Firefly National Championships 2024 at Restronguet Sailing Club - Day 1

Startline on day 1 of the Firefly Nationals at Restronguet © Alice Gardner

Restronguet Sailing Club welcomed the Firefly class for their 2024 National Championships having attracted 68 entries, showing again the continuing strength of this classic two person dinghy. The club have hosted the class twice before and it is now a class favourite.

Competitors have come from Firefly fleets all over the UK, from the Universities and schools where often team racing is the race format of choice. With a vibrant local Firefly fleet, at least 4 past Club Firefly Champions, the event has the hallmark of great organisation and a typical Cornish hospitality. This was made clear by the first evening's shantymen and women giving the competitors a rousing Cornish welcome whilst the fleet savoured the local Cornish Pasties and ales. Some competitors who should know better enjoyed this reception just a tad too much....

Launching on day 1 of the Firefly Nationals at Restronguet - photo © Alice Gardner

Sunday dawned earlier than some expected with sunshine ablaze and winds largely absent or at best fickle. Neil Andrews PRO summoned the wind Gods and got the practice race away some two hours late. It wasn't perhaps a great surprise to see Stuart Hudson ably crewed by daughter Lizzie shoot out of the line start and show the fleet his heels and was largely unchallenged throughout the shortish practice. Once ahead the Hudson firefly is usually very hard to chase down!

Race 1

The wind was softening for the first points race. The PRO elected for a very sensible line start. Whilst it looked starboard biased, the left soon dominated. Thommie Grit and Alice Bradford tacked and crossed the fleet. However, it was those that kept going left that came out best. Jason Aldous and Jo Mason were very strong on the early part of the beat. Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson also did well here, establishing a massive lead which was never threatened so now they head the leader board. Barny Smith and Alannah Hebbert in second place fought hard for two laps fending of multiple attacks from Alex and Stella Davey, and Will Pank/Steve Carver the reigning national champions in Alarm F999.

'Spot the gybe mark' on day 1 of the Firefly Nationals at Restronguet - photo © Alice Gardner

On the last beat Alex/Stella consolidated second with some impressive shift picking ahead of Barny/Alannah and Will/Steve. Meanwhile Jono Pank and Helena Lucas MBE expertly climbed through from 17th to be narrowly beaten by nephew Will. These two boats nearly let sniggling Guy Davison and Sally Wakefield in, but the family battle was abated just in time to halt his progress. Subsequently Jono/Helena were disappointed to have been adjudged premature starters.

However looking at the wider fleet it is daunting to see how many past National Champions and top end competitors are all over this fleet promising all competitors close and nerve jangling racing.

Race 1 Results: