GJW Direct Firefly Nationals at Weymouth Sailing Club - Day 1
by Caroline Edwards 18 Aug 2014 07:49 BST
16-22 August 2014
The first day of the Firefly nationals was a blustery affair with strong westerly winds forcing the race officer Frank Newton to postpone racing until the afternoon. Competitors arrived at the race area to find the wind still gusting 25 knots and building chop. The fleet got away under a gate start, with pathfinders David Ellis and Evie Snedker, in their newly renovated boat 'Geoff', leading the way.
A left hand shift at the end of the first beat favoured Mel and Rob Sherrington who led around the top mark, closely followed by Ben and Jenny Vines and Jono and Sarah Pank. Stuart and Jane Hudson rounded fourth and showed good off wind speed, making gains down a very exciting first reach, (snorkels and masks would have been helpful for crews!) and sailing into 2nd by the gybe mark and 1st by the leeward mark, with the Sherringtons in 2nd place.
At the windward mark for the second time, the Hudsons and Sherringtons had consolidated their positions, with the Panks and Vines and enjoying some close racing behind.
After a hairy run, and with the wind building, the race officer decided to shorten course at the next windward mark, with the Hudsons finishing first and Sherringtons second making it a Keyhaven Yacht Club 1,2 followed by the Panks in third and Vines in 4th.