Tideway Firefly Inland Championship 2026 at Rutland Sailing Club - Preview
by Alex Baxter 17 Sep 16:24 BST
19-20 September 2026
Firefly Inlands 2023 at Rutland © Ted Ashworth
The Inland Championship is a qualifying round of the 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series, the National Firefly Class Association's open meeting championship sponsored by Craftinsure.
There's an extra reason to push for the podium this year, too: prizes from Marlow Ropes, will be up for grabs at Rutland.
Rutland is calling
The swarm heads to Rutland Water this weekend and, for once, the forecast is firmly on our side. Proper breeze is on the way for the Inland Championship, and the entry list already stands at 44 boats, a dozen of them from the home club who will be very keen indeed to defend their own water.
The racing
Saturday is all about sprints: five short, sharp races, back to back. Sunday then slows the tempo but raises the stakes, with three longer races to settle the title.
Registration opens before the briefing, which is in the wet bar at 11:00 on Saturday, with the first warning signal at 11:55. On Sunday the first warning signal is at 10:25, and no race will start after 15:30. Don't be late.
On the water we get two race officers for the price of one, with Ella Ashworth supporting her dad, Adrian Stoggall. Expect a tight ship and, quite possibly, some family debate about the line bias.
Ashore
Saturday night is shaping up to be a big one. A two-course meal for just £12 is hard to beat, and 100 people have already signed up, so book now if you haven't. A DJ has been organised to keep the party going, and members and sailors alike have pledged to keep the bar busy.
Bunk room accommodation is available on site, and there is tent space at the campsite across the road (www.rutlandwatercampsite.co.uk).
Runners and riders
Will Pank | Reigning Inland Champion
The man with the crown is back to defend it. This year's boat has a slightly less glittering CV than some of Will's previous rides, but that is a bit like noting a Formula One driver has turned up in a hire car. Always quick. Never, ever underestimate him.
Steve Tylecote and Tasha Armstrong | Firefly Grasshopper | F3037
Always near the front, always great. Steve is a master in every condition the weather has yet invented, and the only question in the Grasshopper camp is whether he still has it when it really blows. The answer is most likely, so please stop asking him.
Ben Whaley | Winter of Discontent | F1979
The National Champion arrives with a different boat, the same old speed, and an RS200 record that reads like a weather warning: when it's windy, he is a weapon. On this forecast, the rest of the fleet may be facing a winter of discontent of their own. Has to be considered a favourite.
Angus Cook and Lucie Hopkins | Officer Dibble | F3695
Always consistent, always quick. Fresh from the Southport 24 Hour Race, this pairing should find a couple of days at Rutland positively restful, and there isn't a Thames riverbed in sight to run aground on. They will be up there.
Ben Tylecote and Jamie Tylecote | Separate boats | Crews TBC
Brothers in arms, though crucially not in the same boat, which is probably best for family harmony. Always quick, always on it, and on home water too. Like father, like sons, which may be of limited comfort to Steve if one of them beats him.
Dr Jenny Smallwood and Dr Philip Aldhous | Squabbling Phoenix | F3625
Two doctors, one boat, and a name that suggests the tactical discussions on board are thorough. True pond specialists who can find pressure on a millpond, they may find this forecast a bit fresh for their liking. If the breeze drops, however, the rest of us should be very worried.
Alex Baxter and Ella Vincent | Scruffy | F2246
Heavy wind specialists and fourth at the Inlands last time around, this pair are likely the only people in the dinghy park who read this forecast and cheered. Scruffy by name, if not entirely by nature. This could be their weekend. (The author declares no interest whatsoever.)
Alex and Stella Davey | Mustard | F2649
Another pairing from the lighter end of the spectrum, quietly hoping the forecast is wrong. Always quick and go higher upwind than Bob Marley in a pop-up tent. Let's see.
Terry Hacker and Isla Armstrong | Lily | F3882
Always good, and third at the Nationals. Terry is a master. His lightweight crew may have been booked with a different forecast in mind, but write them off at your peril: Terry is not one to be underestimated.
Don't miss out
Forty-four boats, a breezy forecast, eight races, a £12 dinner and a DJ. If you're not entered yet, now is the time: rutlandsailingclub.co.uk/event/firefly-inlands
Raffle update
Every helm and every crew racing at Rutland earns a ticket towards Firefly F4444, the race-ready ex-demo built by Ovington Boats, with spars by Selden, sails and covers by Hyde, and a launch trolley by Sailboat Trailers.
The Inland Championship is the first of the final five open meetings before the deadline, so every event now counts.
Tickets are earned, not bought, and you must opt in at forms.gle/MSeCVBpEpvcyQp1v7 by 14 November 2026 to make the draw, which takes place at the 80th Anniversary Dinner at the Royal Thames Yacht Club on Saturday 21 November.
Tickets for the 80th Anniversary Dinner are available now: forms.gle/i9SfR5xKvzf7dAkU6
The 2026 Craftinsure Vines Series is proudly supported by Craftinsure. The National Firefly Class Association's named sponsor is Tideway Wealth. All results and entry information: www.fireflyclass.co.uk