Fireballs at Chew

Derian Chandler reports on the 32 boat action

Sunny skies and a gentle force 2-3 breeze greeted the 32 Fireballs who arrived at Chew Valley Lake SC to compete for the first of the Typhoon sponsored meetings. Race 1 got underway after a short postponement while Ralph Singleton, the OOD, moved marks in the shifting conditions. First to the windward mark were Ian Priest & Jeremy Hurst, however they were overhauled by Shane MacCarthy & Andy Thompson on the first reach. MacCarthy extended his lead to take the win followed by Dave Wade & Richard Wagstaff and Malcolm Davies & Fiona Jump.

The second race saw MacCarthy & Thompson leading after the first round with Wade & Wagstaff close behind. A tussle at the leeward mark resulted in Wade & Wagstaff capsizing to windward just as they had got inside for water at the mark. Penny & Ian Gibbs went left on the beat and picked up a shift to take the lead. Despite pressure, they held onto the lead followed by MacCarthy & Thompson in second with Wade & Wagstaff third.

Sunday's breezy conditions suited Dave Wade who won the first race of the morning leading it from start to finish. MacCarthy & Thompson were second followed by Davies & Jump.

Race four saw Phil Popple & Doug Shore first to the windward mark. Wade & Wagstaff took over the lead but were passed on the penultimate beat by Paul Cullen & Gavin Tilson. Cullen and Tilson held onto the lead on the run but Wade & Wagstaff blasted through the squall to take the race right on the finish line. Derian Chandler & Olly Goldsmith finished third.

With four races to count from five Wade & Wagstaff could only be beaten by MacCarthy & Thompson who needed a 1st in the final race to win. Race 5 was started in about 8 knots. Andy Pearce & Adam Broughton led at the windward mark followed by MacCarthy & Thompson then Cullen & Tilson. As the breeze picked up again, the boats were forced to dump their spinnaker halyards to make the gybe mark. On the following beat Cullen, MacCarthy and Wade all powered through in the increasing wind to take the first three positions. This gave MacCarthy & Thompson first overall.

Every one who enters the Typhoon Super Series is in with a great chance of winning one of the superb Typhoon prizes. The Chew Valley draw was:
Bill Chard - Typhoon Racer Breathable Drysuit
Karen Festing - Riot Wetsuit
Peter Gifford - Alpha Dry Top
Paul Cullen - Typhoon wet boots

The next Fireball Typhoon Super Series event is at Highcliffe on the 21/22 June.

Overall Results:
1st 14834 S.MacCarthy and A.Thompson (Greystones SS) 6pts;
2nd 14809 D.Wade and R.Wagstaff (Northampton SC) 7pts
3rd 14783 P.Cullen and G.Tilson (Stokes Bay) 14pts
4th 14789 P.Gibbs and I.Gibbs (Brightlingsea SC) 19pts
5th 13945 M.Davies and F.Jump (Paignton SC) 19pts
6th 14598 D.Chandler and O.Goldsmith (Chew Valley SC) 21pts
7th 14556 A.Pearce and A.Broughton (Portishead SC) 21 pts
8th 14821 A.Bale and J.Bale (Chew Valley SC) 25pts

1st Silver Fleet 14410 B.Chard and K.Comrie (Chew Valley SC)
1st Bronze Fleet 14313 S.Davis and M.Davis (Chew Valley SC)
1st Classic Boat 14249 N. Cameron and Cara Cameron (Datchet Water SC)