fireball Family had their first outing of the regatta season with a trip to Newtownards on the Ards peninsula, at the top end of Strangford Lough.

We last visited the venue in 2006 and since then the club has had a major extension added on to give them a substantial two-storey building with an upstairs bar and view from Scrabo Tower to the right all the way to the Mournes and the lower reaches of Strangford Lough on the left. At ground floor, there is a substantial function room, an office, two kitchens and roomy changing rooms. And in a nod to sustainability, they have solar panels on the roof to provide hot water with excess electricity sold off to the grid! Well, sustainability is in vogue! In 2006, we were blown out with only one race on the Saturday and five on the Sunday – an abiding memory!

Fireball sailing on the Ards Peninsula – Butler/Inan (red spinnaker) and McGrotty/Cramer (blue spinnaker)

A small number of Fireballers made the trip up on the Friday night and were rewarded with a relaxed start to the Saturday morning. The balance of the nine-boat fleet arrived on the Saturday. The host club provided two boats in Conor Twohig (Sutton) and regatta organiser Josh Porter (14695) and Michael Cox and John McArthur (14721). This is a former Clontarf boat campaigned by the Clarke brothers that has been un-sailed in N Ireland for a few years.

Noel Butler, “fresh” from the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race teamed up with well-known globetrotter Ismail Inan in 15061, and other Dun Laoghaire Fireballs were Frank Miller & Ed Butler (14990), Louise McKenna & Grattan Donnelly, in Louise’s new boat 15016 and Glen Fisher & 16-year old daughter Clodagh (14691). From Skerries we had Niall McGrotty & Neil Cramer (14938), from Wexford we had the Thompson Brothers, Daniel & Harry in Louis Smyth’s former boat, re-numbered as 15156, having made their UK Fireball Nationals debut in Torquay a few weeks previously, finishing 27th in a 42-boat fleet. And all the way from Sligo, on the west coast we had Jon Evans, crewed by Dublin’s Aidan Caulfield in 14748. Another debut was made with former Class Chairman, Cormac Bradley, being invited to be the Race Officer – his first regatta in Ireland outside Dun Laoghaire Harbour and the 2018/19 DMYC-hosted Frostbites.

The forecast for the weekend had changed throughout the days preceding the regatta and by Saturday morning the forecast was for a maximum of 13 knots out of a variety of southerly directions.

Race 1 started in a light breeze from the SE that allowed the weather mark to be what is was designated to be – a weather mark. Even the gybe mark got to play its role! But after the leading boat went around the gybe mark, the wind went skewwhiff with the chasing boats beating to the gybe mark and the lead boat reaching under spinnaker back towards the gybe mark. Shortly thereafter, the wind disappeared, and three signals were sounded to abandon the race.

Harry (L) and Daniel (R) Thompson – 2nd place

Three Olympic course races were then sailed in a breeze that developed from the East after a short interlude to let it establish itself. The local knowledge was that the wind would be reasonably stable direction-wise and so it proved. In the middle race the strength got up to about 16/17 knots but the first and third races were sailed in slightly more benign conditions. Race wins were shared between McGrotty/Cramer (R1), Butler/Inan (R2) and the Thompson brothers (R3). A general recall was required in the second race to get the fleet away and in the first race the Thompson brothers were very close to being OCS. In the last race of the day Miller/Butler had a pearl of a port-tack start on the pin to steal a march on the whole fleet. Regrettably, they were also a significant distance over the line at the start.

Neil Cramer (L) & Niall McGrotty (R) – 3rd Place

On Saturday evening there was a two-way tie at the top of the fleet between Butler/Inan (3,1,3) and the Thompsons (2,4,1). And in second place (or third) there was another tie between McGrotty/Cramer (1,3,8) and McKenna/Donnelly (4,6,2). McGrotty’s eighth was due to an errant spinnaker halyard that would allow the spinnaker to go fully up or be brought down.

Josh Porter (L) & Conor Twohig (R) – Silver Fleet Winners

Newtownards provided supper and entertainment for all on Saturday night with a meal in the downstairs function room that had a main course that catered for all tastes, meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans, followed by apple pie and ice-cream. Music after dinner was provided by two of the NSC Fireballers – Josh and Michael – with a wide repertoire of songs.

On Sunday morning we were greeted with sunshine and a southerly breeze that started at about 6 knots and built to a high of 17knots during the racing. Again, the local knowledge was that this was a direction that could be relied on!

A sounding of the fleet suggested that windward/leeward courses would be acceptable, and the first two races of the day were of that type. The first was too short, prompting the RO to extend the beat by a further 150 meters. Despite the modest size of the fleet, there was competition for places at the front and while Butler/Inan swept the board in terms of finishing positions, they had to come from behind on at least two of those occasions to take the gun. The Thompson brothers had a good day with a 2,3, 7 and the fresher breeze also suited Miller & Butler who scored a 5,2,3. Indeed they led one of the races for a period, before they were passed out by Butler & Inan. Twohig & Porter also improved from the first day, ultimately being rewarded with a second place in the last race. The last race was led initially (and convincingly) by the Thompson brothers until spinnaker complications relegated them to a seventh place.

While Butler & Inan’s winning margin was 5 points, Noel was quick to point out in his acceptance speech that the Thompsons were a lot closer to him that the points suggested and that it took him until the fifth race to secure his win. He also commended 16-year old Clodagh for her efforts over the weekend – a first time session in the Fireball with her father on the trapeze. We were all agreed that she had fared exceptionally well.

It was great to be back in Newtownards Sailing Club where we enjoyed fantastic hospitality and a warm welcome. We would strongly recommend it to other classes.

Our next event is the Nationals in Howth – a precursor to the Worlds at the same venue next year! See you there 19 – 21 July.