Firefly 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series Round 3 at Tamesis Club

Firefly 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series Round 3 at Tamesis Club © National Firefly Class

I swore off rivers many years ago, after an open meeting at Cookham Reach. At some point in my hitherto-not-that-long-a-life, I lost patience with light, shifty winds, quite an achievement, given I learned to sail on a pond. I think it was during a winter at Grafham Water that something finally clicked: I didn't have to live like that any more.

And yet - here I was, ensconced in the North London liberal elite enclave of Kentish Town, dangling a raffle ticket for an Ovington Firefly, and finally caving - fifteen years into Firefly sailing, to enter the Tamesis Firefly Open. I was originally meant to do it with a friend, but she, unlike me, has had rather more pupillage interviews and was therefore engaged.

Then came a text from Nigel Wakefield that evening, after I'd posted a desperate plea in the Firefly chat: 'You still need a crew?' 'Yes,' I replied. Then Nigel Wakefield, like some rug salesman, came back with: 'Will Sally (his wife) do?' I jumped at the chance. Signing an A-lister crew like Sally, no matter how small the sailing area, was too good to turn down. She did not disappoint. I'd compare her crewing to seeing colour TV for the first time: you knew it was going to be good, you just hadn't quite grasped the possibilities. (Thanks very much for a great day, Sally. If Guy Davison ever retires, I'd nab you in a heartbeat).

The forecast, however, was less encouraging. Light, and very light. I floated the suggestion on the Firefly chat that it might have been a better day for white wine than sailing. How wrong I was.

I had a relatively simple journey on the tube to meet Jono and Joesphine. Somehow, my closest open meeting, 13.5 miles door to door, still took an hour and a half in London traffic. Others had more difficult battles. Nigel thought he'd had a 'genius' idea of how to get the Demo trailer reunited with the boat while bringing his own boat to the event. But while cornering the tyres on the road base rubbed against the wheels of the trailer being transported and wore through the side walls of both the ones on the top trailer. Remarkable attempt to blow four tyres on one journey. Lucking RAC man Guy, complete with orange coveralls, was on hand when he arrived to change all the wheels.

A questionable trailer transport idea - photo © National Firefly Class

Rolling up to Tamesis Sailing Club for the first time, the first thing that strikes you is the beauty. The second is, inevitably, the house prices (£5.5 million for one with a particularly interesting modernist effort, for those keeping score). The third is the genuinely excellent bacon roll and the very friendly people pointing you vaguely in the right direction. I was even more fortunate to discover that our Race Officer for the day, Matthew Dalton, was kindly lending me his Firefly, Genesis, for the occasion. The briefing was, shall we say, eventful: avoid pleasure boats (I wonder what happens on there), rowing boats, swans, William Mason and his newly-assembled shoulder (glad to see him alive and well, although do see this excellent Giles Coren article), and basically anything more mobile than us, none of which we had any priority over. I was rather nervous about all this. As it turned out, it made very little difference to my day.

Right, anyway - to the report.

Race One

The start of Race One was, frankly, hilarious. I had no idea what was going on. Nineteen Fireflys, a very small stretch of water, and essentially no wind. The start line was strung across the bank, and on 'go,' basically nobody moved. The exceptions were Angus Cook and Georgia Evans in Officer Dibble, and Jono Pank and Chloe Harding in Swaggle, who appeared to have brought their own private weather system from Imperial Poona Yacht Club.

Firefly 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series Round 3 at Tamesis Club - photo © National Firefly Class

I could attempt to recall what happened in the rest of this race, but it would be impossible. Jono and Chloe, Angus and Georgia were welded to first and second the entire way round. Behind them came Thomas Wildman, aka 'Ginge,' and Rosie Pank (yep - another one) in Silly Goose. After that, it's literally anyone's guess. You could be tenth and teleport to fifth. You could be fourth and sink, à la Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson in Tip Top Too, all the way to tenth. If you managed to hold your place at all, well done, you. As we headed up the banks, there was one band of pressure towards the nominally 'windward' mark, and another band of pressure as you approached the nominally 'leeward' mark. Essentially, you went halfway towards one downwind and halfway on a beat, and the trick was making the transition between the two as seamless as possible. Quite how one does that, you'd have to ask Jono and Chloe.

Sally and I had a rather good race in this one, insofar as we were going forward the entire time. Having been deep at the start, we had a magnificent dust-up with Erin Pank and Steve Carver in Drunken Sailor, in what was undoubtedly the slowest overtake of my entire life: we sat next to Erin and Steve for essentially the whole final lap, neither of us really moving, before nicking them up the last leg (also at a snail's pace). At Tamesis, 'drag race' takes on an entirely new meaning.

We then headed in for lunch. Some earlier than others. Remarkably, Jono and Chloe had lapped some members by the time we headed in. Nigel and Emily had a very early lunch and finished second on the water (I never thought I'd see this...)

Race One result: Jono Pank and Chloe Harding 1st, Angus Cook and Georgia Evans 2nd, Thomas Wildman and Rosie Pank 3rd. Sally and I took 5th.

Lunch & the Junior Cup

We then trooped ashore for an excellent sandwich lunch, during which William Mason whipped the final smoked salmon sandwich out from under my clutches. (William, incidentally, also ought to be avoided as an internet contact: he promised to sell me a spinner on Facebook Marketplace after this event, then reneged on the verbal contract because 'a good friend wanted it.) We discussed the necessary suncream, looked up house prices, and - most importantly - watched the Junior Cup race.

As a Tammy first-timer, I was thrilled to watch the junior race. This must be one of the very best things about the Firefly fleet: the dads handing the tiller over to their (in all cases today, daughters). The winner of the Junior Cup, leading the entire way around in a brand-new and rather lovely green Ovington Firefly, was Veronica Bickford and dad Jonathan Bickford in Rock Paper Scissors - joining her brother on the trophy. Second were Sophia Hillary and dad Harvey Hillary (Dell Quay Sailing Club). Third were Adeline Guy and dad Christian Guy in Mensonge. And fourth were Sylvie McEwan and dad Jamie McEwen in Skirmish. A delightful watch all round, and a fairly clear glimpse at the future of the fleet, which, if you're 50-something, should be a sobering one.

Race Two

After lunch, the Race Two start line was more of the same: 'go' went, and we tried. Jono and Chloe led; Angus and Georgia were... not in second this time. Somehow, Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson, who I'm fairly sure were quite near Sally and me at some point, emerged from the washing machine in second. And in third, Ginge and Rosie, again proving that Silly Goose is a more competent vessel than its name suggests. Further back, Sally and I were once again on manoeuvres throughout, having caught a very fortunate gust, taken Angus and Georgia on the finish line, and made my ginger comrade Thomas rather nervous in the process.

Race Two result: Jono Pank and Chloe Harding 1st, Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson 2nd, Thomas Wildman and Rosie Pank 3rd. Sally and I came home 4th.

Firefly 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series Round 3 at Tamesis Club - photo © National Firefly Class

Race Three

Race Three was the most fun - though not, as it transpired, for me (see results...). There was finally some wind for the start, which by this stage was downwind. We were moving, things were quick, and, well, with that many Firefly's on a small river all aiming for one mark, it was absolute chaos. My own start was made 'interesting' by Zuzi White and Andy Moore in Winnie (Chipstead Sailing Club), who were attending their first open. Sally reminded me of the necessity of being 'kind,' so I would like to apologise now, in the public realm, to Zuzi and Andy, and to formally welcome you to the Firefly fleet. We very much hope you come back.

This race, Jono and Chloe didn't have it all their own way. It was William Mason and Amy Bowden in Walrus (Hayling Island Sailing Club) who led the pack at the mark. Unfortunately for William and Amy, on the journey from London to Tammy, Jono had been telling me about the importance of not leading too early. Somehow, those rules did not apply to Jono and Chloe in any other race, but they applied to William and Amy here, who finished 11th in Race Three (serves him right for the missing spinner, the missing sandwich, and frankly anything else I can pin on him in print). From the back, the front looked rather fun in the new wind: it was tight between Jono and Chloe, Nigel and Emily, and Angus and Georgia. Jono and Chloe seemed to just about have the measure of them, but were having to keep their necks firmly twisted over their shoulders, because Tammy never lets you rest on any laurels, lead, or indeed anything, given the size of those wind shifts.

A special shoutout must go to Guy Davison and Izzy in Dillon (Llangorse Sailing Club), who I think took about six places up the final leg. Guy told me in the changing rooms that it was the only shift that had gone his way all day. I'm not entirely sure that's possible given the conditions, but Guy Davison is a wise old head - and Nigel, on the same theme, told me at the age of 50-something that he has 'hacked' sailing, and now brings a foot towel to ensure his feet dry properly. Worth investigation for all parties, methinks.

Race Three result: Jono Pank and Chloe Harding 1st, Nigel Wakefield and Emily Saunderson 2nd, Angus Cook and Georgia Evans 3rd. The overall standings finished in that same order.

Elizabeth Cup Results:

Junior Cup Results:

And finally...

A massive thanks to the team at Tamesis for what was a cracking day on the water. I left utterly exhausted. The most testing of conditions demanded near-constant vigilance, basically an attempt to lock your joints so as not to disturb the sails, and an acute awareness of every other boat on the river.

Many congratulations to Jono Pank and Chloe Harding, who were very, very impressive in leading most of the day under the least secure conditions imaginable. And a special shoutout to Nigel and Emily, who came second overall despite being lapped in the first race!

I will likely attend again, probably...

Firefly 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series Round 3 at Tamesis Club - photo © National Firefly Class

Craftinsure Vines Series — Standings After Round 3

Three events down and the 2026 Vines Series is taking shape. Tamesis has reshuffled the pack:

Top Crew (Golden Stick)

The 2026 Raffle — Race to Win

Every helm and crew who raced at Tamesis has now earned a raffle ticket for the 80th anniversary draw. The prize is Firefly F4444, the class ex-demo boat built in 2024 by Ovington Boats — race-ready with Selden Mast, Hyde Sails and covers, and a launch trolley from Sailboat Trailers.

If you haven't opted in yet you must register your name, phone and email at forms.gle/MSeCVBpEpvcyQp1v7 by 14 November 2026. Not on the circuit? You can still play — your Sailing Secretary can submit club racing results to (one ticket per four days of club racing, max five).

The draw takes place at the 80th Anniversary Dinner, Saturday 21 November 2026, at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Next Up - Rickmansworth Firefly Open, Saturday 16 May

The fleet now heads west for the Rickmansworth Firefly Open on Saturday 16 May. Sign up on the club website (link below). The club bar can be open on Friday night and camping in the car park is possible. Speak to Caroline Webb for acess information.

rscsailing.org/openCompApplication2.php

The 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series is proudly supported by Craftinsure. The National Firefly Class Association’s named sponsor is Tideway Wealth. The 2026 raffle prize is generously provided by Ovington Boats, Selden, Hyde and Sailboat Trailers. All results and entry information at www.fireflyclass.co.uk.