GJW Direct Firefly Nationals at Restronguet - Day 5

Day 5 at the GJW Direct Firefly Nationals at Restronguet © Sheridan Brown

Today the Fireflys were slightly relieved to be greeted by lighter winds than the previous few days – force 2-4 and glorious sunshine.

In the first race the race officer had to abandon after a large shift came through; he then moved the course south to the Carrick Roads in search of a steadier breeze, which paid off.

After the restart Paul and Chris Kameen got the shifts right on the first beat, pursued by Dave and Betty Sincock and Jamie and Jo McEwen. Down the run the McEwens went right and got a bit more breeze to slip past the Sincocks, and after splitting from the Kameens on the next beat got a lucky shift to take the lead.

The Sincocks then came charging up, swapping the lead with the McEwens several times before finally the McEwens rolled them on the last leg to take the win – their first at a Firefly Nationals since 2006.

In conditions the same as Race 7, getting the early shifts right was crucial in race 8. Coming from the right hand side the early leaders were Sophia and Alan Hulbert (cyclone) closely followed by Lucy Boreham and Rachel Crebbin (Willow) and Dave and Betty Sincock (Spiderling).

At the first windward Mark the Sincocks squeezed round just ahead of the Hulberts in second and Willow third with the pack on their heels.

With the jostling for position on the trapezoid course the leaders slipped away from the pack to lead with a clear lead at the leeward mark. The Cornish boat went on and slowly increased the lead all the way to the end. Ben and Jenny Vines came through impressively to second, well clear of Hudson and Lumby in 3rd and 4th, with Greaves and Edwards finishing fifth.

Hudson and Marston look to have the series sewn up but the following places look to be going to the wire.

Great day sailing in the Cornish sunshine!

www.fireflysailing.org.uk

Results after Day 5: (eight races, 1 discard)