After a great day of sailing in the Junior Cup on Saturday, an enthusiastic bunch of Firefly sailors turned up at Tamesis Club on Sunday 25th April to contest the Elizabeth Cup on the Thames. Ten boats set about rigging in an unusually cold and gusty northerly and most got onto the water for a prompt start by the race officer and his team. Those over the line (or still on the jetty) when the start gun went were soon back in the pack thanks to the vagaries of river sailing. The Firefly once again proved what tight racing it can provide with the younger crewed boats mixing with and beating those of a more experienced nature. When it all shook out, it was Alex Davey crewed by son Thomas claiming the bullet in the first race, chased home by Nigel Wakefield & Emily Saunderson. Another pair of father / son combos Roger & Finn Morris and Stuart & Robbie Hudson claimed the third and fourth spot. The experienced pair of Lucy Boreham & Rachel Crebbin sailed consistently into fifth.
The second race followed a similar pattern with the same boats sailing well into first and second place. Third place was picked up by local Jamie McEwen crewed by (previous day’s Junior Cup victor) Matthew Mason having shaken off their capsize from the first race. Matthew’s dad and sister, Will and Polly, sailed a good race to come in sixth but a few enthusiastic gusts caused a couple of capsizes, most vocally from Ed and Sophie Smith.
After a suitable break for lunch and all races to count it was back on the water to decide the medals. Multiple class champion and previous Elizabeth cup winner Stu Hudson, this time crewed by his wife Jane, shot off the line to an impressive and unassailable lead while the rest of the fleet fought amongst themselves. The consistent Daveys came over the line second and took the title, with Wakefield & Saunderson third to finish second overall. Fourth across the line and fourth overall was Steve Greaves who’d been sharing crewing duties between daughter and son Arthur and Madeleine. Progressing over the day to take fifth in the last race were Alec and Ana Powell.
An excellent and tiring day’s sailing was followed by welcome tea and cake to complement the prizes. An excellent event run by the members of Tamesis sailing club – see you next year!