Fireflys gear up for Lyme Regis
by National Firefly Association 8 Aug 2019 15:46 BST
16-23 August 2019
The Firefly Nationals are set for Lyme Regis © Frances Davison
There's a lot that could be said about the indomitable Firefly. A true one-design class that's old enough to have its bus pass and then some but still holds its own at the forefront of UK dinghy racing.
A strong school and university following and fleet resurgences up and down the country are seeing the class go to go from strength to strength but the pinnacle of the Firefly calendar remains the National Championship - the often imitated, never equalled, Firefly Week!
This year 16-23rd August will see over 50 teams head to the Jurassic Coast for the 73rd Firefly National Championship at Lyme Regis Sailing Club. Once again the fleet once will be packed with talent. A whole host of past National and International Champions will be vying to unseat last year's champions, 'Notorious OAP' Guy Davison and supercrew Sally Wakefield. In such a deceptively simple boat, just to make it into the top half requires raw speed, excellent boat handling and tactical brilliance. But Firefly Week isn't just about who wins the sailing. The Firefly class is famous for playing as hard as it races, stubbornly holding on to traditional notions like "Nationals should be fun for everyone". The fleet is proudly "non-cliquey" and whatever your age and experience you can expect a warm welcome.
So without further ado, what can you expect at the 2019 Champs...
Well, the week kicks off on Saturday 16th with a scrutineering day that will see all competing boats weighed and checked for rules compliance. This will be a more rigorous measurement than usual so if you're coming to the champs make sure you've got any correctors you need fitted and remember those measurement certificates! The scrutineering process will be completed as competitors arrive and unpack their boats, so make sure you keep your mast
down and have your jib stick and rudder & stock ready for inspection. Once measured competitors are free to rig and go out for a sail. However, boats intending to go out will need to purchase a launching disk from the Harbour Master.
After a busy day of weighing, measuring and rigging the Commodore's reception and welcome drinks will officially welcome the Fireflys to Lyme Regis. Importantly, the reception will also feature the grand reveal of the 2019 Duckhams dresses (described by duckhams mistress of misrule Frances and assistant Fi as "exceptionally hideous") and their first presentation which will be broadcast live on Instagram and Facebook.
Sunday 17th is scheduled as the first day of racing with the practise race, and the first of the points races, the Port of Plymouth Trophy, on the programme. In the evening the Ronstan buddies reveal and annual Firefly quiz makes a relaxed start to the week's festivities proper and is a great opportunity for competitors to socialise. The quiz, as always, is followed by music and dancing into the small hours.
Monday 18th sees more points racing scheduled with the illustrious Sussex Silver Firefly up for grabs in points race two and Felixstowe Ferry trophy for points race three. Racing is set to be followed by the NFA AGM at 1900 in the Lyme Regis SC bar. Technology dependent, the committee will try to have a live video link going on Facebook for anyone interested in proceedings.
Tuesday points race four for the RAFSA trophy is scheduled to be completed, along with any planned racing not able to be completed earlier in the week, before the fleet seedings for the rest of the Championship are published on the class notice board and online. Then Tuesday night will see the civilised Helms dinner at Lyme Regis SC and the distinctly uncivilised Crews' Union at an "as yet undisclosed" location.
Wednesday in the Firefly fleet is traditionally known as "Big Wednesday". This is partly because it follows Tuesdays Crews Union shenanigans and partly because the day belongs to the gruelling 12 nautical mile test of endurance that is points race five, better known as the Sir Ralph Gore Challenge Cup and the Marlow Cup for non-qualifying boats. Four laps of a triangular course with legs of no less than a mile in length, along with a final mile drag upwind to the finish. For those still standing afterwards; 'The Gore' is followed by the infamous Gore afterparty in association with Marlow Ropes where the class celebrate completing the course and crown the new Gore and Marlow champions. This year is a massive triple celebration as the Fireflys mark a huge anniversary with Marlow (70 years of partnership with and 60 years since the signing of the deed of gift of the Marlow Cup at the Plymouth 1959 Nationals) and inaugurate a new perpetual award, the Mike Cocksedge Cup for highest place 21 or under helm in the Points Race 5. The Cocksedge Cup is one of the small silver cups which used to be presented to the winners of the Gore Cup in recognition of their win. It was donated by 1959 Gore champion helm and former Marlow man, Mike who passed away in March. In honour of the occasion the fleet will be invoking the spirit of 1959 by donning their smart casual / yacht club threads and attempting to drink the bar dry. David from Marlow Ropes will be making an appearance to present prizes and answer any of your rope questions - we might even get him on the 'Oar of Gore'
There will be a few sore heads for sure for points race six and seven on Thursday but the prospect of the massive final night Firefly fancy dress party is sure to rally the fleet. After much debate - and a contentious and extremely close vote on social media - this year's fancy dress theme is 'Jurassic'. A mammoth amount of effort has gone in to laying on a Rex-cellent night of food and entertainment that's not to be missed. There will be plenty of cheap drinks courtesy of sponsors St Austell Brewery help the fleet forget how dino-sore they are after four days of hard racing. The LRSC clubhouse has some excellent beams and even a padded ceiling, so if any party can tricera-top last year's toga party this one can! (Our dinosaur puns are pteroble, we know).
Friday sees two final races scheduled. Points race eight and Points race nine for The Mike Nye memorial trophy to close the championship. Then it's pack-up, prizegiving and home to dream of doing it all again in Torbay in 2020.
Thanks go to our irrepressible Championship organiser Jim Bramley and the whole team at Lyme Regis, who have put in a monumental amount of work together to deliver what promises to be an epic event both on and off the water. A huge thanks also has to go to our fabulous class partners Marlow Ropes, Hyde Sails, Ronstan, Selden, CoastWaterSports, St. Austell Brewery and Lyme Bay Winery for their generous support.
Make sure you follow the Firefly swarm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (#Flynats19) and keep an eye on YachtsandYachting.com for daily reports.
#jointheswarm