60 year old Firefly on display at 60th RYA Volvo Dinghy Show
by Chris Guy, NFA Chairman 28 Feb 2011 08:06 PST
5-6 March 2011
The Firefly class will be displaying a 60 year old Firefly on the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show's 60th Anniversary © NFA
The Firefly class is delighted to be joining in with the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show's 60th Anniversary by displaying a Firefly of the same age...!
Desperado, with a very memorable sail number of F 888 was built in 1951 and so is also celebrating her Diamond Anniversary.
Far be it from being a museum piece however, Desperado is still a very competitive boat in the National Firefly Class, She is regularly seen in the top 10 at the National Championships of this super-competitive class, and has a number of open meeting wins and 'podium finishes' to her name in the last few years. This is possible because the strict 'one-design' policy of the class means that old boats when restored and prepared properly can compete with brand new craft. The low cost of getting out there racing in a fleet that still attracts some of the best sailors has always been one of the best things about the Firefly class, come and see for yourself at the 2011 National Championships in July at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club.
Describing Desperado as 'Fast and Dirty', its owner David Chisholm is proud that F 888 is a long way from the usual Concours de Elegance standard boat that a class might choose to display at the Dinghy Show, and will be displaying the boat 'warts and all'. However, one look at the polished undersides and functionality of the fit out will show the enthusiast that even after 60 years, 'Despy' still means business!