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Rooster 2023 - Aquafleece Robe - LEADERBOARD

Firefly National Championship at Tenby Sailing Club - Day 4

by NFA (with contributions from the fleet) 11 Aug 2022 13:17 BST 6-12 August 2022

Over the years Wednesday of the Firefly Nationals has become known as "Big Wednesday". It is traditionally the day of The Sir Ralph Gore and Marlow Challenge Cups, an epic 13 Nautical mile pain-fest around massive triangles, followed by prize-giving complete with champagne spraying. Unfortunately the weather Gods weren't feeling very traditional this year.

The deed of gift of the magnificent (or Phat/Heckin' Choncc according to the students) silver Gore Cup does not allow for the race to be shortened or rescheduled - presenting a problem when there's only a very short possible wind window to sail it in. So, for only the third [?] time in it's illustrious 76 year history the Race Committee were forced to make the decision not to sail for the Gore Cup and only race points race 5.

PRO Nigel Denchfield informed the sailors that he was expecting to raise Delta just after ten and the first warning signal would be at 10:55 but the forecast SE breeze never materialised and the AP over five was hoisted, hanging limply from the flagpole in the pitiful 2kts. This meant another long wait ashore for the fleet, some nursing horrific hangovers from an excellent Crews Union the night before.

By lunchtime most had ventured into town to perfect their fancy dress for the afterparty - We like to keep our fancy dress current and this year's theme, as decided by a landslide vote, was Downing Street Party - it was going to be so big we'd need an enquiry into whether it actually took place or not!

Following the long postponement and much essential fancy dress preparation, the Delta went up at 15:54 and PRO Nigel Denchfield sent the fleet out for Race 5, starting at 16:30.

Alex Baxter and Joe Scarborough in F2246 'Scruffy' opened the gate as pathfinder, the early starters picked up some better pressure, gained on the first shift and crossed the later starters comfortably.

By the first mark, Jono Pank and Tomeaka Diaz in F1954 'Pogie' rounded first, followed by Steve Tylcoate and Alice Lucy if F3037 'Grasshopper'. Yesterday's winners Dom and Issy Johnson if F3154 'Gemini Too' led the pack, with championship leaders, Paul Kameen & Evie Snedker in F2018 'Biscuit Buffalo', on their tails.

Dom and Issy had a "bit of a moment" at the gybe mark, allowing Paul and Evie to take a passing lane on the lengthy, cross tide, bottom reach. The front three jostled through the three laps with reasonable stable light conditions, but all held their positions at all marks giving Jono and Tomeaka the bullet and this year's Championships it's sixth different race winner in the six races sailed!!

Steve and Lucy held second, ahead of Paul and Evie in third. Meanwhile throughout the fleet, Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson if F3007 'TipTopToo' sailed a blinder to pull through the melee from a deep first mark to claim a stunning fourth.

Once ashore the fleet piled back to their accommodation to get ready for the afterparty for the Gore that never was. As expected from a fancy dress party after a long postponement there were some amazing costumes including the Queen, Jacob Rees Mogg, a trio of Larry the Cat, the Muppets Go to Barnard Castle and the wine and cheese. There are unconfirmed rumours of the Oar of Gore making an appearance but if you want the inside track you'll have to wait for the Frances Davison (Duckhams) report ??

At the end of day four Paul Kameen and Evie Snedker still lead but with a reduced margin from Jono Pank and Tomeake Diaz. Steve Tylecote and Alice Lucy hang on in third, just ahead of Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson who leapfrogged leading students James Hammett and Tiger Tellwright in fifth with a resurgent Stuart and Robbie Hudson breathing down their necks in sixth.

Results after day 4:

PosBoat NameSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R6R5Pts
1stBiscuit Buffalo2018Paul KameenEvie SnedkerBosham SC4331‑5314
2ndPogie1954Jono PankTomeake DiazImperial Poona YC39‑1322.5117.5
3rdGrasshopper3037Steve TylecoteAlice LucyRutland SC51‑1248220
4thTip Top Too3007Nigel WakefieldEmily SaundersonNetley SC‑1044102.5424.5
5thBloodhound6James HammettTiger TellwrightExeter University SC‑1329341028
6thFursty Ferret3850Stuart HudsonRobbie HudsonRoyal Lymington YC88256‑929
7thOfficer Dibble3695Angus CookLucie HopkinsCastaways1511‑1271236
8thGemini Too3154Dom JohnsonIzzy JohnsonWest Kirby SC1210‑1771636
9thSmutty2937Chris KameenJenny JohnsonImperial Poona YC7131‑1712740
10thSquabbling Phoenix3625Jenny SmallwoodPhilip AldhousWest Oxfordshire SC9‑175991345
11thDesperado888Hamish WalkerPippa FieldRNSA6‑21161111549
12thIris3617Jamie TylecoteFreya PemburyRutland SC11781515‑1656
13thScruffy4225Alex BaxterJoe ScarboroughCambridge Uni CC17‑2371810860
14thThe Winter of Discontent1979Ben TylecoteTom OnionsRutland SC16‑19148181571
15thFalken2296John GreenlandRuth GuyImperial Poona YC1912101614(DNC)71
16thSkirmish3615Jamie McEwenAngus McEwenRoyal Lymington YC2141526(BFD)2077
17thRizza792Oliver BurrowsHugo BurrowsWest Oxfordshire SC‑2561822131978
18thGrendel2803Ed SmithIzzy BrethertonImperial Poona YC141166(DNC)DNC81
19thLynestra3318Guy DavisonEmma HartleyLlangorse SC181819‑20161182
20th USA1Ewan McLellanEriskay McLellanImperial Poona YC15202013(BFD)2492
21stKem2012Ben PymJames EllisSpinnaker Club2015‑2619172192
22ndLoosey Goosey4220Jamie WebbOliver JaggerOCSS23162123(RET)1497
23rdDaisy the Brave1Chris JamesDaisy NunnExeter University SC(DNF)2624142129114
24thMensonge3095Chris GuyIona SherwoodCastaways26222221(BFD)23114
25thTinkerbell3288Jason AldousJo MasonPapercourt SC212425‑332825123
26thBarry Girl3713Ed MorrisSarah HickmanSpinnaker Club27252327(DNC)26128
27th 2294Callum FarndenHugh TomkinsOCSS30‑4140241918131
28thWillow3739Lucy BorehamRachel CrebbinChichester YC2228302923‑31132
29thHush3556Ted AshworthElla AshworthNetley SC2427‑32252730133
30thChampagne Charlie21Robert GiardelliLizzie AndrewsExeter University SC‑313029312222134
31stMacatoo3957Ben BurrowsBeatrix BurrowsWest Oxfordshire SC‑363528342617140
32ndGo Ballistic1522Ben GreenChloe HardingLymington Town SC29‑3431302427141
33rdWater Spider3550Bruno WuetrishJonquil HackenbergRoyal Lymington YC(DSQ)3327392028147
34thCalypso3779Fiona TylecoteJane HutchinsRutland SC28‑4236352536160
35thSwansea O Swansea3915Harris GoodmanGeorgia EvansUniversity of Warwick SC‑372934363033162
36th 4Sam DavisMatt BrownExeter University SC3331‑37323135162
37thWizzy Izzy3333Lee TimothyJosh Speakman‑LoweUlley SC3436‑38282937164
38th 4115James BallJasmine SpellerWest Oxfordshire SC3532‑39383332170
39th 3820Torrin BlazebyLouis SpencerWest Kirby SC3238333736(DNC)176
40thHookey2525Gideon SherwoodBen SherwoodDell Quay SC3837‑41413234182
41st 2Freya HalsallEmily BattertonWest Oxfordshire SC39‑4035403538187
42nd 3Kieran BowsherWill WhitesideWest Oxfordshire SC403942(DNF)3439194
43rdLuciole1956Tim Carver Warsash SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC220

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