Firefly Inlands at South Staffordshire Sailing Club
by Mark Tait 3 Nov 2004 08:07 GMT
23-24 October 2004

Action from the Firefly Inlands at South Staffs © Barney Smith
The fleet of 28 boats descended on the Galley pool for a leisurely start to be greeted by complimentary tea, bacon rolls and a light breeze.
The first race was dominated by Class legend Stuart Hudson and Linda Eadie, winning convincingly, the chasing pack played snakes and ladders. The second race was held after a great lunch in minimal wind and rain. Chris Kameen and Liz Neave proved the wiliest zephyr hunters escaping torrential rain first. Saturdays results left first to seventh separated by three points, plenty to play for on Sunday.
Sunday dawned to tea and Bacon rolls, bright Blue skies and a fresh breeze. The race committee continued in their excellent manner making it look easy – whist the competitors struggled with 30-degree shifts. Mark Tait and Sally Cuthbert convincingly won the first Race.
The wind had built for fourth race, the leaders remained more bunched for the first half but again Mark and sally slipped away to win.
The overall series was still all to play for in the final race. Simon Spolton and Amy lead the charge, Keeping the lead to the finish. Age and experience often wins in tricky conditions. This time it seemed to be down to the boats themselves. The combined of the first 3 boats being well over 130 years must be something of a record, whilst that of 4th and 5th would be under one!!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 2587 | M Tait | S Wakefield | Wessex Exiles | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | 69 | C. Kameen | L Neeve | West Kirby | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | 1853 | S. Spolton | Amy | Castaways | 2 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 12 |
| 4 | 3681 | S. Hudson | L Eadie and R Jones | Spinnaker | 1 | DNSO | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
| 5 | 3811 | J. Billington | S Mellor | South Staffs | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
| 6 | 3072 | D. Boreham | L Boreham | London Corinthian | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 21 |
| 7 | 3619 | K. Macaulay | A Macaulay | South Staffs | 8 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 25 |
| 8 | 3619W | N. Goodhead | Goodhead | South Staffs | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 26 |
| 9 | 3683 | W. Bradburn | Bradburn | South Staffs | 9 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 36 |
| 10 | 2 | J. Warburton | | Cardifff Uni./South Staffs | 11 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 44 |
| 11 | 2749 | E. Nicklin | | South Staffs | 18 | DNF | 9 | 7 | 11 | 45 |
| 12 | 2282 | W. Mason | J Brooks | Tamesis | 14 | DNSO | 12 | 9 | 15 | 50 |
| 13 | 13677 | E. Bradburn | | South Staffs | 12 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 50 |
| 14 | 3809 | A. Rowland | | West Kirby | 15 | DNS | 10 | 10 | 17 | 52 |
| 15 | 2215 | T. Hotchkiss | B Hotchkiss | South Staffs | 16 | DNF | 14 | 14 | 10 | 54 |
| 16 | 3677 | M Evans | | South Staffs | 13 | 13 | 15 | DNF | 13 | 54 |
| 17 | 3616 | J. Bickford | J Mason | Upper Thames | 17 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 59 |
| 18 | 3714 | S. Troke | | South Staffs | 20 | 12 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 69 |
| 19 | 2213 | J. Salomonson | | South Staffs | 21 | 14 | 21 | DNS | 14 | 70 |
| 20 | 3739 | S. Fleming | | South Staffs | 19 | DSQ | 18 | DNF | 12 | 75 |
| 21 | 3023 | B. Smith | R Crebbin | Wessex Exiles | 7 | DNSO | DNC | DNC | DNC | 85 |
| 22 | 1 | J. Clapham | | Cardifff Uni. | 24 | DNSO | 19 | 20 | 22 | 85 |
| 23 | 2517 | M. Warbrick | | South Staffs | 23 | DSQ | 22 | 19 | 21 | 85 |
| 24 | 5 | G. Baggott | | Cardifff Uni. | 25 | 15 | 24 | DNS | 23 | 87 |
| 25 | 3618 | C. Rhodes | H Rhodes | South Staffs | 22 | DNF | 23 | 18 | DNC | 89 |