Britons Gillard and Brearey Clinch Fireball Worlds 2012

From Scuttlebutt Europe Newsletter  #2502 - 9 January

The final day of racing to decide the 2012 International Fireball World Champions could not have been scripted to be more tense or exciting. Tom Gillard and Sam Brearey of Great Britain went into the final day with a four point lead over arch rivals, Robin Inns and Joel Coultas of Australia. But there was another element to the equation in the form of a second discard after race nine was completed.

The PRO, Robin Olsen had an agonising task to set a course for the first race of the day with the breeze regularly shifting between 185 - 240 degrees. As the sea breeze tried to fill the pressure also varied from 10 - 18 knots. However Robin and his team stuck to the task and after two attempts the fleet got away to let the drama unfold.

Mandurah certainly delivered the sailing conditions, the sailors made the regatta one of the closest on the water and everybody watching lost most of their fingernails! There is now a long break before the next International Fireball World Championship, to be held in Slovenia in September 2013. -- Johno Fullerton

Final Results after 10 races including 2 discards:
1. Tom Gillard/Sam Brearey, GBR, 13 points
2. Robert Inns/Joel Coultas, AUS, 14
3. Greg Allison/Richard Watson, AUS, 35
4. Dave Wade/Tim Saxton, GBR, 38
5. Chips Howarth/Vyv Townend, GBR, 39

Complete results: www.fireballaustralia.org