#fireball – Tonight's Tuesday DBSC dinghy race presented challenges for everyone, the Race Committee had very fickle winds to contend with as did the competitors. The consequence was a very small course (physically) and only two laps of the triangular course - triangle and sausage!
The race was dictated at the start and the short opening beat. A prompt start, which was beyond some of us, was critical. Four of the six-boat Fireball fleet rounded the first weather mark in quick succession with Frank Miller & Grattan Donnelly (14713) leading followed by Stephen Campion & Stephen Oram (15061), Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keeffe (14691) and Mary Chambers & Brenda McGuire (14856). By the gybe mark the two Stephens had gone into the lead. And by the leeward mark the two all lady crews had also overtaken Miller & Donnelly.
The remainder of the race was a procession. Like Formula 1 racing's attitude to pit stops, 1 or 2, so the approach to the second beat dictated the number of tacks taken - one if you sailed all the way on port to the starboard layline, three if you went out the other side of the beat. Exciting stuff!
No further place changes can be reported though the two all lady crews had an interesting luffing match just before the 2nd leeward mark.
1 Stephen Campion & Stephen Oram 15061 2 Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keeffe 14691
3 Mary Chambers & Brenda McGuire 14856.
Footnote to last week's report, only 3 Fireballs got a finish, the rest of us were timed out!!
