2024 Fireball Australian National Championship at Royal Geelong Yacht Club

2024 Fireball Australian National Championship at Royal Geelong Yacht Club - Day 1

by Madeline Crawford 7 Feb 22:02 NZDT 5-16 Februay 2024

Fireball Australian Nationals at Geelong Day 1 © Michelle Thompson

Sailing enthusiasts were treated to a day of exhilarating competition at day one of the Fireball National Championships hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. The world's top sailors showcased their skills despite challenging conditions.

With breezes ranging from 12 to 18 knots, the racers were put to the test in a series of gripping contests.

Great Britain and the Czech Republic demonstrated their prowess, leaving a mark on the results board. Notably, current world champions Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson (GBR) exemplified their dominance by triumphing in the first race, showcasing their ability to navigate through the fleet with finesse.

However, it was the remarkable consistency of Dave Hall and Paul Constable (GBR) that stole the spotlight, clinching victory in the subsequent two races. Despite an unexpected capsize on the bottom mark in race 3, former world champions DJ Edwards and Vyv Townend (GBR) still made their presence felt in the rankings.

Australian sailors also made their mark, with Ben Schulz and Angus Higgins leading the pack, securing second place overall, closely followed by Tom Gordon and Jack Fletcher, and Brendan Garner and Ben O'Brien.

The competition was fierce throughout the day, with sailors showcasing their expertise in the varying wind conditions, thrilling spectators, and enthusiasts alike.

Results after Day 1:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1	15101	SUNSET	Dave Hall	Paul Constable		4	1	1	6
2	15159	RIP TIDE	Ben Schulz	Angus Higgins	ASC	3	2	3	8
3	15071	CLETUS	Tom Gordon	Jack Fletcher	ASC	7	6	2	15
4	15026	BLACK PEARL	Brendan Garner	Ben O'Brien	RGYC	6	5	6	17
5	15144	MONDO	Dj Edwards	Vyv Townend	BBSC	2	3	13	18
6	15000	RAGING BULL	Kevin Hope	William Cook	NCSC	13	4	5	22
7	15152	RLO	Heather Macfarlane	Chris Payne	BRYC	14	7	4	25
8	14933	FIERCE CREATURE	Ben Knoop	James Belton	LBSC	8	9	8	25
9	14599	ZIG ZAG	Sophie Jackson	Josh Galland	MYC	10	10	9	29
10	15063	2V1	Johanka Napravnik Koranova	Jakub Napravnik Kora	YC Neratovice	5	13	12	30
11	15062	THE BIG BANG THEORY	Addy Bucek	Peter James	Rgyc	11	12	7	30
12	15153	STAY TUNED	Jalina Thompson‑Kambas	Nathan Stockley	LBSC	9	8	16	33
13	14936	DEKUJU!	Petr Koran	Jan Will	YC Neratovice	15	14	14	43
14	15027	THE GREY GHOST	Phil Peverell	Bruce Shand	FYC	22	18	11	51
15	15049	SCATTER GUN	Nick Gunner	Simon Gunner	RGYC	17	23	15	55
16	14814	WHATSTHE STORY...?	Susannah Gillam	Andrew Butler	RGYC	25	16.5	17	58.5
17	14897	SUPI‑CHISCHTLI	Kurt Venhoda	Sonja Zaugg	SVM	23	16.5	19	58.5
18	14851	WAVEWALKABOUT	Mark Jarred	Glenn Stewart	GSC	26	24	10	60
19	14608	HOT WIRE	Myles Gavin	Darren Spence	RGYC	19	26	18	63
20	15081	KEN	Olivier Burgaud	Florence Devaux	CNSR	21	21	21	63
21	14414	OUTBACK DINGOS	Glenn Peverell	Bruno Lanati	FYC	29	15	30	74
22	14673	CONDOR	Claude Mermod	Esteban Hernandez	CVM	18	42	20	80
23	15025	HARD TO HANDLE	Mark Matthews	Peter Sinclair	MBTBC	31	20	29	80
24	15048	NOT YOUR AVERAGE ROCKSTARS	Nicholas Rees	Eveline Schotte	HISC	34	22	25	81
25	14649	SILVER SURFER	William Townson	Ben Townson	IHYC	33	25	28	86
26	14603	FRED	Tony Mcrae	Benjamin Doak	tba	30	30	27	87
27	14793	FATHER AND SON	Jean Francois Nouel	Alexis Nouel	cnp	32	34	24	90
28	14810	TABU SORO	Benjamin Garner	Sam Williamson	RGYC	28	33	32	93
29	15054	GRISU	Fabio Palermi	Adriana Curcio	cvr	40	28	26	94
30	15166	MINI ME	Simon Kings	Johno Loe		24	11	61F	96
31	15032	NO TEARS	Tony Schnaars	Marc Wilson	CYCSA	38	29	31	98
32	14826	BALLDERDASH	Frank Miller	Ed Butler	DMYC	42	36	22	100
33	14943	ROCK STARS	Mark Teasdale	Andrew Kean	CCSC	37	31	36	104
34	14601	COP YOU LATER	Rod Barker	Darrell Ralph	PYC	27	19	61F	107
35	15017	BALL BREAKEN	Adrian Lee	Ossian Geraghty	SYC	20	27	61C	108
36	14545	INVICTUS	Richard Quinlan	Liam Quinlan	CYC/SMSC	36	38	37	111
37	14586	TEMERITOUS	Jaemie Wilson	David Scammell	Albert SC	41	40	33	114
38	15090	SUPI‑CHISCHTLI	Mona Venhoda	Elena Landerer	SVM	39	41	35	115
39	11867	SIDNEY	Kevin Luff	Nicholas Luff	MOFSC	45	39	34	118
40	13946	STORM	Shannon Gallins	Eric Diller	CBSA	46	37	38	121
41	15122	NORTH SAILS ALLEN BROS ROBLINE	Thomas Gillard	Andy Thompson	SHSC	1	61C	61C	123
42	10974	SEQUEL	Peter Russell	Jen Russell	WYC	47	43	39	129
43	14808	TEAM ALLEN	Vincent Horey	Richard Pepperdine	KGSC	12	61C	61C	134
44	14745	COMPLETE COMBUSTION	Jessica De La Perrelle	James Gaskell	LBSC	44	32	61F	137
45	14812	VIPER	Peter Moor	Campbell Reid	BSC	16	61C	61C	138
46	15106	SMOKIN GUN	Mark Cummings	Evelyn Chisholm	CBSA	43	35	61F	139
47	15072	TBA	Scott Lidgett	Jack Lidgett	DBYC	61C	61C	23	145
48	15154	DARKSIDE	Peter Durran	Sebastian Durran	RGYC	35	61C	61C	157
49	11059	ZOUINE	Denis Hernandez	Bourel Pascale	CVM	61C	61C	40	162
50	14782	RETURN TO JEDHI	Barbara Newson	Guy Newson		61C	44	61C	166
51	15141	FULL STEAM SPACEMACHINE	Jiri Paruzek	Jakub Kosvica	JL Tousen	61C	61C	61C	183
51	15136	SWOOSH	James Hackett	Michael Parks	RBYC	61C	61C	61C	183
51	14798	IO	Nicholas Rees	Eveline Schotte	HISC	61C	61C	61C	183
51	14872	MAGIIC	Barbara Newson	Guy Newson	RYA	61C	61C	61C	183
51	14941	SOUTHPAWS	Derian Scott	Andy Scott	CVLSC	61C	61C	61C	183
51	150	SALTY BEACHES	Allan Tyler	Christine Tyler		61C	61C	61C	183
51	15145	ITS NOT NORMALLY LIKE THIS HERE	Steve Goacher	Tom Goacher	LTSC	61C	61C	61C	183
51	15086	GRANNY ON THE WIRE	Allan Tyler	Christina Tyler	LRSC	61C	61C	61C	183
51	15155	NOT SO	David Hall	Paul Constable	BSC	61C	61C	61C	183
51	15095	PROMIN!	Ladislav Vomacko	Jiri Gemperle	YC Podebrady	61C	61C	61C	183