2024 Fireball Australian National Championship at Royal Geelong Yacht Club

2024 Fireball Australian National Championship at Royal Geelong Yacht Club - Overall

by Chris Payne 10 Feb 22:00 NZDT 5-16 Februay 2024

Fireball Australian Nationals at Geelong day 3 © Tom Smeaton

Day 3 mirrored the conditions of the previous two days, with a consistent southerly wind ranging between 12 to 15 knots. The wind direction and strength posed similar challenges to sailors, maintaining the competitive atmosphere on the water.

In Race 6, the fleet adopted a split strategy, with boats dispersing to both sides of the course. Tom Gillard & Andy Thompson (GBR) demonstrated astute tactical decision-making by capitalising on the right-hand side of the course. However, leading them to the right was Myles Gavin & Darren Spence (AUS) but a capsize during the tack to the mark pushed them back in the standings.

Despite challenges, Gillard & Thompson maintained their lead throughout the race, securing victory ahead of Heather Macfarlane & Chris Payne (AUS), followed by Dave Hall & Paul Constable (GBR).

Race 7 showcased the prowess of Tom Gillard & Andy Thompson once again, as they almost dominated from start to finish, displaying consistent performance the races they sailed. However Peter Moor & Campbell Reid led around the first mark. Peter hasn't sailed a Fireball for a while but won the 1966/67 Australian Championships and shows age is not a barrier.

Dave Hall & Paul Constable emerged as strong contenders, closely trailing Gillard & Thompson throughout the race, especially on the final downwind leg.

DJ Edwards & Vyv Townend (GBR) showcased resilience, securing a close third position despite missing the first race due to gear failure, demonstrating their ability to adapt and perform under pressure.

Overall, Dave Hall & Paul Constable (GBR) clinched a decisive victory in the regatta, showcasing exceptional skill and consistency throughout the championship.

Ben Schulz & Angus Higgins (AUS) emerged as the new Australian Champions, following a hard-fought battle, notably contending against Tom Gordon & Jack Fletcher.

Now all eyes move onto next week when the 2024 Fireball Worlds start in earnest on Sunday the 11th February.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail Num	Boat Name	Skipper	Crew	Club	R7	R6	R5	R4	R3	R2	R1	Pts
1	15101	SUNSET	Dave Hall	Paul Constable		2	3	1	[9]	1	1	4	12
2	15159	RIP TIDE	Ben Schulz	Angus Higgins	ASC	7	[12]	4	6	3	2	3	25
3	15144	MONDO	Dj Edwards	Vyv Townend	BBSC	3	DNF	3	4	13	3	2	28
4	15071	CLETUS	Tom Gordon	Jack Fletcher	ASC	10	4	[11]	3	2	6	7	32
5	15152	I MOUNT BOOKS	Heather Macfarlane	Chris Payne	BRYC	[23]	2	5	2	4	7	14	34
6	14933	FIERCE CREATURE	Ben Knoop	James Belton	LBSC	4	9	2	7	8	[9]	8	38
7	15026	BLACK PEARL	Brendan Garner	Ben O'Brien	RGYC	9	7	[14]	10	6	5	6	43
8	15000	RAGING BULL	Kevin Hope	William Cook	NCSC	6	6	12	11	5	4	[13]	44
9	15153	STAY TUNED	Jalina Thompson‑Kambas	Nathan Stockley	LBSC	5	5	6	12	[16]	8	9	45
10	14599	ZIG ZAG	Sophie Jackson	Josh Galland	MYC	13	[34]	7	5	9	10	10	54
11	15063	2V1	Johanka Napravnik Koranova	Jakub Napravnik Kora	YC Neratovice	11	[18]	8	8	12	13	5	57
12	15062	THE BIG BANG THEORY	Addy Bucek	Peter James	Rgyc	12	17	13	[17]	7	12	11	72
13	14897	SUPI‑CHISCHTLI	Kurt Venhoda	Sonja Zaugg	SVM	14	14	10	13	19	16	[23]	86
14	14936	SUGAR AND SPICE	Petr Koran	Jan Will	YC Neratovice	20	[28]	20	19	14	14	15	102
15	15027	THE GREY GHOST	Phil Peverell	Bruce Shand	FYC	[27]	15	15	22	11	18	22	103
16	14851	WAVEWALKABOUT	Mark Jarred	Glenn Stewart	GSC	18	[33]	17	14	10	24	26	109
17	15122	NORTH SAILS ALLEN BROS ROBLINE	Thomas Gillard	Andy Thompson	SHSC	1	1	DNC	1	DNC	DNC	1	112
18	14608	HOT WIRE	Myles Gavin	Darren Spence	RGYC	17	13	24	[27]	18	26	19	117
19	15049	SCATTER GUN	Nick Gunner	Simon Gunner	RGYC	[31.5]	23	25	16	15	23	17	119
20	15166	MINI ME	Simon Kings	Johno Loe		15	8	9	DNC	DNF	11	24	121
21	15048	NOT YOUR AVERAGE ROCKSTARS	Nicholas Rees	Eveline Schotte	HISC	29	11	19	18	25	22	[34]	124
22	15081	KEN	Olivier Burgaud	Florence Devaux	CNSR	24	21	22	[34]	21	21	21	130
23	15025	HARD TO HANDLE	Mark Matthews	Peter Sinclair	MBTBC	DNF	19	18	15	29	20	31	132
24	14814	WHATSTHE STORY...?	Susannah Gillam	Andrew Butler	RGYC	22	26	[29]	25	17	17	25	132
25	14414	OUTBACK DINGOS	Glenn Peverell	Bruno Lanati	FYC	21	[37]	16	29	30	15	29	140
26	14747	TEAM ALLEN	Vincent Horey	Andrew Perry	KGSC	16	10	23	28	DNC	DNC	12	143
27	14673	CONDOR	Claude Mermod	Esteban Hernandez	CVM	25.5	16	37	33	20	[42]	18	149.5
28	14603	FRED	Tony Mcrae	Benjamin Doak	tba	19	27	30	23	27	30	[30]	156
29	14810	TABU SORO	Benjamin Garner	Sam Williamson	RGYC	31.5	24	21	26	32	[33]	28	162.5
30	14812	VIPER	Peter Moor	Campbell Reid	BSC	8	31	28	35	DNC	DNC	16	172
31	14649	SILVER SURFER	William Townson	Ben Townson	IHYC	30	[38]	33	31	28	25	33	180
32	14601	COP YOU LATER	Rod Barker	Darrell Ralph	PYC	42	29	32	38	DNF	19	27	187
33	14793	FATHER AND SON	Jean Francois Nouel	Alexis Nouel	cnp	36	32	DSQ	30	24	34	32	188
34	15072	FREE BALLN	Scott Lidgett	Jack Lidgett	DBYC	28	36	27	24	23	DNC	DNC	192
35	15032	NO TEARS	Tony Schnaars	Marc Wilson	CYCSA	25.5	39	39	[40]	31	29	38	201.5
36	15054	GRISU	Fabio Palermi	Adriana Curcio	cvr	37	35	[41]	39	26	28	40	205
37	15017	BALL BREAKEN	Adrian Lee	Ossian Geraghty	SYC	DNC	DNC	34	20	DNC	27	20	207
38	14826	BALLDERDASH	Frank Miller	Ed Butler	DMYC	38	42	36	36	22	36	[42]	210
39	14545	INVICTUS	Richard Quinlan	Liam Quinlan	CYC/SMSC	35	30	35	[45]	37	38	36	211
40	15154	DARKSIDE	Peter Durran	Sebastian Durran	RGYC	33	25	31	37	DNC	DNC	35	215
41	14571	SALTY BEACHES	Allan Tyler	Christine Tyler		53C	20	26	21	DNC	DNC	DNC	228
42	14586	TEMERITOUS	Jaemie Wilson	David Scammell	Albert SC	34	41	[43]	41	33	40	41	230
43	14943	ROCK STARS	Mark Teasdale	Andrew Kean	CCSC	40	47	40	UFP	36	31	37	231
44	15106	SMOKIN GUN	Mark Cummings	Evelyn Chisholm	CBSA	39	40	48	32	DNF	35	43	237
45	14745	COMPLETE COMBUSTION	Jessica De La Perrelle	James Gaskell	LBSC	41	43	38	43	DNF	32	44	241
46	11867	SIDNEY	Kevin Luff	Nicholas Luff	MOFSC	43	[46]	42	42	34	39	45	245
47	15090	SUPI‑CHISCHTLI	Mona Venhoda	Elena Landerer	SVM	DNC	45	44	44	35	41	39	248
48	13946	STORM	Shannon Gallins	Eric Diller	CBSA	44	44	45	[47]	38	37	46	254
49	10974	SEQUEL	Peter Russell	Jen Russell	WYC	45	[49]	46	48	39	43	47	268
50	11059	ZOUINE	Denis Hernandez	Bourel Pascale	CVM	46	48	49	46	40	DNC	DNC	283
51	15136	SWOOSH	James Hackett	Michael Parks	RBYC	DNC	22	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	291
52	14782	RETURN TO JEDHI	Barbara Newson	Guy Newson		DNC	DNF	47	49	DNC	44	DNC	300