Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Firefly South West Championship at Restronguet Sailing Club

by Jane Hudson 1 Jun 2016 13:53 BST 28-30 May 2016
Firefly South West Championship at Restronguet © Graham Dyer

An enthusiastic fleet of 23 Fireflys competed for the 2016 south-west area championships over the late May bank holiday weekend at Restronguet Sailing Club. The weather was generally warm and sunny, with light winds on the first two days, and the breeze picking up on the final day to give everyone a good workout.

On the Saturday the light and shifty easterly (most unusual at Restronguet) was mastered rather better by some than others. Top of the scoreboard after two races were Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson with 1 and 2, closely followed by Stuart and Jane Hudson in their recently-revamped wooden boat "Tanglefoot". Successful days were also had by Alex Davey, crewed by 8-year-old son Thomas, and Ed Smith sailing with his daughter Sophie.

Sunday saw more tricky conditions as the gradient north-westerly battled with a nascent sea breeze. The race officer did very well to squeeze in two races before the wind died completely at lunchtime. Local heroes (and defending champions) Ben Lumby and Liz Evans made a belated return to form, winning the first race, and Alex and Thomas continued their impressive series in taking the second one. Meanwhile though, Nigel and Emily extended their overall lead with two seconds.

Monday was back to classic Restronguet champagne sailing conditions, with blue skies and a force 4 from the north-west. In the first race Jamie and Jo McEwen just held off Rob and Mel Sherrington to take line honours, whilst Nigel and Emily's fourth place was enough to give them the championships with a race to spare. The other podium places were still very much up for grabs though, and a long hard final race was eventually won the Hudsons to give them second overall, pushing Alex and Thomas down to third.

The ladies' prize was very closely contested, tied on points between Sophia Hulbert and Lucy Boreham, with Sophia taking it on countback. In the single-handed championship (one race on the Saturday), Jamie McEwen won, beating Stuart Hudson by a coat of paint. After the prize giving the competitors and supporters were treated to the legendary Restronguet cream tea - the perfect end to another glorious weekend.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st3674Nigel WakefieldEmily SaundersonSt Denys21224‑611
2nd2631Stuart HudsontbcKeyhaven13‑1175117
3rd2649Alexander DaveyThomas Davy tbcRoyal Harwich YC42619‑1222
4th3615Jamie McEwenJo McEwenPapercourt SC11‑12441424
5th2659Ben LumbyLiz EvansRestronguet SC‑139193325
6th1867Steven GreavesCaroline BattrickRickmansworth SC55‑1487227
7th973David SincockBetty SincockRestronguet SC76‑836830
8th3318Guy DavidsonAmy Stamp ‑144958531
9th2803Edward SmithSophie SmithPapercourt SC375611(DNC)32
10th3029Jack Elsby‑HartmanMillie RevellRestronguet SC8‑13131110749
11th3677Geoff HallHayley GoacherRestronguet SC981015‑191355
12th3617Melanie SherringtontbcSpinnaker SC6(DNC)3DNF2DNC59
13th2502Sophia HulbertAlan HulbertRestronguet SC1611‑171214962
14th3739Lucy BorehamRachel CresinChichester YC1214‑2113131062
15th2282Will MasonPolly MasonPapercourt SC10101214‑211864
16th3023Barny SmithFinn Morris (DNC)DNC710121467
17th2519Andy WeirDylan WeirRestronguet SC1517‑1818171582
18th1522Ben GreenFi EdwardsLymington Town1916‑2019181183
19th3875Roderick BlandCharlie Elsby‑HartmanRestronguet SC‑20151516201783
20th3215Gilly PhillipsAmy MorrisPapercourt SC(DNC)DNC1617151688
21st8Guy EnglishAnna WoodheadRestronguet SC1818222116(DNF)95
22nd1319Alex OgilviePeter PerkinsGurnard21(DNC)1920DNSDNS108
23rd3893Anna KennedyJames KennedyKeyhaven YC17(DNC)23DNS22DNF110

Related Articles

Lymington Dinghy Regatta 2025
The 190 sailors included almost 70 visiting teams The Lymington Dinghy Regatta, hosted jointly by the Lymington Town SC and Royal Lymington YC took place on the 19/20 July, proudly supported by local company Harken UK. Posted on 22 Jul Senior Schools Nationals at Itchenor
Thee days of exhilarating youth sailing for 80 Fireflys The 2025 Senior Schools Week at Itchenor Sailing Club, sponsored by Magic Marine, brought together 80 Fireflys for an exhilarating three days of youth racing in the picturesque Chichester Harbour. Posted on 14 Jul Boat Building Academy's largest female cohort
The most gender diverse course to date have launched their stunning new boats Students on the BBA's most gender diverse course to date have launched their stunning new boats. The latest 40-week boat building course run by the Academy enrolled 15 students, of which seven were women. Posted on 12 Jul Firefly Itchenor Sailing Club Burgee
The fleet braced for long courses The briefing was notable because the Race Officer Charles Duchesne was under the impression that Fireflys average 4 knots! We braced for long courses. Posted on 30 Jun BSDRA Schools Week preview
Itchenor host 300 students for the National Schools Championships this month With a bumper entry of 160+ boats, next week's Schools Week Sponsored by Magic Marine promises thrilling racing and, with luck, some favourable June weather. This year's Championships are expected to draw around 300 students. Posted on 18 Jun Firefly Craftinsure Vines series at South Staffs
Numbers for the last race were reduced as Birmingham Uni students held back Six visitors joined a four-strong 'local legends' fleet for the South Staffs Firefly Open on 14th June, part of the 2025 Craftinsure Vines series. The fleet was greeted with sunshine and a gusty force 3-4 SW breeze. Posted on 16 Jun Norfolk Broads Firefly Open
Part of the multi class dinghy weekend at Wroxham The Norfolk Broads once again proved itself as a high-class sailing destination as the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club hosted the 2nd running of the Wroxham Firefly Open over the weekend of 7th & 8th June as part of its multi class dinghy weekend. Posted on 14 Jun Firefly South Western Championship at Restronguet
An impressive fleet of 40 Fireflys with sailors of all ages The 52nd Firefly South Western Championships at Restronguet Sailing Club took place as usual over the Early May Bank Holiday. An impressive fleet of 40 Fireflys with sailors of all ages assembled for three days of exhilarating dinghy racing. Posted on 1 Jun 76th Wilson Trophy at West Kirby
24 teams included five from the USA and four from Ireland Thirty-four of the best teams in the world competed over two and a half days for the coveted Wilson Trophy, including five teams from the USA and four from Ireland. The event used a Swiss League round robin format followed by the knockout stages. Posted on 29 May Firefly 'Ricky' event at Rickmansworth
Four thrilling races all started under black flag, catching a few teams out The annual Firefly Open Meeting at Rickmansworth Sailing Club drew a competitive fleet of 19 boats gather on Saturday, 17th May 2025, with sailors travelling from across the country, from as far as South Staffs and Wroxham Broad. Posted on 23 May
Copyright 2025 YY Online Services Ltd. registered in England no. 7895890
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy