Pentland sailors have a swell time at Fireball World Championships
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PENTLAND Firth Yacht Club sailors Guy and Barbara Newson took on the best in the world when they competed at Fireball World Championships in South Africa.
They finished 21st overall, placing 16th in two races as best positions.
Their craft was stowed on a container ship which arrived safely in Cape Town with the other British and continental yachts, though it had been unable to dock for four days due to high winds.
This turned out to be an indication of the strong winds that would predominate the fortnight-long competition hosted by Mossel Bay Yacht Club.
Races were held in huge waves and strong winds, often gusting 25 to 30 knots or more.
The courses were big, with each leg being longer than the whole of Thurso Bay and sailors having to complete four or five laps each race, taking around two hours.
Competitors from nine countries took part, including Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Kenya and the Czech Republic
