#fireball – A modest fleet of Fireball got the 2014 Fireball Pre-Worlds under way today at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, Pattaya, Thailand. A skipper's briefing at 10:30 local time initiated the day's activities with a first race scheduled for 13:00.
Ben Schulz reports that conditions were very tricky today with the breeze starting in the NW but scheduled to swing to the SW at some stage but little in the way of accurate predictions as to when this would happen. The fleet launched in approximately 8 knots of breeze, a short chop and a strong ebbing tide.
When proceedings did get underway, after a short postponement, the left side appeared to be the better side until about halfway up the course when the pressure dropped and those on the opposite side of the course moved ahead. However, the wind re-established itself on the left hand side allowing the fleet to re-converge.
"Right-siders" Nathan Batchelor and Sam Pascoe (GBR 15087) led at the first mark and were followed by the "more senior (not veteran)" combination of Heather McFarlane & Chris Payne (Aus 15048) who came in from the left. These two held their positions for the remainder of the race.
Veronica and Ben Falat (GBR 15092) were third but fell behind to Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey (GBR 15107) who had made their way through the fleet by some very clever shift selection. Greg Allinson & Allen Blenkle (AUS 15032) closed out the top five in Race 1.
The second race was delayed waiting for the SW breeze to establish itself which gave Mike Rogers (AUS) a difficult time as Race Officer. Six General Recalls and four line changes later the fleet managed to get away.
This time the right hand side paid and the Swiss combination of Christina Haerdi-Landerer & Cedric Landerer (SUI 14859) came out on top at the first mark followed by McFarlane and Payne and the Falats. The Aussies won a tight struggle at the front of the fleet to take the win followed home by the Falats and the combination of Ben Schulz and Doug Sheppard (AUS 15062). The Swiss pair held onto a top five place by taking fourth, with FI Commodore Joe Jospe and Technical Officer FI Tom Egli (CAN 15024) closing out the top five.
This left the overall situation as this;
2014 Fireball Pre-Worlds, RVYC, Pattaya, Thailand R1 R2 Pts
1 Heather McFarlane & Chris Payne AUS 15048 2 1 3
2 Veronica & Ben Falat GBR 15092 4 2 6
3 Ben Schulz & Doug Sheppard AUS 15062 6 3 9
4 Joe Jospe & Tom Egli CAN 15024 10 5 15
5 Bryan & William Sargeant GBR 14887 8 7 15
Tonight's post-mortem will probably dwell on the 40º windshift to the left in the second lap of the first race that prompted a change of course and a number of positional changes in the middle of the fleet. However, the consensus is that Mike Rogers is to be applauded for his efforts to keep the racing fair.
Heather McFarlane was seen to be enjoying the fruits of her first day's efforts with a celebratory drink, while the Falats must also be pleased with their first day's work. Ben Schulz will also be very pleased with a third spot on the log consiuidering he and his crew raced for the first time together today.
Comments from the fleet:
Ben Schulz (AUS 15062): Not a bad day! Looked good in the first one but got dumped in the second to finish 6th. Light and shifty in the first race but better in the second! Forecast for tomorrow is better.
Chris Payne (AUS 15048): Thinking it is best to peak too early than not to peak at all :-).
Cormac Bradley
(From Ben Schulz and comments from Facebook.)
