The 2012 Firefly inlands took place at Bough Beech sailing club near Sevenoaks, Kent on the 3rd and 4th November. A mixture of school sailors, local club sailors and firefly class regulars made up the 23 boat fleet and were greeted with sunshine and a good strong breeze which would prove testing for everyone as the weekend went on. Two races were sailed in gusty shifty conditions in the morning before the sailors refuelled back in the sailing club for the third race in the afternoon which saw the wind dropping right off. After the first day Andy Cornah sailing with Sevenoaks school sailor Flora Donald led the way, with Steve Greaves and class chair Caroline Edwards in second, national champion and firefly legend Stu Hudson on paper was down the standings but was counting a DNF and was still very much in the running.
Sunday bought even more wind with some very spicy gusts that gave virtually all the fleet a chance to check out the underneath of their boats, including the eventual winners!
Stu Hudson and Sally Wakefield really hit their straps proving that they are the boat to beat on the firefly circuit, particularly in the big winds. They cleaned up with three firsts to claim the beautiful silver firefly trophy- In a close fought battle Andy Cornah and Issy Gordon just about held off Steve and Caroline for second place.
All in all a great weekend with a challenging range of conditions. The race officer, rescue boat crews and most crucially the ladies in the galley did an excellent job and most sailors came off the water smiling and relieved from still being in one piece!
Results
1 Stuart Hudson and Sally Wakefield 3850 Fursty Ferret
2 Andy Cornah and Flora Donald and Issy Gordon 888 Desperado
3 Steve Greaves and Caroline Edwards 1867 Cumulus
4 Jamie McEwen and Chantal Nicholson 3615 Skirmish
5 Barney Smith and Alannah Witherby 3023 Fourwood Thinking
6 Will Henderson and Mandy Henderson 2319
7. Sam Jenkins and Owen Hallett 6
8. Ali Barker and Nicki Goff 3414 Tigger
9.Guy Dixon and Joseph Gough 5
10. Damian Boreham and Clare 3072
11. Dan Vincent and Ella Vincent 3746 TicTac
12. Lucy Boreham and Rachel Crebbin Willow 3739
13. Mike and Debs Steele 3921
14. Josh and Tristan Richardson 2542 flying tern
15 Josh Adams 8
16 Jenn Lamb and Will Doris 3671
17 Benjamin Moverly-Smith 22
18 Will Ing 7
19 Oscar Key 9
20 Rob and Karen Bell 2725 Silver Dragon
21 Imogen Smith 24
22 David Roberts 6
1st Lady, Lucy Boreham and Rachel Crebbin
1st Team Magdalen College School
1st Youth Sam Jenkins and Owen Hallett
M25 winner stu and jane
runners up steve and Caroline
Vines
winner Stu and Jane
runners up Barney and Allanah