Fireflys at Waldringfield Easter Egg

by Steve Greaves on 15 Apr 2012 Having been one of the original classes to sail the first Easter Egg (sailed in 1952), it was great to see the Firefly fleet once again competing at Waldringfield Sailing Club, amongst an 80 boat fleet for their Easter regatta.

Under dark skies there was much place changing throughout the first race, with half the fleet needing to return to the line after false starts. At the end it was husband and wife team of Amy and Roger Morris winning from Steve Greaves and local sailor Anne Spalding, followed in by second husband and wife team Stuart and Jane Hudson.

Race two saw Greaves and Spalding get away cleanly for a lights to flag victory, followed by James Clayton and Cameron Harris for Royal Harwich YC, showing form that was stay with them throughout the weekend. The third race saw the third winners with another Harwich sailor, Alex Davey, sailing with Josie Palmer, escape from the Hudson, with Greaves and Spalding finishing a consistent day in third.

On day two the usual protagonists were very clearly shown the way by James and Cameron who disappeared off into an unassailable lead. The second race of the day saw Ardleigh SC father and son team Josh and Tristan Richardson port tack the entire fleet and lead round the first mark, eventually succumbing to the attentions of Greaves / Spalding and the Morrises.

The final race would decide the winners, but with Greaves / Spalding unable to sail it was down to the Morrises to take the event away from them with the required win. Unfortunately for them Stuart Hudson, now sailing with sister in law Amy Bowden, took and never relinquished the lead. This meant a victory for Steve Greaves and Anne Spalding, a great result for a team that was brought together by the Firefly discussion forum pages.

Overall

http://www.fireflysailing.org.uk