GJW Direct Firefly Nationals at Weymouth Sailing Club - Practice Race
by Caroline Edwards 17 Aug 2014 21:06 BST
16-22 August 2014
Thirty-four boats congregated at Weymouth Town Sailing Club for the 68th GJW Direct Firefly National Championships.
With everyone through their boat checks the fleet took to the water for the practice race in a good but shifty 20 knots under blue sky.
The class ran a practice gate start before the fleet set off. Good practice for the race team and clearly some of the competitors as one student boat tried to join the Guard boat driver in his boat!
The second start ran smoothly and saw newly refurbished 973, Spiderling with Dave and Betty Sincock show off their beautiful wooden boat as pathfinder crossing the fleet.
The shifty and gusty conditions saw many place changes and close racing. Ben and Jenny Vines in 2144 Fetherlite took the lead at the windward mark, closely followed by Andy Cornah and Kate Fairclough in 888, Desperado. By the second lap Jono and Sarah Pank in 1954 Pogie, defending National Champions, were hot on the heels of Desperado. Some confusion with marks and visibility added to the place changes.
After a short race places finished with Pogie in 1st, Stuart and Jane Hudson in 3850 Fursty Ferret in 2nd and Desperado in 3rd. With the real racing commencing tomorrow and a high class fleet competition will be tight!
Generous sponsorship from GJW gives the fleet a strong student turn out after the free entry competition. Added bonus for the fleet, Rendevous Nightclub has provided free entry all week. The combination should generate some good Duckhams nominations!
With everyone set up for Day 2 a strong forecast may interfere with plans for racing for the Sussex Silver Firefly!