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F2014 Calendar

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Happy New Year! Time to plan your sailing for the year. Here is a first draft of the calendar. There are some events still to be confirmed, and we need to confirm the M25 and Vines Series events, so watch out for updates. (I can also correct any mistakes that people spot!)

Happy New Year! Time to plan your sailing for the year. Here is a first draft of the calendar. There are some events still to be confirmed, and we need to confirm the M25 and Vines Series events, so watch out for updates. (I can also correct any mistakes that people spot!)

The calendar includes the usual mix of events, from seas and estuaries at Waldringfield, Restronguet, Royal Harwich. Hamble, West Kirby, Hamble and Lymington, to the smaller lakes and rivers of Rickmansworth., West Oxford, Tamesis, Upper Thames, Spinnaker, South Staffs, Budworth and Chipstead. Remember in particular the Junior Cup the day before the Tamesis open, but perhaps we may see more youngsters at similar venues this year?

We have some larger lake venues this year too, with Llangorse on the first May bank holiday, a new open planned on 14th June at Bough Beech hosted by Sevenoaks School (who hope to get their fleet of 24 fireflies out), and the inlands in November at Chew Valley (where there are a number of fleets of fireflies already based).

On the team racing side, I believe Castaways hope to run the Foot Trophy at Rickmansworth and the Spinnaker pairs is likely to be later in the year.

And, of course, the National Championships in Weymouth in August.

We are aware there are large fleets of fireflies at other venues around the country held by schools, universities and clubs. As an association, we would be keen to support you if you wanted to hold an open meeting as an opportunity to focus on the fleet racing skills that so often win team races, so please let me know at alexcrdavey@btinternet.com

Date Firefly Events Other Events Club Link Series Comment
Jan 11th (Sat)   Bloody Mary www.queenmary.org.uk   Fight for class honours and the chance to be the first Firefly ever to win the largest dinghy race in the UK.
March 1st/2nd   Dinghy Show     Great opportunity to meet up with fellow Firefliers and explain to newcomers what makes the class so special.
March 15th/16th Hamble Warming Pan   www.hambleriversc.org.uk
barnabysmith@btinternet.com
  Traditional Season opener on the Hamble River – no trophy cabinet is complete without a Warming Pan
March 22nd/23rd   UKTRA      
April 6th/7th/8th (Sun/Mon/Tues)   BUSA Champs      
April 18th/19th (Fri/Sat) Waldringfield Easter Egg   www.waldringfieldsc.com
serica.east@gmail.com
  Fantastic Easter racing
April 26th/27th Tamesis   www.tamesisclub.co.uk
suzyharris@blueyonder.co.uk
  Time for the hotly contested Junior Cup on Saturday, Open Meeting Sunday
May 3rd/4th Llangorse   guydavison@activahealthcare.co.uk   Enjoy 2 days of the bank holiday in the beautiful Breckon Beacons. Fine lake sailing followed by quality local pub social.
May 9th/10th/11th (Fri/Sat/Sun)   Wilson Trophy      
May 24th/25th/26th Restronguet   www.mysailingclub.org
Geoff Hall: geoffhall8@btinternet.com
  Fantastic 3 day event includes the National Single Handed Championships on the beautiful Falmouth estuary. Always a great welcome and Cornish tea from a firefly club.
June Bourne End Week – Upper Thames   www.utsc.org.uk
bickford@doctors.org.uk
  4 days of Firefly Racing for one of the 3 Silver Fireflies
June 14th/15th Bough Beech – hosted by Sevenoaks School (TBC)        
June 25th/26th/27th (Wed/Thurs/Fri)   Itchenor Schools Event     The Grass roots of our class battle it out.
June 28th/29th Royal Harwich YC   www.royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk   Joint open meeting with Larks and National 12s at RHYC’s new clubhouse.  Camping on the lawn and fantastic courses.  Big event this year!
July 12th/13th Rickamnsworth and Foot Trophy     VINES Foot trophy team racing on Saturday – experience or not come and join in. Sat night social and camping at club. Fleet racing for the Vines on Sunday.
July 19th/20th Royal Lymington – Summer Dinghy Open   Luke McEwen VINES Combined with the club regatta for a real festival of racing – camping/sleeping in scout hut available for £6/head with min £50 booking fee so get in touch with the club and let them know you are interested
Aug 16th-22nd FIREFLY NATIONALS – WEYMOUTH Jono@sleepydorset.com   With Rendevous free clubbing all week and great sailing, a must!!
Sept 7th (Sun) Chipstead   www.chipsteadsc.org.uk VINES Shifty and testing – great conditions to sort wheat from chaff. (Sunday only)
Sept 13th/14th   W Lancs 24 Hour race 24-hour-race@wlyc.org.uk   One of top 50 sailing events in the world – something everyone should do once. 24 hr relay fleet race with fireflies as its own class. 24 hr party of course runs alongside! With an association team planned don’t miss it.
Sept 21st   BART’s BASH www.bartsbash.co.uk   A new world record in support of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation?
Oct 4th/5th Inlands – Chew Valley SC       At this club attracting many students there should be great fleet racing and no doubt a party on Sat to match. The last Silver Firefly of the year – up for grabs
Oct 18th/19th   Youth and Junior Team Racing Champs – Farmoor      
Oct 25th (Sat) WOSC   Tonythresher57@aol.com VINES Currently our biggest firefly club welcomes us all for the final event of the Vines series. Lots of prizes including a whole suit of sails and new job up for grabs.(Have to do all red Vines events to compete)
Oct 1st/2nd   BUSC Fleet Racing Champs      
Nov 8th (Sat) South Staffs   kmacaulay@onetel.com   Where North meets South – The first Midland event of the season. One day meet (Saturday only)

Still to be confirmed: (To be confirmed):

  • West Kirby
  • Spinnaker – Twisted Tube (Sat) – Open (Sun)
  • Budworth – October

2015 diary:

  • Upper Thames 12-13 Sept
  • Nationals Restronguet 25th July – 1st August