Fireball South Australia State Championship update

3:26 AM Wed 11 Feb 2009 GMT

'Fireballs - Fireball South Australia State Championship' John Garner

Report from Robin Inns, contesting the South Australian Fireball State Championship, on Heats 6 and 7.

Heats 6 and 7 of the South Australian State Championship were held on the weekend of 7th and 8th February at Wallaroo (a two hour drive from Adelaide).

Adelaide has been experiencing extreme high temperatures of late. The forecast for Saturday was hot in the morning with gusty NW breezes followed by a cool SW change around lunch. We left Adelaide with the temperature already at 40 degrees and as we passed Port Wakefield (the halfway point) the temperature had risen to 43 degrees and the wind was up to 30+ knots. Visibility was down to 20m at times as dust storms rolled across the highway. This did not look like a nice day for a sail!!

We arrived at the sailing club around midday and shortly thereafter the race officer postponed all racing for the day. Consequently most spent the afternoon lazing by the pool and all of the evening drinking at the pub!

Sunday was a better day for a sail. The temperature was down to 25 degrees but the breeze was gusting between 12 and 22 knots and shifting through 25 degrees. Our hung-over heads were in for a work over!

Heat 6 started on a heavily pin biased line. Positions changed regularly up the first work. Greg Allison/Richard Watson picked the shifts best of all to round the top mark in the lead closely followed by Peter Inns/Ed Alder and John Heywood/Brett Littledike. The rest of the fleet were bunched close behind.

Up the second work Robin Inns/Joel Coultas moved into the lead and went on to comfortably win. Pete/Ed sailed well to secure second with John/Brett in third.

Heat 7 was sailed in a slightly stronger breeze. The start line was again heavily pin biased making for an interesting start as boats struggled to cross the line on starboard tack. Robin/Joel had a good start and managed to get quickly to the favoured port tack. They had a good lead by the top mark and pulled further ahead by the finish. Greg/Richard performed well to finish a very close second to Ben Schulz/Ben Neaylon sailing a borrowed hull in third position.

With three races left to sail the Championship is still open. Mini battles are forming throughout the fleet. Check out the progressive results at www.regattamanager.com.au/FBALLSA0809/Results/Progress.html

Heat 8 will be sailed at Grange Sailing Club on February 22nd and the final two races will be held at Adelaide Sailing Club on March 15th.

Stay tuned for further Fireball updates at www.fireballsa.yachting.org.au

by Robin Inns

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