Firefly National Championship at Tenby Sailing Club - Day 3

2022 Firefly Nationals in Tenby day 3 © Hamish Walker

2022 Firefly Nationals in Tenby - Crews Union © Chloe Harding

The third day of the 2022 Firefly Nationals in Tenby brought more glorious sunshine and even less breeze. The early announcement of a 15:55 first warning signal gave a fuzzy-headed fleet plenty of time to recover from the previous night's antics - clearly they're familiar with the class!

The traditional "crewsday" Crews race was indefinitely postponed due to the forecast which one crew was very happy about as it would leave more time for Crews Union!

Race 6

Race 6 for the Avon Bailer was the first line start for the fleet. After a false start under the U flag PRO Nigel Denchfield was quick to put up the black flag to tame the eager fleet. Three boats fell foul of the and were forced to bob off home.

Dom and Izzy Johnson in F3154 'Gemini too' made the most of the port-biased line and tacked across the fleet to make it around the windward mark first. Jono Pank and Tomeake Diaz if F1956 'Pogie' and James Hammett and Tiger Tellwright if F2594 'Bloodhound' and Angus Cook and Lucie Hopkins in F3695 'Officer Dibble' were close behind as the forty boats made their way around a trapezoid course.

Jono and Tomeake had worked into the lead by the second windward with current event leaders Paul Kameen and Evie Snedker in F2018 'Biscuit Buffalo' catching up the race leaders with their superior pace. Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson in F3007 'TipTopToo' and Stuart and Robbie Hudson in F3850 'Fursty Ferret' had also found their way to the front of the pack.

By the last run the wind was dying to nothing. Dom and Izzy were in fourth but saw the new breeze coming early and were able to get their was back into the lead. The final drift towards the finish was painful but the father-daughter pair just finished within the time limit and the result of the fleet was Whisky-d to get a result.

Protests against the Race Committee for the finishing process delayed the publication of results and the announcement of Tuesday buddies was postponed until Wednesday.

The fleet had just enough time to recover before Tuesday nights social activity - the civilised Helm's Dinner and distinctly uncivilised Crews Union - kicked off.

The helms assembled in the club at the later start time of 8pm for a very nice sit-down dinner and a chat about boring helm things like rig settings and race strategy. Whilst over on the beach reports of two reprobates wheeling trollies of booze through Tenby proved, thankfully, to be correct as twenty more crews (and wannabe crews) than expected showed up suitably attired at the designated time ready for crew-punch-fuelled shenanigans.

What happens at Crews Union stays at Crews Union though.

After Helms and Crews, the fleet came back together to finish the night Firefly style in another big one and the Duckhams was awarded - in the first case of embarrassing overachievement this year - to Bruno Wuetrish.

At the end of day three Paul Kameen and Evie Snedker lead by six points from Jono Pank and Tomeake Diaz. Steve Tylecote and Alice Lucy sit on equal points with highest placed students James Hammett and Tiger Tellwright and complete the rostrum on countback.

Weather permitting, Wednesday will bring points race 5; the gruelling Sir Ralph Gore and Marlow Challenge Cups and the Mike Cocksedge Cup for highest placed helm aged 21 and under.

2022 Firefly Nationals in Tenby day 3 - photo © Alistair Mackay

Results after day 3: