Firefly Open at Upper Thames Sailing Club
by Steven Greaves 20 Sep 2005 09:11 BST
17-18 September 2005
Rounding the final mark during the Upper Thames Firefly open © Patrick Walmsley
A total of fifteen Fireflies rounded upon Upper Thames Sailing Club over the weekend of 17th and 18th of September to enjoy some close racing along with the legendary evening dinner laid on by the welcoming club.
The racing is split between two single events on Saturday and a three race event on Sunday. Saturday’s first race took place in sunshine and light winds and was a single handed race competing for the Bourne End Challenge cup. There was much place changing over the first few legs before Angus cook pulled out an unassailable lead over Grant Murphy to take the win. Last years winner, local boy Jonny Bickford, completed the top three.
The lazy amongst us turned up at midday and rigged for the afternoons’ double handed race, The Measurers Cup. Once again sailed in sunshine and a light breeze the fleet got away to a clean start for the four mile race. By the first mark Steve Greaves, crewed by Jane Hudson had established a slim lead, closely followed by Rob Cage, sailing F18 with lightweight daughter Georgina performing crewing duties. They were kept honest by father and daughter team of Angus and Maisie Cook and a variety of Bickfords. Greaves and Hudson extended their lead over the following three laps only to have it cruelly snatched away by a resurgent Guy Davison and Liz Sutton recovering from the back of the fleet. Such was their amazing ascent through the fleet in their own personal breeze that when they won the race the race officer did not give them a gun believing them to be lapped! The Cages sailed well to finish second and locals Angus and Maisie finished third.
Saturday evening was as good as ever with plenty of local ale and fine food, creating a fair few hangovers for the windless and over cast Sunday morning. A light wind eventually got the fleet underway for the first of the days’ races. The course was slightly more complicated, causing Simon Spolton, crewed by Laura Haigh to hand the lead to Greaves and Hudson by rounding the top mark the wrong way. They managed to keep the lead until the finish although there was a lot of fighting for the elusive gusts behind. The Cook team tamed the conditions slightly better than the Cage team, taking second and third ahead of Davison and Sutton. Dave Cheshire and crew Emma Petit finished fifth, competing in there second open meeting in as many weeks since migrating South for the winter.
Race two was sailed back to back in similar conditions with similar results. Greaves and Hudson won, but this time from Rob and Georgina second and the Cooks third. The wind gave up completely over the lunch break so a result was declared leaving Steve Greaves and Jane Hudson as winners over the two father and daughter teams.
Our thanks go to Craftinsure.com for sponsorship of the prizes. The next Firefly event takes place on the 8th and 9th of October at Spinnaker Sailing Club with the Random Pairs two boat team racing event on he Saturday followed by the Open meeting on the Sunday.
Alternative Report from Patrick Walmsley:
A weekend of very light winds greeted the 15 Fireflies, 7 from the home
club and others from Dell Quay, Felixtow Ferry, South Staffs, Thames,
West Kirby, Llangorse, Rickmansworth and Tamesis.
Saturday saw a cool start with a northerly wind of force 1 to 2 giving
an autumnal feel to the proceedings. The single handed race for the
Bourne End Challenge Cup was won by Angus Cook from Upper Thames in
“Officer Dibble” and the Measurers Cup was won by Guy Davidson and Liz Sutton
from Llangorse.
Sunday dawned with a westerly breeze again force 1 to 2 but a little
warmer.
Race 1 was won by Steve Greaves and Jane Hudson in Cumulus No. 1867
from Rickmansworth S.C. Second Angus Cook crewed by Tabatha Cook in
Officer Dibble No. 3695. Third Rob Cage crewed by Georgina Cage in Flaire No.
18 from Thames S.C.
Race 2 was won again by Greaves and Hudson with the Cage duo second and
Angus Cook with Masie third.
Due to the wind completely disappearing, the third race was abandoned
thus giving the final result for The Upper Thames Firefly Challenge Cup
First to Steve Greaves and Jane Hudson. Second Rob and Georgina Cage
with Angus and Tabatha/Masie Cook Third.
Overall Results:
1st F1867 Steven Greaves & Jane Hudson (Rickmansworth SC)
2nd F18 Rob Cage & Georgina Cage (Thames SC)
3rd F3695 Angus Cook & Maisie Cook (Upper Thames SC)
4th F2539 Guy Davison & Liz Sutton (Llangorse SC)
5th F2629 David Cheshire & Emma Pettitt (West Kirby SC)
6th F2282 Will Mason & Amy Bowden (Tamesis)