Fifty Years of Fireball Midwinters

Tampa, FL (March 13, 2015) – For 50 years Fireball sailors have made an annual pilgrimage to the Davis Island YC in Tampa. The event kicked off last night with a presentation from the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. to entice everyone to Barbados for the 50th World Championship in 2018.

The Midwinters tradition continued today as twenty crews from Switzerland, France, Denmark, Great Britain, Canada and the USA started the three day event in 18 to 20 knots and temperatures in the 80’s to kick off the Weathermark Sailboats 2015 Midwinters.

The heavier winds were a sharp contrast to the lighter conditions experienced during the recently completed North Americans. For some of the Canadian crews sailing for the first time in several months the result was tired aching bodies. And some of the older boats were tired and aching too!

Three races were completed. Pete VanRossem and Rune Lausten from the Nepean SC are tied for first with Tof Nichol-Griffith and Peter Kelly from Pointe Claire YC. Pat Crump and Jane Millican from the host Davis Island YC are in third.

Racing continues tomorrow. Complete results.