Consistency is key

The Fireball European Championship took place in trick conditions off Brittany

99 Fireballs took part in the 2006 Fireball European Championships. Racing was held in challenging conditions off the North Brittany coast. The First race was won by Andy Smith and Jonny Mildred (GBR) who were the only boat in the championship to score top ten positions in every race. After a disappointing start to the regatta Tomas Musil and Pavel Winkler (CZE) also managed some consistency over the week scoring a first and second in Tuesdays windier conditions. This Consistency was the key to doing well at Perros but was often hard to find, as tides turned during the races and the wind was effected by the surrounding land masses. With boats in the top ten counting low teens places after five races this was to be a high scoring and competitive regatta.

After light winds on Sunday, breezier conditions arrived for Monday and Tuesday which was to the liking of both Musil and Smith, as well as Matt Mee and Simon Potts (GBR) who took two race wins.The "soiree d'equipages" on Tuesday evening thus arrived with three full days of racing completed before Wednesdays lay day. Plenty of cocktails, wine, paella, cheese and dessert courses led to a fantastic evening for the competitors, their families and guests. A traditional Breton live band provided entertainment and dancing into the early hours of the layday. The dinner was proceeded by a presentation by Fireball International Commodore Francois Schluchter, about 2007's Grand National at Riva on Lake Garda and Worlds at Lake Silvaplana.

The wind on Thursday only materialised enough for one race which was won convincingly by the Swiss pairing of Adrian Huber and Brigitte Mauchle from Will Moody and Bryan Byrne (IRL) . Thursday night was Belgian night, with free Belgian Beer and a slide show on the 2008 European Championship to be held at Nieuwpoort.

Fridays wind was just as fickle with the first attempt at a race being abandoned and then re sailed in building breeze. Eva Skorepora and Viktor Tkadlec (CZE) lead at the windward mark but were overhauled by Vince Horey and Andy Thompson (GBR) to went on to take the win.

The final race was sailed in ten Knots of breeze with Penny and Ian Gibbs (GBR) establishing a convincing lead at the end of the first lap which they held to the finish.

Overall, Smith and Mildred put together a most impressive series to take the Championship. Smith's second Europeans title after winning in 2003 in the Shetland Isles.

Results:

Pos	Helm	Crew	Nationality	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Tot	Net
1	SMITH�Andy	MILDRED�Jonny�	GBR	1	4	1	-6	3	2	4	-6	6	33	21
2	MUSIL�Tomas	WINKLER�Pavel�	CZE	-45	8	4	2	2	1	3	-23	18	106	38
3	WADE�Dave	YORK�Antony�	GBR	-22	2	-17	4	6	5	6	13	2	77	38
4	EDWARDS�David	TIPTON�Guy�	GBR	2	7	-11	3	5	10	11	-12	3	64	41
5	MEE�Matt	POTTS�Simon�	GBR	-42	6	6	1	1	3	12	-22	13	106	42
6	ALLEAUME�Ludovic	NOUEL�Jean�francois�	FRA	11	-23	2	-12	10	7	5	7	7	84	49
7	GIBBS�Penny	GIBBS�Ian�	GBR	-38	3	-16	13	8	6	16	4	1	105	51
8	HOREY�Vince	THOMSON�Andy�	GBR	3	12	-18	9	7	(100B)	9	1	16	175	57
9	ESTAUGH�Richard	GARDNER�Rob�	GBR	6	1	(100B)	15	4	16	10	17	-25	194	69
10	HUBER�Adrian	MAUCHLE�Brigitte�	SUI	4	13	(100B)	17	-34	24	1	8	8	209	75
11	RUSH�Tim	ELVER�Pete�	FRA	5	-34	-24	22	11	8	13	5	22	144	86
12	BURGE�Matt	WAGSTAFF�Richard�	GBR	-35	11	21	5	16	4	(100B)	19	19	230	95
13	HEMMINGS�Angus	CHESNEY�Steve�	GBR	9	-26	13	24	14	22	-28	3	17	156	102
14	HOPE�Kevin	THORNE�Russel�	GBR	10	10	9	26	9	(100B)	19	21	-40	244	104
15	SKOREPOVA�Eva	TKADLEC�Viktor�	CZE	16	17	-48	33	(100F)	171	18	2	4	255	107
16	NOLLE�Joerg	SLEKOVEC�Miha�	GER	14	24	-43	21	21	(100B)	14	11	5	253	110
17	MOODY�Will	BYRNE�Bryan�	IRL	23	14	28	(100B)	27	-35	2	16	10	255	120
18	JUIN�Franck	MOUCHES�Frederic�	FRA	-34	5	33	31	20	9	(100B)	14	14	260	126
19	GAULT�Philippe	BERTHELOT�Loic�	FRA	13	16	-63	-54	15	18	24	27	15	245	128
20	POPPLE�Philip	SHORE�Doug�	GBR	8	20	19	19	13	20	-39	31	-34	203	130
21	MASKELL�Simon	WATKINS�Jon�	GBR	32	-36	15	27	-36	11	8	26	31	222	150
22	CHANDLER�Derian	SCOTT�Andy�	GBR	7	15	(100B)	28	33	26	-35	28	20	292	157
23	BUTLER�Noel	MOORE�Seamus�	IRL	-46	21	3	7	26	36	30	-51	35	255	158
24	NEWTON�Grahame	STEVENS�Mark�	GBR	21	25	27	8	(100F)	(100B)	15	33	29	358	158
25	SMITH�Donald�jr	RICHARDSON�Matthew�	GBR	18	19	(100B)	29	31	15	38	-45	11	306	161
26	GOACHER�Steve	EDLUND�Tim�	GBR	-50	-50	7	23	18	21	32	41	21	263	163
27	LINE�Jemima	TILLSON�Gavin�	GBR	31	-39	39	25	17	19	-41	9	28	248	168
28	ROBERT�Eric	THOBY�Joseph�	FRA	12	22	41	14	(100F)	29	26	40	-44	328	184
29	PECULIER�Martin	LE�SEAC'H�Thomas�	FRA	27	18	34	38	12	-45	42	18	-66	300	189
30	PERILLEUX�Loic	PERILLEUX�Arnaud�	FRA	28	-42	8	20	-69	34	27	42	32	302	191
31	PRIEST�Ian	STODDART�Mike�	GBR	24	49	14	37	22	13	-67	53	(100F)	379	212
32	PREIST�Becky	SAUNDERS�Tim�	GBR	-64	-52	45	16	45	14	44	43	9	332	216
33	LADD�Colin	STEWART�Keith�	GBR	-52	30	25	11	52	28	49	29	-67	343	224
34	LEONE�Maurizio	CAMPATI�Luca�	ITA	15	48	-54	41	41	-61	37	30	12	339	224
35	BUTLER�Ed�Jr	BUTLER�Ed�	IRL	17	41	62	30	24	12	(100F)	38	(100F)	424	224
36	GREEN�Jenny	GREEN�Malcolm�	FRA	37	38	31	-46	43	42	25	10	-55	327	226
37	SCARTH�Martin	SHEPPARD�Nigel�	GBR	29	-43	40	40	29	31	22	39	(100F)	373	230
38	BYRNE�Conov	BISHOP�Leo�	GBR	30	-61	20	-64	56	30	17	37	46	361	236
39	CHARTIER�Francois	BROISE�Xavier�	FRA	40	9	-64	-57	37	51	40	25	42	365	244
40	COLLARD�Philippe	THUILLIER�Gabriel�	FRA	-60	-63	46	18	38	38	36	34	41	374	251
41	FOUASSIER�Bruno	FOUASSIER�Dominique�	FRA	44	27	26	35	-63	58	21	44	-64	382	255
42	BALE�Alex	BALE�Jonathan�	GBR	26	-66	30	34	30	41	43	52	-60	382	256
43	WOUTTERS�Kristof	VANDERVOORT�Erik�	BEL	33	-58	38	44	53	-59	7	35	52	379	262
44	LASURE�Koenraad	DE�BIE�Dominique�	BEL	20	-85	23	58	-70	23	64	50	24	417	262
45	MEYNENDONCX�Bart	DE�BOECK�Francis�	BEL	-70	28	-69	61	54	60	23	15	27	407	268
46	BAXTER�Ben	BOWRING�Aly�	GBR	36	-55	29	48	44	40	50	-54	23	379	270
47	JOSPE�Joe	EGLI�Tom�	CAN	-55	37	42	50	25	33	45	-63	50	400	282
48	DE�BACKER�Wim	DE�BACKER�Wilfried�	BEL	48	44	22	47	28	(100B)	51	-55	45	440	285
49	LE�BAS�Frederic	FERNANDEZ�Julien�	FRA	54	33	44	-71	23	32	(100B)	70	30	457	286
50	BOTREL�Alain	BOITARD�Pyves�	FRA	-65	51	5	43	46	47	-59	46	54	416	292
51	TUDOR�Elaine	TUDOR�Warren�	GBR	41	-59	36	55	51	37	29	-62	49	419	298
52	LEWIS�James	FRASER�Alan�	GBR	-69	-83	32	32	55	27	60	61	39	458	306
53	ANSELMO�Pascal	ROBILLARD�Jean�	FRA	25	-82	(100B)	10	49	39	61	60	69	495	313
54	SELLAR�Eulan	PHILP�David�	GBR	47	45	57	42	19	(100B)	-58	56	48	472	314
55	GOGUEY�Gael	PETE�Denis�	FRA	68	-77	10	39	67	43	34	57	-71	466	318
56	HICKEY�Ciaran	INAN�Isma�l�	IRL	19	-73	35	(100C)	61	53	20	69	63	493	320
57	LUCET�Denis	LUCET�Francoise�	FRA	56	32	-70	62	-68	55	47	20	53	463	325
58	HURST�Nick	SHAW�Alex�	GBR	62	31	12	-66	62	50	53	-77	56	469	326
59	LEONE�Giorgio	ROSELLI�Vincenzo�	ITA	49	62	49	-77	59	52	-63	36	36	483	343
60	LOMAS-CLARKE�Simon	RATTRAY�Chris�	GBR	39	-71	51	59	47	(100B)	46	47	62	522	351
61	SCHELLER�Richard	EBERLE�Linus�	SUI	57	29	-72	63	-77	65	33	59	47	502	353
62	DEACON�John	DEACON�Jonathan�	GBR	-71	64	-68	52	50	46	31	64	59	505	366
63	BOUTAREL�Frederic	MARGUERAT�Gilles�	FRA	61	35	55	45	48	44	(100F)	(100F)	100F	588	388
64	EVANS�Jonathan	ROWAN�Francis	IRL	51	89	53	36	65	(100B)	(100F)	24	76	594	394
65	SUTER�Maja	SCHLUCHTER�Fran�ois�	SUI	59	54	(100B)	67	-74	48	57	73	37	569	395
66	COQUEREL�Maurice	GUERIN�Claude�	FRA	67	74	77	49	40	67	(100F)	-80	26	580	400
67	BARBIER�Philippe	BARBIER�Thibault�	FRA	74	70	65	73	-75	-76	48	32	43	556	405
68	MANZI�Luca	ANNESE�Alfredo�	FRA	73	47	85	(100B)	35	49	(100F)	67	51	607	407
69	CASTLE�Thomas	HARTLEY�Tim�	GBR	63	40	66	-83	73	-81	56	49	72	583	419
70	BREDONTIOT�Thomas	LUCET�Simon�	FRA	66	72	56	-75	72	57	65	-76	33	572	421
71	RENON�Jean�yves	LECHENE�Nicolas�	FRA	53	53	71	56	64	(100B)	(100B)	65	61	623	423
72	KELSALL�S�J	WATSON�Rob�	GBR	-75	60	52	60	60	63	(100F)	72	57	599	424
73	FOX�Richard	LOWE�Edward�	IRL	79	57	50	53	42	83	(100F)	66	(100F)	630	430
74	AVIGNON�Alexandre	NIVET�Loic�	FRA	58	56	73	-80	71	64	(100B)	48	65	615	435
75	HURST�Jeremy	HURST�Abigail�	GBR	(100Q)	68	67	65	78	62	62	-81	38	621	440
76	POPPLE�Stephen	SYMONS�Paula�	GBR	43	46	74	(100B)	57	69	52	-100	100F	641	441
77	LANDORMY�Arthur	CASTEL�Herv�	FRA	-93	76	37	68	-81	74	66	75	58	628	454
78	BERJON�Laurent	GENDRE�Maxime�	FRA	-87	86	60	76	39	-87	54	84	77	650	476
79	PUISSA�Paolo	COCUZZA�Umberto�	ITA	72	75	58	74	76	71	55	-83	-81	645	481
80	MCCULLAUGH�Damian	MURPHY�Mike�	IRL	95	80	(100B)	51	32	25	(100F)	100F	100F	683	483
81	LANKESTER�Rhys	LINFIELD�Nikki�	GBR	(100F)	65	80	70	58	56	(100F)	86	75	690	490
82	MINONI�Andrea	GANIMEDE�Francesco�	ITA	84	-93	47	69	83	80	(100F)	68	82	706	513
83	GODIN�Georges	GODIN�Anthony�	FRA	83	-94	61	72	79	68	(100B)	85	83	725	531
84	JORDAN�Mary	VIAN�Tom�	GBR	94	81	79	(100F)	80	73	(100F)	58	73	738	538
85	LECUREUR�Romain	THUILLIER�Remy�	FRA	(100C)	69	82	84	87	72	(100F)	71	74	739	539
86	MONOSILIO�Maria-Letizia	RICCUCCI�Giuseppe�	ITA	76	84	84	-86	84	70	(100F)	82	68	734	548
87	MCKENNA�Louise	LESTRANGE�Una�	IRL	77	78	(100F)	82	82	75	(100F)	74	80	748	548
88	LAVERTY�Owen	MULLIGAN�Suzie�	IRL	78	88	(100B)	(100B)	66	54	100F	78	100F	764	564
89	SALEMBIER�David	BENDER�Rik�	BEL	-92	-90	87	81	89	85	68	79	78	749	567
90	FESTING�David	FESTING�Karen�	GBR	85	91	78	89	-93	79	(100F)	89	70	774	581
91	DENNISON�Ian	CAPEY�Suzie�	GBR	86	-92	81	78	91	82	(100F)	88	79	777	585
92	O'CAROLL�Derval	HAYES�Siobhan�	IRL	81	95	76	(100B)	85	78	(100F)	87	86	788	588
93	CASTLE�Ian	RHODES�Emma�	GBR	88	67	83	(100C)	86	77	(100F)	100C	100C	801	601
94	FOLEY�Kevin	FLANNERY�Paul�	IRL	90	98	59	82	(100F)	(100C)	100F	91	84	804	604
95	SLACK�Peter	SLACK�David�	GBR	89	79	75	85	92	84	(100F)	(100C)	100C	804	604
96	LE�FAUCHEUR�Vincent	VERDIERE�Philippe�	FRA	82	97	86	79	(100F)	66	(100B)	100C	100C	810	610
97	FISHER�Glen	O'ROURKE�Maguerite�	IRL	91	-96	89	87	88	88	(100F)	90	85	814	618
98	GREENHALGH�Steve	GREENHALGH�Tom�	GBR	80	87	88	88	90	86	(100F)	(100C)	100C	819	619
99	PERDON�Pierre	PERDON�Etienne�	FRA	(100R)	(100R)	100R	100R	100R	100B	100C	100C	100C	900	700