4 Fireflys joined a large fleet of dinghies for the 2011 Summer Dinghy open last weekend
Perfect conditions greeted the fleet on saturday with sunshine and a gusty force 3-4 blowing off the new forest shore. Several competitors commented that it felt more like sailing in the Mediterranean than the solent! Sunday was cooler and wetter but with less tide
National Champions Ben and Jenny vines won overall, dominating the 8 short races, leaving brother and sister team Ali and Nicky Barker vying with the chairman and the Meakins family team from Hamble for the other prizes
A fantastic set of hand-turned china ware was presented to the top three places – surely an incentive for more boats to come next year! (I think many boats were still locked in at the Lemon Arms in Restronguet after rumours of a Wednesday revival meeting in Cornwall)
Full details in the late summmer Bulletin magazine
Eddie Mays was briefed to get at least one photo of the chairman ahead of the national champion, which he did splendidly.