#fireballdbsc – Tuesday night's DBSC Fireball race was predictably tricky as one might have expected from the forecast of light winds dropping even lighter. The race committee wisely set up in the harbour and dropped marks for a windward-leeward course. Before the start the easterly wind shifted 20 degrees left creating a major port end bias on the quite long line and making the first beat a reach. The eight boat fleet got quite tangled up near the pin but a few got away cleanly notably Neil Colin and Margaret Casey who led to the windward mark. Those who sailed a bit high on the reach closed the gap but on the run the fleet spread out as boats picked their angles and placed their bets on where there might be a better puff or two.
Where there are ladders there are snakes and several fell into lighter holes including race leaders Colin/Casey. The Clancys took advantage and sailed a conservative but intelligent race staying ahead of the pack with Butler/Oram on their heels. The only other highlight on the course was provided by Cariosa Power sailing with her young son Odhran who was not tall enough to get the pole on and off the mast. In its place he became a human pole standing on the sidedeck with arm extended.
It may not be top class ISAF stuff but it was very effective and the lightweight family pairing pulled away from some of the heavyweights, and provided entertainment to boot on a pleasant Tuesday outing. Top three downwind finishers were the Clancys, Butler/Oram and McKenna/O'Keeffe.