Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

2025 Fireball World Championship at Circolo Vela Arco - Day 4

by Elena Giolai 28 Aug 15:25 UTC 24-29 August 2025

The penultimate day at the Fireball World Championship 2025, organized by Circolo Vela Arco in collaboration with the Italian Sailing Federation and the Italian and International Fireball Classes was, marked by unstable weather but also plenty of drama.

The race committee anticipated the start to 10:00, making the most of the morning conditions: one race was completed in light to medium northerly winds. A second race had already started, but the arrival of a brief thunderstorm caused the wind to drop completely and forced its abandonment.

At the top of the standings remain the British DJ Edwards - Vyv Townend, already Fireball World Champions, but the Swiss Yves Mermod - Maja Siegenthaler (the top mixed crew) have closed the gap to just two points thanks to their race win today. In third place are the Australians Brendan Garner - Ben O'Brien, 14 points behind.

Showing strong progress are the British Dave Wade - Iain Blake, now fourth overall and leading the "classic" crews, with a 1-2 from the last two races. Breaking into the top 10 are the first Italians, Paolo Brescia with crew Filippo Vulcanile, now in 8th place. Also noteworthy is the determination of the Genoese champion Pietro D'Alì, sailing with Ariberto Strabino, who after breaking their mast on Tuesday managed to repair it using a spare section provided by a French team: today they returned to the water and scored an excellent 12th place overall out of 136 boats.

Looking ahead to Friday, the final day of this World Championship, the weather remains uncertain: if conditions allow, the race committee will attempt to recover up to three races to close in the best possible way a championship that has already delivered three spectacular opening days of sunshine and medium-strong southerly winds, with 136 crews from 14 nations and many young sailors and women on the racecourse, alongside the loyalists who have been following the class for many years.

Related Articles

A Flying Season for Hyde Sails
With more to come in 2026 The 2025 Championship Season has been a busy one for the team at Hyde Sails, with major events up and down the UK, as well as spectacular results around the world. Posted today at 9:30 am
We need your Fireball
Demand for boats is outstripping the supply ahead of the Worlds in Torquay Following a highly successful 135 boat Worlds in Garda in August and with the 2026 Worlds to be held in Torquay in 2026 the Fireball is enjoying a huge surge in popularity, but the demand for boats is outstripping the supply. Posted on 21 Oct
Fireball World Champion interview
Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler talk about their Olympic journey too After their close fought win at the Fireball Worlds in Garda we caught up with the Champions Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler to find out a bit more about their Olympic journey and why and how they ended up competing for a Fireball Worlds in 2025. Posted on 16 Oct
Hyde Sails One Design October Discount
Up to 20% off select sails Thinking of ordering new sails for 2026? There is still time to take advantage of great savings with our current discount levels running until 31st October. Posted on 16 Oct
2026 Fireball Worlds Expression of Interest
Sign-up and get into the draw for some great prizes Preparations continue for the 2026 Fireball Worlds hosted by Royal Torbay Yacht Club at the end of July. As part of the entry process, an Expression of Interest has been launched. Posted on 30 Sep
Fireball Ulster Championship at Mullaghmore
Youth team triumph in difficult conditions David Evans and William Draper are the new Fireball Ulster Champions after four races at Mullaghmore Sailing Club over the weekend. At just 18 years of age their win represents a breakthrough for the growing number of talented youth sailors in the class. Posted on 22 Sep
2026 Fireball Worlds Torquay - website now online
Continuing the momentum after the superb event at Lake Garda this year The taste of the last limoncellos may still be lingering on the taste buds following the recent 135 boat Worlds on Lake Garda, but the Fireball Class is already turning its attention to next year's Worlds being hosted by Royal Torbay Yacht Club in the UK. Posted on 17 Sep
2025 Fireball World Championship overall
Switzerland's Yves Mermod & Maja Siegenthaler crowned champions on Lake Garda The Fireball World Championship 2025 concluded on Friday, 29 August, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco (North Lake Garda, Italy), in what turned out to be a historic edition for both participation and the number of nations represented. Posted on 30 Aug
2025 Fireball World Championship day 3
The standings tighten up on Lake Garda - Trentino After three days of competition and six races completed, with the first discard now applied, the leaderboard of the Fireball World Championship 2025 is getting closer and more exciting. Posted on 26 Aug
2025 Fireball World Championship day 2
Classic Garda conditions and British dominance The second day of racing at the Fireball World Championship, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco on Lake Garda, brought two more races and confirmed the event's high technical and competitive level. Posted on 25 Aug
Maritimo M600Palm Beach Motor Yachts