Firefly Class: Review of the Year 2004
by Firefly Class Association 27 Dec 2004 12:46 GMT
58 years old and still going strong. 60 new boats built in 2004, over 50 entries at the Nationals, a vibrant fleet racing scene and still the only boat for team racing. Another great year for the Firefly Class.
January – Firefly no.1 takes pride of place in the new National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.
February – Plymouth University become the 20th University, Club or School to order a fleet of Fireflys since the year 2000
March – 1948 Olympic Firefly no. 503 is exhibited at the Dinghy Show. She will be rebuilt in time to be sailed at the 60th Anniversary Nationals in Abersoch, 5th to 11th August 2006
April – The fleet racing season opens with Easter Regattas at Waldringfield and Lymington
May – Chris Kameen with crew James Blacksell wins race 3 at the Firefly SW areas at Restronguet. Chris ends the year on top of the 500 names on the classes unique ranking system.
June – The Firefly is used for the 2004 3 Club Burgee Team Race at Thames Sailing Club. First sailed for the 1930's this event is hotly contested between the Thames based clubs Thames SC, Minima SC and Tamesis SC.
July – A windy Southern Area Championships at Hamble River sees recently crowned ISAF Youth World Champion Nick Thompson jump into a Firefly as a last minute substitute. He finished 3rd overall.
August – the 58th National Championships take place at Tenby SC. The popular duo of Anthony Gunstone and Lucy Buck win for the first time. Anthony’s last big win was the 1986 Optimist Nationals!
September – the class revert back to river racing on the Thames. Newly weds Alex and Rosie Davey win the world roll tacking championships at Bourne End
October – 18 foot skiff sailor Mark Tait and multiple ISAF Gold medalist Sally Wakefield win the Inland Championships at South Staffs.
November – The Firefly Class team racing Championships take place at West Kirby. Spinnaker Club win a hard fought event with 4 teams from Ireland coming over to join the party.
December – For the 2nd time in 4 years, the Firefly Class makes it onto primetime BBC TV. In 2001 it was Blue Peter, this time the winning entry on BBC Gardener of the Year includes an old wooden Firefly as an integral part of the design.
Next year Nationals take place at Felixstowe Ferry SC, Suffolk from the 13th to the 19th August. As always, a great line up of fleet and team racing events take place throughout the year. If you have a Firefly in the garage, make sure it’s on the water in 2005.