Firefly 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series Round 2 at South Staffordshire Sailing Club

by Alex Baxter 20 Apr 03:16 PDT 18 April 2026

28, yes that's right, 28 Fireflys joined for the South Staffs Firefly Open Meeting on 18th April 2026 - a number so unexpected it required a double-count, a triple-count, and, eventually, an extra pontoon.

The Firefly Class, celebrating its 80th anniversary, returned to the club some thirty years after the 50th anniversary party held here. Commodore of the club at the time was Tony Hotchkiss, whose love of a Firefly has evidently not dimmed in the intervening three decades. Tony and his wife, Brenda Hotchkiss, were back to compete in the open this weekend, and the author would love to hear from anyone with archive details from 30 years ago that might refresh their memories - and those of many others in our club.

The NFA is pleased to have been handed a 'Midland Firefly Class' box of past bulletins and photos of the 50th anniversary event, now in the safe hands of the class secretary. We are still seeking a class archivist, if anyone is interested - the sole qualification being the capacity to store stuff, and maybe occasionally check it's still there.

Friday Night

Celebrations kicked off on Friday night, with the bar open - a combination the fleet has historically found irresistible. There were celebrations for Jono Pank's birthday, with Tash Armstrong having very kindly made a cake. I can attest from one red head to another, that she makes a far better ginger cake than I do.

Sebi Schmidt in 2925 (crewed this weekend by Emily Batterton) sent this author a text at around 23:00 to report he'd had 5 pints, spent £12, and fallen off a chair whilst 'entirely sober, in front of a load of children who now think I'm a drunkard.' I was not there at the time, but of the three numerical claims in that dispatch, I think at least one of them is rigorously true.

Upon my arrival at around 09:30 the next day, Jason looked a bit worse for wear and Jono said he was drinking rum until 03:00. So I'm assuming normal service resumed.

Race 1

The racing kicked off at 10:55 sharp. Again, I was very relieved that the first start was recalled, as it allowed me to finish assembling the boat. Unfortunately, it also didn't stop Helen and me in 3677 from being black-flagged at the second attempt, after some watch malfunction, general incompetence, and a deep-seated belief that the committee boat was probably lying that it was only us that was over. Anyway - despite the flag, we were basically third the entire way round, and enjoyed an excellent, uninterrupted, entirely non-scoring view of Terry Hacker and Alice Lucy in 2457 doing the first of three horizon jobs on the rest of the fleet. Terry said he 'greatly enjoyed his first Firefly open' - the kind of sentence that tends to precede a decade of losing for everyone else.

In second, after quite a nip-and-tuck race - in which we all had to negotiate which mark was which, and which way one was actually supposed to go around the island - was Chris Kameen and Martin Jones in 2937. The early laps had featured a great scramble between Chris, Jenny Smallwood and Philip Aldhous in 3625 (our resident Dr Jenny and Dr Phil), and Jason Aldous and Izzy Bretherton in 2065, swapping first, second and third for the first few laps. Unfortunately, on the final leg, the wind politely absented itself, and from somewhere in the mid-fleet Jamie Webb and Chloe Webb in 3353 (once again, congratulations on the wedding) romped through to take the final podium spot.

Special shout-out to Poppy Armstrong and (Dad) Angus Armstrong in 4500 in the class Demo Ovi, who had a cracking race in fourth - an absolute menace to get past, and sailing very well despite the inherent operational complications of a boat containing both a teenager and their father.

Race 1 podium: Terry/Alice; Chris/Martin; Jamie/Chloe.

Race 2

After a lovely lunch - again, very sharply timed - of shepherd's pie (lamb from a club member, would highly recommend; sheep, sadly, unavailable for comment), we re-launched for the second race. Negotiating 28 Fireflys and two pontoons was rather challenging. Although admittedly not as challenging as convincing Guy Davison in 3318 not to leave his boat moored there over lunch. Apparently, the slipway was a little steep. It was, to be fair, about the same gradient as most of his racing arguments. Anyway, I digress.

Race two started easily enough. The line was slightly starboard-biased, although not as much as at first blush, with Alex Smallwood and Vicky Sisk in 3691 (brother of Jenny, in a newly acquired, £500 old Rondar Firefly, with 27-year-old shrunken Musto sails, in a vintage 'brown colour' which apparently let light through them) showing us all how to do it in style. Not that it stopped Terry and Alice sailing to the windward mark in first and never looking back. But enough about them - they were just too good for the rest of us mere mortals.

In two were Chris and Martin, who had a pretty comfortable second. Behind them were Jono Pank and Freddie Pank in 4400, and then a gaggle of Jenny and Phil, Alex and Vicky, Alex and Helen, and Jason and Izzy - the latter of whom frankly got f*cked by a wind shift going into the windward mark. At which point, being right next to them, all I could hear was 'womp womp womp' as they failed to make the mark, had to gybe round into oncoming starboard boats, and, well, I never saw them again.

We then carried on in that procession for a while, until the wind entirely shut off. At that point, Alex and Helen went into pond mode, somehow sailed past Chris, Jenny and Alex, and finished in third behind Jono and Terry.

Race 2 podium: Terry/Alice; Jono/Freddie; Alex Baxter/Helen.

Race 3

The third race was pretty fun too. The top three had had time to go in and use the facilities - a considerable tactical advantage - whilst Jenny decided not to wait for Phil and had a lovely sail around solo (some say it's not too late to not have to sail with him forever...).

We attempted to start the third race with an incredibly biased line. Had one pop at it before the race officer, with admirable lack of sentimentality, upended the start line and entire course, and we went again. This start was still quite boat-biased, and, well, it was quite busy. I arrived a bit late, saw Jono shouting, and was attached to another boat. There was a single recall (which I thought was a general), I shouted 'It wasn't me' - on principle - and most of the fleet seemingly weren't doing much sailing. One of the clearer signs, I thought, was that Terry and Alice appeared to be going the wrong way around the island. Little did I know that this was all part of a very devilish plan, and they rounded miles ahead of all of us (what a power move). Behind them were Chris, Jono and then me, followed by Jenny.

We had quite a great race between us, with real nip-and-tuck racing. At some point, Jenny sailed past me, and at some point, we sailed back past them. Chris was initially quite near us, but managed to eke out a sizable gap. Unfortunately for Jono that meant that second overall was beyond the realms of possibility. It then became a really tactical race between Jono (leading), Alex slightly behind, and Jenny slightly behind them. The trick was spotting the pressure downwind and upwind alike, and attempting to sail into it. There was a lot of peering over one's shoulder. Jono and Freddie thought they had it, after I had basically tried everything short of prayer, only for us to go left up the final beat, get a cracking lift, and finish third on the water for the third consecutive race (let's ignore the black flag in the first race).

Race 3 podium: Terry/Alice; Chris/Martin; Alex Baxter/Helen.

Overall Results: (top ten)

Pos	Sail No	Helm & Crew	Club	Pts
1	2457	Terry Hacker & Alice Lucy	Rutland SC	2
2	2937	Chris Kameen & Martin Jones	Imperial Poona YC	4
3	4400	Jono Pank & Freddie Pank	Imperial Poona YC	6
4	3677	Alex Baxter & Helen Jones	OCSS	6
5	3691	Alex Smallwood & Vicky Sisk	Northants SC / East Beds SC	9
6	3353	Jamie Webb & Chloe Webb	OCSS	10
7	3625	Jenny Smallwood & Philip Aldhous	West Oxfordshire SC	11
8	4500	Poppy Armstrong & Angus Armstrong	Budworth SC	14
9	2065	Jason Aldous & Izzy Bretherton	Papercourt SC	15
10	2	Jonny Coate & Sophie Coate	South Staffs SC	15

28 boats, 3 races sailed, 1 discard. Congratulations to Terry and Alice on a flawless scoreline; next time they enter a Firefly open. Chris and Martin were then in second, counting two seconds, whilst Jono/Freddie and Alex/Helen were each tied on six points, but unfortunately for the latter, 2 and a 4 unjustly beats a 3 and a 3. It's very rare I sail more consistently than Jono and even then, it seemingly wasn't enough.

Huge thanks to South Staffs Sailing Club - a beautifully run event from start to finish, with top-drawer racing, top-drawer shepherd's pie, and a welcome every bit as warm as it must have been at the 50th anniversary thirty years ago. We'll be back.

Craftinsure Vines Series — Standings After Round 2

Two events down and the 2026 Vines Series is beginning to take shape:

1st Chris Kameen (Imperial Poona YC)
2nd Jono Pank (Imperial Poona YC)
3rd= Jason Aldous (Papercourt SC)
3rd= Jenny Smallwood (West Oxfordshire SC)

The 2026 Raffle — Race to Win

Every helm and crew who raced at South Staffs has now earned a raffle ticket for the 80th anniversary draw. The prize is Firefly F4444, the class ex-demo boat built in 2024 by Ovington Boats - race-ready with Selden spars, Hyde sails and covers, and a launch trolley from Sailboat Trailers. It is, in short, significantly nicer than most of what we turned up in.

If you haven't opted in yet you must register your name, phone and email at forms.gle/MSeCVBpEpvcyQp1v7 by 14 November 2026. Not on the circuit? You can still play - your Sailing Secretary can submit club racing results to (one ticket per four days of club racing, max five).

The draw takes place at the 80th Anniversary Dinner, Saturday 21 November 2026, at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Next Up — The Elizabeth Cup, Tamesis Club, Saturday 25 April

The fleet now heads south to the Thames for the Elizabeth Cup at Tamesis Club next Saturday, 25 April - one of the most charming fixtures on the calendar and the next round of the Craftinsure Vines Series. Tamesis, tucked onto the river at Teddington, is famous for tidal sailing of an idiosyncratic flavour. Entries via the club; race pack on www.fireflyclass.co.uk.

The 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series is proudly supported by Craftinsure. The National Firefly Class Association's named sponsor is Tideway Wealth. The 2026 raffle prize is generously provided by Ovington Boats, Selden, Hyde and Sailboat Trailers. All results and entry information at www.fireflyclass.co.uk.