Young and Blenkle take pre-Worlds

Busy final day sets the form for the Fireball Worlds starting on the 3rd

With four races now scheduled for the final day racing was brought forward to an eleven o'clock start. The prospects for a good days sailing looked very encouraging as the fleet launched in eight to ten knots of breeze and sunshine.

The wind had dropped a notch or two by the time the fleet got to the start area but there was still ample breeze for good racing. Race one and it took three black flag starts before the fleet would get away cleanly. The race officer showed that no matter who you are you could not get away with cheating as Fireball International Commodore Penny Gibbs was caught over the line on one of the black flag starts and sent home.

It was European Champion Andy Smith and James Meldrum who demonstrated they would be a force to contend with at the Worlds next week as they took the race win.
Race two and the dozen or so boats black flagged from the first race rejoined the fleet. The breeze had also stated to build and boats were seen raking back. It was Australians Rob Inns and Philip Bowley who made the best of the new breeze to take the race win, followed by fellow Australian's Bret Young and Allen Blenkle in second.

Race three of the day and it was Bret and Allen who continued to show good pace in the moderate breezes and take their second race win in International Week. Second was the ever consistent Shane MacCarthy and Roger Gilbert from Ireland. Also showing strong form in race three was the UK's Derian Chandler and Olly Goldsmith who took a very commendable forth place.

After over five hours of fantastic racing in some superb conditions a weary fleet headed ashore to make ready for the new year's celebrations.

The result over all from International Week:

1st AUS 14849 Bret Young and Allen Blenkle
2nd IRL 14834 Shane MacCathy and Roger Gilbert
3rd GBR 14809 Dave Wade and Richard Wagstaff
4th GBR 14801 Andy Smith and James Meldrum
5th AUS 14782 Robin Inns and Phillip Bowley
6th GBR 14855 Richard Estaugh and Simon Potts
1st Lady Helm GBR 14853 Derian Chandler

So after International Week who is looking hot for the Worlds Championships next week? With two race wins and over all victory in International Week Australians Brett Young and Allen Blenke must surely now be favourites, but will this pressure tell. Both Shane MacCathy and Dave Wade have shown remarkable consistency during International Week and this could be the key to doing well in the longer ten race series for the World Championships.

Then there is European Champions Andy Smith and James Meldrum, who showed that they are still a major force to be reckoned with by taking a race win during the series. And who would discount Richard Estaugh, someone who has as yet never taken a major Fireball Championship but who has won so much in so many other classes? The 2004 Fireball World Championships start on Jan 3rd and run until the 9th. The competition is looking tighter than ever this year.