Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Firefly Open at Chipstead Sailing Club

by Nigel Wakefield 6 Sep 2024 12:51 BST 1 September 2024

The Firefly Open 2024 at Chipstead Sailing Club was as thrilling and competitive event as ever and the sun came out to boot. Not bad for the first day of September.

The event featured four races, with each providing a unique challenge for the participants, from shifty winds, overheating (it really was that hot and there was really quite a lot of quick-fire roll tacking), to avoiding mud banks and Enterprises who were also competing in their Open. The wind was a consistent force three from running straight down the lake, but in the opposite direction to usual (according to locals). The long start line forced a compromise between benefiting from the bias and starting in the trees with no wind. The racing was tight with many place changes.

The home boats had a great battle with Andy and Kieran Morse coming off best in some thrilling finishes. Lucy Boreham and Rachel Crebbin found the podium, taking third after relying on countback to better Sophia and Dom Johnson. However, Sophia took the youth helm prize even with dad Dom crewing. The Pank father/son duo of Jono and Freddie (who were sporting matching onshore outfits) finished second. The inaugural pairing of Nigel Wakefield and Jo Mason won the event and the coveted Walter Smith Trophy, much to Jo's delight.

After racing the competitors took a dip in the lake to cool down and Chipstead laid on a fantastic tea as always.

The organisers did an excellent job of ensuring that the event ran smoothly, with efficient race management and clear communication with the competitors. The support staff and volunteers also played a crucial role in making the event a success, ensuring that all the sailors had a memorable and enjoyable experience. Overall, the Firefly Open 2024 at Chipstead Sailing Club was a fantastic event that highlighted the spirit of Firefly sailing and the thrill of competition. Looking forward to the last four events of the year.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1st3007Nigel WakefieldJo MasonNetley SC11113
2nd4400Jono PankFreddie PankImperial Poona YC22226
3rd3739Lucy BorehamRachel CrebbinChichester YC443310
4th3154Sophia JohnsonDom JohnsonDowns SC334410
5th2486Andy MorseKieran MorseChipstead SC555515
6th2166Neil BanksToby RichardsonChipstead SC666DNC18
7th2816David ShewanAlice ShewanChipstead SC887621
8th2095Peter LanhamWendy SeatonChipstead SC778DNC22

Related Articles

Lymington Dinghy Regatta 2025
The 190 sailors included almost 70 visiting teams The Lymington Dinghy Regatta, hosted jointly by the Lymington Town SC and Royal Lymington YC took place on the 19/20 July, proudly supported by local company Harken UK. Posted on 22 Jul
Senior Schools Nationals at Itchenor
Thee days of exhilarating youth sailing for 80 Fireflys The 2025 Senior Schools Week at Itchenor Sailing Club, sponsored by Magic Marine, brought together 80 Fireflys for an exhilarating three days of youth racing in the picturesque Chichester Harbour. Posted on 14 Jul
Boat Building Academy's largest female cohort
The most gender diverse course to date have launched their stunning new boats Students on the BBA's most gender diverse course to date have launched their stunning new boats. The latest 40-week boat building course run by the Academy enrolled 15 students, of which seven were women. Posted on 12 Jul
Firefly Itchenor Sailing Club Burgee
The fleet braced for long courses The briefing was notable because the Race Officer Charles Duchesne was under the impression that Fireflys average 4 knots! We braced for long courses. Posted on 30 Jun
BSDRA Schools Week preview
Itchenor host 300 students for the National Schools Championships this month With a bumper entry of 160+ boats, next week's Schools Week Sponsored by Magic Marine promises thrilling racing and, with luck, some favourable June weather. This year's Championships are expected to draw around 300 students. Posted on 18 Jun
Firefly Craftinsure Vines series at South Staffs
Numbers for the last race were reduced as Birmingham Uni students held back Six visitors joined a four-strong 'local legends' fleet for the South Staffs Firefly Open on 14th June, part of the 2025 Craftinsure Vines series. The fleet was greeted with sunshine and a gusty force 3-4 SW breeze. Posted on 16 Jun
Norfolk Broads Firefly Open
Part of the multi class dinghy weekend at Wroxham The Norfolk Broads once again proved itself as a high-class sailing destination as the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club hosted the 2nd running of the Wroxham Firefly Open over the weekend of 7th & 8th June as part of its multi class dinghy weekend. Posted on 14 Jun
Firefly South Western Championship at Restronguet
An impressive fleet of 40 Fireflys with sailors of all ages The 52nd Firefly South Western Championships at Restronguet Sailing Club took place as usual over the Early May Bank Holiday. An impressive fleet of 40 Fireflys with sailors of all ages assembled for three days of exhilarating dinghy racing. Posted on 1 Jun
76th Wilson Trophy at West Kirby
24 teams included five from the USA and four from Ireland Thirty-four of the best teams in the world competed over two and a half days for the coveted Wilson Trophy, including five teams from the USA and four from Ireland. The event used a Swiss League round robin format followed by the knockout stages. Posted on 29 May
Firefly 'Ricky' event at Rickmansworth
Four thrilling races all started under black flag, catching a few teams out The annual Firefly Open Meeting at Rickmansworth Sailing Club drew a competitive fleet of 19 boats gather on Saturday, 17th May 2025, with sailors travelling from across the country, from as far as South Staffs and Wroxham Broad. Posted on 23 May