Fireball Canadians

Here is a post by MikeM from the Fireball NA website. Thanks to Eric for the heads-up! - Ralph, Montreal Sailing

The Fireball Canadians have concluded at the Pointe Claire Yacht Club in Montreal.  Nineteen boats entered the event making this the largest turnout of Fireballs at any venue in North America this year.  Crews from Nova Scotia, Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia competed

Joe Jospe and Tom Egli are the Canadian champions after a clinic like display of sailing.  Tom and Joe had seven firsts and two seconds on their way to the championship.  Yet despite this impressive result Joe stated that he felt pressured in every race.

Robert Levy from Pointe Claire sailing with transplanted Alberta 470 sailor Jon Driver finished second followed by Guy Tipton and Matt King sailing out of the Shelburne Harbour YC in Nova Scotia were third.

Eric Owston and Hugh Strudwick finsihed fourth and Alberta skipper Debbie Kirkby sailing with PCYC sailor Toby Bryant rounded out the top five

PCYC had 5 boats in the top ten and  the Nepean Sailing Club had three boats finish in the top 10 with Mike McEvoy and Jason Phillips in 7th followed by Rune Lausten and Jochen Mikosh in 8th and Jon Clark and Iain McEvoy in 10th.  The Ontario contingemnt continues to narrow the gap with the Montreal Fleet

The Crew's Union made their customary acute observations of the various activities observed during the event which also doubled as the Screwball Regatta.  This was the 29th running of the event and PCYC is shooting for 30 boats at the 30th event next year. It is amazing what can be acquired at a dollar store and made to serve as a "prize".  Some of the more noteworthy "awards" were a set of dryer balls to a crew noted spending an inordinate time swimming; a strainer to serve as a bailer for the crew of Bruiser whose boat nearly sank on Saturday after a forward hatch cover failed and the tank filled with water; to the "space slime" award to Stephen Waldie for his ability to slime out of some bad situations!

The Montreal/Ottawa Challenge Trophy was awarded to the Ottawa Fleet due to their higher level of participation in the two designated traveling regattas this season

Final results are on the PCYC website

Some photos can be found here