Brian Auger, the one of Oblivion Express fame, sings a song titled "Back to the Beginning." Kalispell, Montana, may not be the origin of anything in particular, but it was there that several Fireball teams raced, relaxed, and held on for all that counted the week of August 1 to August 7, 2004. The record will show that the team of Pat and Ned won both regattas, first U. S. Nationals, then, North Americans, and the team of Natalie and Rupert were second in both. The record will show that sixteen boats competed in the first, and a few fewer in the second.

Mother Nature, in concert with North Flathead Lake Yacht Club, provided conditions and venue for the festivities. Conditions were equally varied between light, medium, and heavy. Windiest conditions were experienced when racing for the dock at the end of the first regatta. (Ned and Natalie might argue that the windiest conditions came when they had Ned’s 49’er on final approach to the landing strip. Sailing is hail!) Regardless, the lake and the club offered a fair test for the competitors to take.

The fleet included teams made up of veterans and newcomers from four regions of Fireball folks. Western Canadian, Rocky Mountain American, Midwestern American, and Southeastern American teams were there. The Ukrainian Racing Team was well represented. To be sure, the Canadians supported the regatta as advertised, and the fleet for the second regatta would have been larger except for a cotter pin that was lost. (Mast came down, ripped deck.) Competitors ranged in age from thirteen to seventy-something. Two female skippers and three female crews participated. The boat with the youngest competitor on board scored second in one race, and the boat with the younger female skipper, seventeen, on board earned second in both regattas. The boat with the hair-dressing-female-skipper on board was tied for the lead in the first regatta, but not enough races were sailed in it for throw-outs to come into the equation. The boat with the youngest female crew on board, fifteen, finished as high as fourth in a race.

What does it all mean, Mr. Natural? It means that the class continues to attract young folks that like sailing in wet underwear and fast boats. It means that the Fireball continues to hold the interest of older sailors similarly interested in soaked clothing and speed. Fireball racing continues to offer justification to explore our continent. This writer visited several national parks while traveling and fell into more than a couple of tourist traps along the way.

Boats sailed included bows of both types, wide and traditional. Rigs varied from the simple to the sublime. Pat’s Winder is darned near tuned as evidenced by Ned and he winning the final four races in the second regatta. Even so, most competitors could claim to have been first in at least one race for at least a bit. To be sure, one of the older boats in the fleet, a 7000-something, finished second once. This writer and daughter Audrey reckoned all others aft of our transom for a time in a race or two. (It’s all in how you time your sighting and squint.) The outcome of each regatta was not decided until the last day. Due to the quality of talent, good tactics and mistakes were rewarded appropriately and immediately. No free passes. Good fun. Start again at a regatta soon.

Duncan Schaefer/US 14819

SPECIAL AWARDS

U.S. NATIONAL’S

Top Jr. Skipper  - Maddi Purves-Smith
		        17 yr. – Calgary


Top Jr. Crew U.S. – Ben Corwin
	                       16 yr. – Somers, Montana

Youngest Competitor – Liam Quinlan
		                 12 yr. – Lethridge, Alberta

Most Mature Male – Hamish Ferguson

NORTH AMERICAN

Top Junior Crew – Sean Holmes-Smith

Top Female Jr.Crew – Audrey Schaefer

Most Mature Male – Bill Miller	

Best Boat Buster - Martin Herbert