Winter is always the most interesting time of year to sail, especially when viewed from later on, indoors, when the wounds have healed. Compared with previous years when stainless steel fittings shattered in the cold, this winter was a delight. We had our share of mental weather, and a number of things broke on my boat (including Paul), but mostly it was just excellent sailing.

In consequence, we've been pretty busy here at our secret Fireball HQ (for the uninitiated, it's a bit like Stacy Island but with less realistic characters and scenery). In between the serious work like defeating the Mighty Zarg we ran the Miracle Inlands, and it was good. We organised our own open meeting which was also good; in fact it attracted a  better turnout than the Nationals, so make that 'very good' (and many thanks to the Miracle fleet for doing the hard work there). And we also held our annual prize-giving / fleet meal / Christmas party / disco thing, which was very well attended and notably full of festive spirit and alcohol. So 2006 ended well.

We must bid a sad farewell to Miles Thomas, who was part of the furniture and is the current record holder in the person-who-has-left-the-fleet-and-come-back-most-often category. As he has now gone to Wales in a beautiful pea-green Fireball, he probably won't be coming back this time, except for the occasional visit. Farewell also to Hannah 'the Fireball Slayer' and Scott Wilson, both of whom are off to pastures new, resulting in a composite Winder (as yet un-slayed) and a rather nice Severn being up for sale. Welcome back to Gary and Andy, perennial winter members who get faster every time we see them, and hello to all the other new Fireball members, a number of whom I have not yet managed to meet.

At time of writing, the Draycote Winter Super Series sponsored by P&B is going well with 32 competitors and guest appearances from Dave Wade, Tim Rush, Becky Priest and more. Draycote sailors Adam Whitehouse and Mike Pratt are currently occupying the top spot and look likely to win the series, but the standard of competition has been remarkably high and 2^nd place onwards could go to almost anyone.

For the coming season we have the following events lined up:

25^th March Fleet AGM, in the wetbar at 4:15pm

31^st March Fleet social evening

12^th & 13^th May UKFA Fireball training

3^rd June  Firebowl Handicap day 1

10^th June  Inter-fleet championships

17^th June  Firebowl Handicap day 2

8^th September Another fleet social evening

9^th September Marriott Bucket day 1

23^rd Sept. Marriott Bucket day 2

30^th Sept. Fleet championships day 1

13^th & 14^th Oct. Fireball Open & Inland championships

28^th Oct.  Fleet championships day 2

11^th Nov. Fleet championships day 3

8^th Dec.  Fleet meal & prizegiving

We are also running the usual three Summer Sunday racing series from April to October and the two Wednesday evening series. All this stuff is explained in more detail on the website at www.draycotewater.co.uk/fleets/fireball , and we will be posting reminders on the Draycote forum.

If by some strange circumstance you are not a fireball sailor, and you are interested in joining Draycote's most active and incompetent fleet or would simply like a trial sail, come and catch Helen (FB14891), Bob (FB14064) or me (14778) on the foreshore on any Sunday. We're always happy to talk.

Mike Deane – Fireball 14778