Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Video footage of Firefly dinghies in the 1980s and 90s - plus team racing

by Magnus Smith 15 Dec 2024 04:00 PST
Wilson Trophy at West Kirby in the late 1970s © Martyn Bromley

It's time to dig into the video archives again, almost exactly one year after our first ever video feature, which happened to be on 1950s Firefly sailing. But all we can add now is footage from the 1980s and 90s - nothing from the 1960s and 70s - what is going on?! We will have to throw a few team racing videos into the mix....

See part 1 for the Fifties videos.

The Eighties

Firefly Nationals 1984 - this was at Mount's Bay, and there's a whole hour to watch.

The Nineties

National Championships 1992 - three whole hours of material was recorded at Tenby!

Some team racing for you now, but in the Firefly, of course: London Duck 1993

The Team Racing World Championship at West Kirby was apparently the first ever. Can you name the year?

You can also watch the final with GBR vs IRL from the above event.

This record of Spinnaker Club's team racing history from 1996 has lots of Firefly footage here and there.

Once the year 2000 hit, videos started to become digital, and the nostalgia isn't present. Thus we end our story here... unless you can help?

What of the other decades?

Do you know the location of any Firefly videos from the 1960s or 70s? We would love to share these with other sailors. You can submit video links to us for immediate review.

Keep watching with:

Related Articles

Globe40 and La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec
A look at the Globe40 and the La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec It's always an encouraging sign when a round-the-world race begins its second edition, especially when the steeds in question are approachable boats for most serious sailors. Posted on 9 Sep
You just gotta love a good algorithm
So, I opened up YouTube, and there it was. Could not believe my luck, actually. So, I opened up YouTube, and there it was. Could not believe my luck, actually. The algorithm had coughed up something I really wanted to watch. Yes, I know it means Big Brother is watching and listening.Also, every key stroke is being recorded. Posted on 7 Sep
Carbon or Steel?
Moth Foil Evolution with Alex Adams Foils have been shrinking for years as sailors continually try to reduce drag and increase speeds, but designers were reaching the limit of what they could do with carbon, so the latest foils have turned to steel for some parts. Posted on 7 Sep
Unboxing the Bieker Moth with Kyle Stoneham
A look 'below decks' at the hidden control systems on Kyle's International Moth Why are all the ropes hidden on all the latest International Moths? It's all about aerodynamic efficiency as the boats get faster and faster. As we find out with Kyle, there are also some very clever systems under the carbon covers. Posted on 6 Sep
The Age of Steel in the Land of Rock
The International Moth class is never standing still This week the Moths have gathered in Torquay at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club for the UK Championship, and the discussion is all about steel. Posted on 3 Sep
From vision to reality
The XR 41's journey from sketch to World Champion In 2023 I took part in my first X-Yachts Gold Cup at Aarhus in Denmark. It was a glorious event, balancing fun and competition perfectly, and was a weekend where new friendships were formed with sailors who I continue to chat with regularly. Posted on 2 Sep
Why we need VMG and VMC
On The Ocean Race Europe Tracker The Ocean Race Europe Tracker has just had an update thanks to PredictWind, and now looks at routing for the boats, but it doesn't yet have VMG or VMC. Posted on 27 Aug
Sail now, and sail often
Some thoughts on capturing as much sailing time as possible I'll admit it had been too long. Way too long, if I'm being honest. Posted on 26 Aug
Yet more 'F' word
One of the enduring joys of this gig is circling back One of the enduring joys of this gig is circling back. This is no more especially so than when you get to see the plan unfold. Posted on 25 Aug
Dale Dunning on the TBird PNW Championship Regatta
Dale Dunning discusses the 2025 Thunderbird PNW Championship Regatta While there are plenty of different boats that are actively raced on Pacific Northwest waters, few designs are as regionally classic—or as regionally respected—as the “T-Bird”. Posted on 20 Aug
Sea Sure 2025Switch One DesignVaikobi Custom Teamwear