New trophies for the Fireball Nationals
by Chris Turner, UKFA Chairman 8 Apr 2018 10:05 BST
New trophies for the Fireball Nationals © Chris Turner
As readers may be aware, the UK Fireball Association has made a determined – and successful - effort to locate and recover missing Fireball trophies. As I write six have been found, including some we didn't know existed in the first place!
What this means is that for the first time in a decade or more we will have a full complement of trophies to present at this year's Nationals (presuming, of course, last year's winners bring their trophies back......).
All this activity sparked a review of the trophy schedule and, as a consequence, a few obvious gaps in awards became apparent. For instance, a trophy is awarded to the first lady helm but not to the first lady crew. A 'Wheelchair' (to be re-titled Master Helm) trophy is presented to the highest-placed helm over 50 years old but there is no equivalent for the crew. Other classes go further and recognise that people are sailing for longer than ever before and award trophies for those over 60 years old.
For these reasons four new permanent trophies have been acquired and will be awarded at Penzance. Pictured above are (left to right) the Grandmaster Helm Trophy (60 years +), Master Crew Trophy (50-60 years old), Grandmaster Crew Trophy (60 years +) and, at the front, 1st Lady Crew Trophy.
Finally, we will be presenting the Toby Hamer Memorial Trophy which is currently being worked on by Dave Dobrijevic of Dynamic Sails where Toby learned the art of sail-making. This award will be presented to a youngster or a youth team who has sailed in the championship with the enthusiasm, spirit and general joie de vivre we all associated with Toby.