#fireball – The Irish Fireball Nationals fleet enjoyed champagne conditions today in completing another four races in their 9-race regatta writes Cormac Bradley.
Yet again wind conditions were better than forecast to the extent that many boats went out on medium settings in a breeze that probably got to top of Force 4 out of the east. With wind and tide fighting. each other there was another lumpy racecourse to enjoy.
Two Olympics and two Windward-Leewards were sailed and defending champions Noel Butler & Stephen (15061) pulled the irons out of the fire to go top of the leader board with. a 3pt margin on Kenny Rumball & David Moran (15058) who in turn has 3pts on Niall McGrotty & Neil Cramer (14938).
Butler & Oram finished the day with a 1, 1, 4, 1 and while they led races from start to finish they also had two races where, in the early stages they were well down the pecking order. However, their proven regatta pedigree was enhanced yet again today when they got out of bad situations to generate a single figure tally of points for the day.
The only race they didn't bag was won by one of the home club combinations, Simon McGrotty & Darach Dineen (14981). Their other results for the day sees them rise to 4th overall, just two points behind Dad Niall & Neil Cramer.
2nd placed Kenny Rumball & David Moran (15058) scored a 4, 5, 2, 4 today while McGrotty/Cramer in 3rd had a 3, 3, 6, 10 day.
Places 4 to 6 are separated by 7pts with the pecking order being; Conor Clancy & Jim Devlin 22pts (5th), and Gavin Doyle & Dave Sweeney 27pts, (6th).
Michael Ennis & Marie Barry (14854) are putting together a consistent series with places ranged from 6th to 9th, with one exception giving them a 1pt advantage over Louis Smyth & Cormac Bradley (15007) who are in 8th. The top ten is closed out by Louise McKenna & Hermine O'Keeffe (14691 & RStGYC) and Alan Henry & Simon Reveille (14645 & EDYC & SDC).
On a day when the ebbing tide was a constant across the race course, the swell and waves made for conditions that Fireballs were designed for. Upwind saw full on trapezing but off-wind was glorious. Staying out, sailing contrary to the tide, surfing off the waves was exhilarating.
In the Silver fleet the overall situation couldn't be tighter - Jon Evans & Aidan Caulfield (14748 & Sligo) are tied with Brian O'Neil & Ismail Inan (14595 & EDYC) on 65pts and 12th & 13th respectively.
Sunshine conditions prevailed yet again and the bodies will be in need of sustenance this evening.
1. Butler & Oram 8 2 3 1 4 1 1 = 12pts
2. Rumball & Moran 3 1 1 4 5 2 4 = 15pts
3. McGrotty & Cramer 1 3 2 3 3 6 10 = 18pts
4. McGrotty & Dineen 5 6 7 2 1 3 3 = 20pts
5. Clancy & Devlin 2 4 4 7 6 4 2 = 22pts
