Firefly team take 2007 Endeavour Trophy

by Event Media on 9 Oct 2007 Firefly champions, Tylecote and Lewis maintained their lead of seven points at the end of the event with Roger Gilbert and James Stewart, (Merlin Rocket) in second place, having improved from third on the Saturday evening, leaving Craig in third position in the final line-up.

Twenty-eight boats competed in paint-fresh new boats supplied by Topper, making this the fairest possible of all championship events. The boats arrived in time for a training day on the Friday with top coach Adam Bowers on hand to offer advice and help to make the necessary individual adjustments. No need then for a practice race on the Saturday and the first gun was scheduled for 10.25.

The fleet got away in unusually benign conditions for October. Endeavour sailors are used to the rough stuff so this year's Saturday sunshine with a steady breeze was an unexpected pleasure and certainly kept the photographers happy! Tylecote and Lewis made their claim for the title immediately with three 1sts and a 2nd place in the first five races.

It was back to business on the Sunday after a postponement until the breeze kicked in with the competitors happy with the previous day's decision of the PRO Kim Allen to force the pace with five races. This first race of the day turned out to be the deciding factor for the ultimate winners.

It brought new faces into the winning positions:- Keith Escritt and Elaine Marsh (Vortex) in first place, Barry and Sue Parkin (RS Feva) in third and Dave Wade and Ben Ratner (Scorpion) in fourth. Gilbert and Stewart continued to feature by taking the second place but a disastrous 22nd position for Craig meant the end of his dream for a fourth consecutive win. He's sure to be back, though and could yet set a record with future wins.

The prizegiving was a sparkling affair with a commitment from Ben Dunton of Holt for the next three years. Acknowledgement was made of the support of Topper together with Seldon Masts and Hyde Sails which has made the Championships unique for the past three years.

Edwin Buckley, who has master minded the event for several years, was pleased to announce the RYA Dinghy Sailing Show which takes place 1st and 2nd March 2008 which will feature The Endeavour Championships and the role it plays in the encouragement of dinghy sailing throughout the UK.

The delight of the new Champions was evident to all to see and Steve Tylecote acknowledged that 'just to come is an honour and a privilege!' He reckoned that it was a hard event and it would take a week to recover, especially when the Race Officer 'slipped in the extra lap!'

He and Toby Lewis went away with Henri Lloyd jackets, the Holt's special prize of £500 with another £500 to the John Merrick's Trust, but, best of all, the promise that their names will be engraved on the trophy.

Thanks to the talented competitors, fantastic support of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and generosity of the sponsors, the Endeavour is a really special event in the dinghy sailing calendar. We look forward to next year and more battles of the sailing titans.

2007 Endeavour Trophy

1 Firefly Steve Tylecote Toby Lewis 21pts
2 Merlin Rocket Roger Gilbert James Stewart 28
3 OK Nick Craig Steve Dunn 40
4 Vortex Keith Escritt Elaine Marsh 41
5 Fireball Tom Jeffcoate Mark Hogan 44
6 Europe Chris Gill John Gill 45
7 Scorpion Dave Wade Ben Ratner 53
8 Solo Andy Davis Andy Thompson 56
9 National 12 Graham Camm Zoe Ballantyne 65
10 RS500 Michael Saul Sophie Hartley 67
11 RS400 Paul Hilliar Stu Jagger 77
12 Mirror Hector Cisners Graham Williamson 79
13 Lark Steve Cumley Elunded Jones 81
14 RS Feva Barry Parkin Sue Parkin 82
15 Hornet Richard Garry Matt McGrath 85
16 Laser 2000 Rob Burridge Amy Hulley 108
17 Musto Skiff Rick Perkins Simon Reynolds 113
18 B14 Mark Barnes Peter Nicholson 115
19 Laser Mark Powel Dan Ward 120
20 Comet Ian Coppenhall John Coppenhall 125
21 ISO Lloyd Walker Graham Sexton 130
22 International 14 Rob Greenhalgh Peter Greenhalgh 133
23 Supernova Steve Broom Clive Evans 135
24 Topper Andrew Brown Tony Wilcock 137
25 Cadet Joshua Pistol Benjamin Pistol 141
26 RS600 Ian Marshall Andy Heissig 158
27 British Moth Richard Wilder John Wayling 159
28 RS Vareo Andy Temple Tim Seward 170