Please select your home edition
Edition
Ovington 2021 - ILCA 2 - LEADERBOARD

Firefly Open at Chipstead Sailing Club

by Nigel Wakefield 6 Sep 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

Firefly Inlands at Bough Beech
An extraordinary entry of 41 boats for the event This year's Firefly Inlands was a fantastic success. Forty-one double-handers for an Inland Championship is extraordinary. It was also great to see so many of the students enjoy themselves and learn. Posted on 9 Oct
Firefly Craftinsure Vines Series at Papercourt
Sometimes we all wonder why we do it? Sometimes we all wonder why we do it? That was certainly the case for competitors at the 2024 Papercourt Open in conditions one poor soul described as "the worst wind in 30 years of sailing here". Posted on 7 Oct
Broads Area Champion Club Ramuz Trophy
Annual end of season Inter Clubs event held at Wroxham Broad This annual end of season Inter Clubs event for The Broads Area took place on Saturday 21st September, at Wroxham Broad, by kind permission of Norfolk Broads Yacht Club. Posted on 29 Sep
Dell Quay Firefly Open
Craftinsure Vines Series Event 8 Saturday dawned sunny with a decent breeze as the 15 visitors and 12 club members sat around eating bacon butties waiting for the tide to come in. Posted on 25 Sep
78th Firefly Nationals at Restronguet overall
The final race brought the wind The Final Race of the 78th Firefly Nationals at Restronget Sailing Club brought wind, finally! The race officer set the alarm early to attempt to complete a full series. With a brisk and shifty force three, the fleet was finally ready to stretch its legs. Posted on 3 Aug
78th Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 5
The most coveted race of the championships, the Sir Ralph Gore Trophy Day 5 of the Firefly nationals held the most coveted race of the championships, the Sir Ralph Gore Trophy, for which the Deed of Gift stipulates a minimum 13-mile triangular course. Posted on 1 Aug
78th Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 4
Wednesday's distance race (The Gore) rescheduled to Thursday due to light winds Wednesday's distance race (The Gore) was rescheduled to Thursday due to light winds forecast. The forecast wind was not due to materialise until 2ish so the fleet was under AP from 11 onwards. Posted on 1 Aug
78th Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 3
The fourth race of the series was sunny, light, shifty and tidal.. for a change... On the 'A' course type ('trapezoid, sausage') for the first time this nationals, the fourth race of the series was sunny, light, shifty and tidal. Posted on 31 Jul
78th Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 2
Two races held in a light and shifty breeze The day dawned with a light and shifty breeze before before steadying sufficiently for the race get away on time. The race started in 5 knots of breeze with the pin being the biased end. Posted on 30 Jul
78th Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 1
Racing starts under blazing sunshine for the 68 enries Restronguet Sailing Club welcomed the Firefly class for their 2024 Nationals 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. Posted on 29 Jul