#FIREBALL – Tom Gillard and Sam Brearey, GBR 15041, are the 2012 Fireball world Champions after the 2012 title fight went all the way down to the last race.
Race Officer Robin Olsen and his team had a challenging day on the water with initial winds that swung from 185 - 240º with a strength that varied from 10 – 18knots. However, they persevered to produce the last two races of the regatta.
Tom & Sam sailed what was to be their second discard when they finished 6th, behind their closest rivals, Robin Inns and Joel Coultas and a charging Brit pack of Wade/Saxton, Howarth/Townend, South Australians, Allison/Watson and Swiss Mermod/Moser.
This left the top two tied after the second discard kicked in, resulting in a final race duel that had everyone chewing their finger nails.
A black flag start, hitting a windward mark (GBR) and exchanges of the lead throughout the race, with significant leads being wiped out to be replaced with boat-length advantages saw Gillard & Brearey hold on to win by mere boat-lengths at the finish to take the title. The margin of victory, a single point, the difference between 1st and 2nd in the final race!
Gillard and Brearey will now hold the title until September 2013 when the Worlds return to Europe and Slovenia!
|
Fireball Worlds 2012; Mandurah Western Australia. Top Ten Overall & Selected Others. Ten races sailed & two discards. |
||||||||||||
|
1 |
Gillard & Brearey (GBR) |
1 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
13pts |
|
2 |
Inns & Coultas (AUS) |
5 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
14pts |
|
3 |
Allison & Watson(AUS) |
8 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
21 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
35pts |
|
4 |
Wade & Saxton (GBR) |
3 |
6 |
11 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
38pts |
|
5 |
Howarth & Townend |
6 |
9 |
12 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
3 |
16 |
3 |
3 |
39pts |
|
6 |
Heywood & Littledike (AUS) |
7 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
17 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
14 |
10 |
49pts |
|
7 |
Lewis & Byne (GBR) |
12 |
13 |
9 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
9 |
14 |
50pts |
|
8 |
Gordon & Fletcher (AUS) |
2 |
8 |
13 |
13 |
7 |
13 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
62pts |
|
9 |
Kubovy & Winkler (CZE) |
14 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
64pts |
|
10 |
Schulz & Bowley (AUS) |
9 |
11 |
8 |
18 |
13 |
11 |
5 |
3 |
13 |
9 |
69pts |
|
12 |
Goacher & Thorne (GBR) |
11 |
16 |
7 |
65 |
16 |
7 |
13 |
13 |
8 |
12 |
87pts |
|
13 |
Scott & Scott (GBR) |
15 |
36 |
5 |
8 |
14 |
9 |
16 |
19 |
10 |
13 |
90pts |
|
17 |
Jospe & Egli (CAN) |
22 |
23 |
16 |
16 |
12 |
12 |
36 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
122pts |
|
18 |
McFarlane & Payne (AUS) |
13 |
15 |
23 |
12 |
25 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
127pts |
|
25 |
Moser & Nouel (SUI/FRA) |
17 |
20 |
27 |
22 |
29 |
15 |
39 |
31 |
65 |
65 |
196pts |
Tom Gillard came to initial international prominence at the 2009 Europeans and Worlds in La Rochelle when he helmed for our own Francis Rowan and won a race in each of the weeks, finishing third overall in the Europeans. Sam Brearey first came to our notice when he sailed with Tim Rush in the Nationals in Tralee (circa 2005/6). They teamed up together to win the 2010 Europeans in the Czech Republic and were beaten to the overall title in Sligo on the tenth race in June last year. They now enjoy a 21 month reign before their title is up for grabs!
Ben Schulz’ 10th overall, with Phillip Bowley, is extremely commendable considering the work he put into organizing the event!
