Weymouth here we go!
34 boats congregated at Weymouth Town Sailing Club for The 68th GJW Direct
Firefly National Championships.
With everyone through their boat checks the fleet took to the water for the
practice race in a good but shifty 20 knots under blue sky.
The class ran a practice gate start before the fleet set off. Good practice
for the race team and clearly some of the competitors as one student boat
tried to join the Guard boat driver in his boat!!
The second start ran smoothly and saw newly refurbished 973, Spiderling with
Dave and Betty Sincock show off their beautiful wooden boat as pathfinder
crossing the fleet.
The shifty and gusty conditions saw many place changes and close racing. Ben
and Jenny Vines in 2144 Fetherlite took the lead at the windward mark,
closely followed by Andy Cornah and Kate Fairclough in 888, Desperado. By
the second lap Jono and Sarah Pank in 1954 Pogie, defending National
Champions, were hot on the heels of Desperado. Some confusion with marks and
visibility added to the place changes.
After a short race places finished with Pogie in 1st, Stuart and Jane Hudson
in 3850 Fursty Ferret in 2nd and Desperado in 3rd. With the real racing
commencing tomorrow and a high class fleet competition will be tight!
Generous sponsorship from GJW gives the fleet a strong student turn out
after the free entry competition. Added bonus for the fleet, Rendevous
Nightclub has provided free entry all week. The combination should generate
some good Duckhams nominations!!
With everyone set up for Day 2 a strong forecast may interfere with plans
for racing for the Sussex Silver Firefly!