Brits On Top

The Fireball World Championship got underway in Victoria, Canada over the weekend, with the British pair of Sam METTAM and Keri HARRIS taking the early lead.

A glorious 15 to 20 knot wind on the measurement/registration day on Saturday, was followed by a postponement for lack of wind on the first race day on 21 May. The first sniff of wind saw the race committee send the fleet out in the afternoon, and by the warning signal, the wind had filled in from the southwest at 15 knots.

A trapezoid course was set and a close cluster of Canadian, Swiss, French and Australian boats rounded the windward mark and held together on the reach. The fleet split on the run and the wind started dropping and shifting west. By the first leeward mark the race committee had signalled a shortened change of course, and then a further shift led to opening racing being abandoned and a disappointed fleet heading to shore.

A slow moving low pressure area on Monday again saw racing postponed, but finally on Tuesday, the weather decided to play ball and racing got underway off Esquimalt Harbour.

Brits Take Early Lead

After three races, METTAM and HARRIS hold a four point lead at the top of the overall standings, after posting scores of 3,2,4. The Swiss team of Erich and Reudi MOSER lie second, after they followed an excellent 1,2 start with a tenth in race three. Meanwhile Grant LAMONT and Tom EGLI lead the home charge, tied on points with the Swiss team in third place.

In total 49 crews are contesting the Worlds, with racing scheduled to continue in Canada through to Friday.

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