Clubs across Essex descend on Blackwater Sailing Club for annual Fireball class Open meeting

It was third time lucky for the Blackwater Fireball Open.

Two years ago, there was no wind and last year there was almost too much.

However, this year the estuary provided sun and a pleasant ten to 12 knots of warm breeze.

Three races were held.

Mark Maskell and Nigel Sheppard, of home team Blackwater, were on a roll, winning the first two of the day in spite of being hounded all the way by Steve Jarred and Nick Collins and Dave Hall and Paul Constable, of Blackwater.

For the third race of the day, it was all change.

The tide had turned, making the start tricky as the fleet were swept over the line for a recalled start.

Race officer Barry Foulds took no time in bringing the black flag out for the second start.

With the tide sweeping the fleet towards the line again, there were a large number of BFDs which, at the end of the day, would have a large impact on the results.

Jarrad and Collins slipped away to win the race after playing safe on the line, with Walsh and Bentley, of Blackwater, sailing a steady race and holding their nerve under pressure to come in second.

Sunday brought more sun and a little more wind.

Hall and Constable, after their underwhelming performance the previous day, took the lead in the first race.

Tight racing followed with Hall and Constable holding off Simon and Tom Maskell, of Hunts Sailing Club, and Mark Maskell and Nigel Sheppard, of Blackwater, who were always pressing them, especially down the run.

Hall and Constable crossed the line first, with Maskell and Maskell second and Maskell and Sheppard third.

While the tussle had been going on between these three boats, Jarrad and Collins had pulled up to fourth, which meant that going into the last race any one of three boats could win overall.

Jarrad and Collins tacked off the start line and went right.

Hall and Constable and Maskell and Sheppard went left – and right paid off.

Jarrad and Collins got round the top mark first and opened up large lead.

By the time Hall and Constable and Maskell and Sheppard had worked their way through the fleet, there were not enough laps to catch up.

Big thanks to Blackwater Sailing Club for hosting the event and to all the many volunteers, both on and off the water, without whom the event would not happen.