Estaugh and Potts Lead

Race 4 and 5 have completed at the Fireball World Championship, March 20, 2002. The wind doctor came back to give us great racing, blowing from the southwest, under sunny skies.

Heat four in the Fireball World Championships started off in a moderate southwesterly. After the starting gun the fleet separated to the left and right sides of the course with those on the left benefiting the most. The trapezoid course ensured very close and exhilarating racing. With good boat speed and sound tactics Ian Pinnell and David Scott took out line honors with Vince Horey Close behind. The British fleet fared well having four representatives in the top five. Other countries in the top ten included France, Czech Republic, Australia and Switzerland.

After a slight delay heat five started in more blustery conditions again from the southwest. Navigating the wind shifts to the first mark proved beneficial to the British crew of Vince Horey and Jon Mildred. They took the lead from Ian Pinnell and Jon Scott and went on to win well. Again the British teams dominated taking the first five positions. The Swiss, Australians and Canadians filled in the spaces to take the rest of the positions in the top ten.

With good results in the windy conditions the top three British boats have now moved ahead of the Swiss team of Eric and Reudi Moser with Richard Estaugh and Simon Potts currently leading. Vince Horey and Jon Mildred are second and Ian Pinnell and Davis Scott are third. With five races to go the series is still very open with stronger wind forecasts predicted for the next few days racing.