Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

Firefly Itchenor Burgee

by Nigel Wakefield 8 Jul 2024 06:06 PDT 6-7 July 2024
Itchenor Burgee prize winners © UKFA

Saturday's forecast was "fresh to frightening". The sensible members of the fleet stayed at home while the rest of us rigged up. There was 1 hour postponement before wetsuits were donned, the expression on faces was an even split between bravado and fear.

Despite a brief respite, the wind speed was up again and now averaging 25 knots; the race officer Roddy Bridge rightly cancelled sailing for the day. The fleet retired to the bar and the small matter of the Euro quarter final vs Switzerland.

Sunday's wind was supposed to be under 20 knots. As the fleet turned the corner into Chichester Harbour, it was very fresh and moderately frightening. It was definitely more autumnal than one would expect for July.

For the first race Alex Davey and Amy Bowden slyly identified that with tide on the bow it was possible to hold station indefinitely. At two minutes to go they put their bow 1m down from the committee boat and stayed exactly there. The rest of the fleet were totally wrong footed, Tom Davey and Cam Bowden sharing their parents' guile lined up as the next boat down, followed by Nigel Wakefield and Freddie Pank as the third boat down. The rest of the fleet opted for the second rank. Alex/Amy converted their perfect start and good upwind speed into a lead that was never challenged. Nigel/Freddie lost a few lengths avoiding a i14 in full downwind flight but got second. Dom and Sophia Johnson sailed through to third.

The line was re-set to have a port bias for the second race but it was still definitely a "go right" beat. Dom/Sophia pulled off an audacious planing port flyer, this author has destroyed all the photos to minimise the fleet's well-deserved humiliation. Dom/Sophia were never crossed. Nigel/Freddie were second and Barny Smith and Alannah Hebbert third.

The tide turned for the third race and was now under the boats on the start line. This caused a general recall, made the sea state rougher and added an extra couple of knots to the effective windspeed. This race was the closest and windiest. Five boats succumbed at the first gybe mark. At the second windward mark three boats arrived near simultaneously. Dom/Sophia hit the top mark and performed a very good 360 given the conditions. Stuart/Lizzie tried to nip around the inside but nose dived. Alex/Amy avoided crashing into their transoms and set off down the run, followed later by Nigel/Freddie. Nigel/Freddie sneaked inside at the bottom mark followed by Alex/Amy, which was the order at the finish. Dom/Sophia, Sebi Schmidt/Rachel Cross and Jenny Smallwood/Phil Aldous were the only other finishers.

After the end of the race Dom Johnson sailed around telling everyone including the race office that it was too windy to continue, so we all duly sailed in.

The results were incredibly tight, Alex/Amy had a first and second. Dom/Sophia had first and third. Nigel/Freddie had a first and second but had crucially won the last race. Freddie Pank retains his "I've won all the Firefly events I've ever done" flex. Thanks to Itchenor SC for hosting the fantastic weekend and we look forward to next year.

Overall Results:

PosBoat NameSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3Pts
1stTip Top Too3007Nigel WakefieldFreddie PankNetley / Lymington Town SC‑2213
2ndMustard2649Alex DaveyAmy BowdenRoyal Harwich YC1‑1023
3rdGemini3154Dom JohnsonSophia JohnsonDowns SC‑3134
4thFursty Ferret3850Stuart HudsonLizzie HudsonRLYC44(RET)8
5thFourwood Thinking3023Barny SmithAlannah WitherbyHamble River SC63(RET)9
6thDignity2925Sebi SchmidtRachel CrossBowmoor SC‑109413
7th 2282Jenny SmallwoodPhilip AldhousWest Oxfordshire SC‑98513
8thMutsy3690Tom DaveyCam BowdenRoyal Harwich YC / RHS85(DNC)13
9thBonkers2065Jason AldousJosephine MasonRoyal Harwich YC76(RET)13
10th 3318Guy DavidsonSally WakefieldLlangorse SC5(RET)DNC17
11thWillow3739Rachel CrebbinTozeDell Quay SC117(RET)18

Related Articles

RYA/UKTRA National Team Racing Championship
Team from the Royal Thames YC wins the Prince Philip Trophy A team from the Royal Thames Yacht Club has won the Prince Philip Trophy after claiming victory at the 2025 RYA/UKTRA National Team Racing Championship. Hosted for the first time in the event's history by Oxford Sailing Club. Posted on 28 Mar
Fabulous Fireflys
79th Tideway supported Nationals already fully booked The season has already begun with a fabulous outing to Grafham Water for the Ovington Inlands for round one of the Craftinsure supported Vines traveller series. Next up we head to Parkstone Yacht Club over the Easter weekend. Posted on 27 Mar
Ovington Inland Championships at Grafham
110 sailors spread across 83 boats and 6 classes attended It was great to see over 110 sailors spread across 83 boats and six classes for the Ovington Inland championship. This regatta has become a season opener for our classes over the years and whilst the sun was out, the temperatures stayed down. Posted on 20 Mar
Fireflys during the Ovington Inlands at Grafham
Sam and Benjamin Pascoe win in a new Ovington boat With the 505 still in the container coming home from Australia, I needed a boat to sail for the Ovington Inlands. Jono Pank very kindly offered the new Ovington class demo Firefly. I have to admit it is not my normal style / speed of boat. Posted on 19 Mar
2025 Schools Sailing Championships update
Magic Marine sponsor the prestigious event at Itchenor Sailing Club The prestigious Magic Marine National Schools Sailing Championships will be hosted by the historic Itchenor Sailing Club in June 2025, continuing a proud tradition that dates back to 1953. Posted on 9 Mar
The Imperial Icicle 2025 Team Racing at Queen Mary
20 different teams from across the country, including two teams from Dublin With twenty different teams from across the country, including two teams from Dublin, filling Travelodge's, Airbnb's and friend's floors on the Friday night, it was set to be the largest competition in the club's history. Posted on 27 Feb
WLYC 24 Hour Race wins RYA Event of the Year
And Sets Sights on 75 Entries for 2025 The WLYC 24 Hour Race has won the prestigious 'Event of the Year' Award at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, a fantastic recognition of the collaboration between competing clubs, and the dedication and passion of the volunteers. Posted on 24 Feb
Entries Open for the 79th Firefly Nationals
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Jurassic Coast Get ready, sailors! The 79th National Firefly Championships is coming to Lyme Regis from 16th to 22nd August, and entries are now officially open. Posted on 31 Jan
Panks sail to Bloody Mary glory
Using their light-airs skills to edge their Firefly to victory Jono and Freddie Pank used their light-airs skills to edge their Firefly to victory at last Saturday's GJW Direct 49th Bloody Mary. This is the most famous pursuit race in the UK dinghy racing scene. Posted on 14 Jan
GJW Direct Bloody Mary 2025
Very light winds and sunshine for the 99 boats at Queen Mary Sailing Club Firefly sailors Jono Pank and son Freddie won the GJW Direct Bloody Mary pursuit race, the sixth leg of the Selden Sailjuice Series, held at Queen Mary Sailing Club on Saturday 11th January 2025. Posted on 11 Jan
Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERSwitch One Design