Nationals Trophies Winners
Trophy Details
This details the provenance of our main trophies, the awarding rules and previous winners.
Trophies awarded at The National Championships:
A. Sir Richard Fairey Points Cup – Presented in 1947 by the chairman of Fairey Marine Ltd. For the winner of the points series during Firefly week. Since the late 1950’s the winner is also the National Champion, previously the Champion was the winner of the Gore.
B. Colin Whittle Trophy – Presented in 2012 at Felixstowe by a close friend to commemorate Colin Whittle. For the crew of the boat winning the Sir Richard Fairey Points series.
C. Sir Ralph Gore Challenge Cup – Presented in 1947 by Sir Ralph Gore when president of the YRA (predecessor of the RYA). From 1947 to about 1958 the Gore was held on the final day of Firefly week and the winner was also the National Champion. The Cup was originally presented in 1936 by Sir William P. Burton and had been won by Sir Ralph Gore.
The race is currently sailed on the Wednesday morning of Firefly week by the top half of the fleet based on the preceding points races. It is sailed from a line start over a triangular course with legs in excess of 3/4 mile and a total length of 10 12 miles.
Gore Cup conditions are as follows:
a. This trophy is to be raced for by boats of the R.Y.A. Firefly one-design class on open water.
b. In view of the small size of the boats, the water in which the race is held should be reasonably sheltered.
c. Length of course 1012 sea miles.
d. Start to windward.
e. The length of each leg of course should not be less than 3/4 mile, with the exception of the first leg which may be extended. The course shall be a triangle.
f. Time limit 4.5 hours for the first boat home.
g. In the event of the Club deciding that the number of starters is too great for the starting line, the race may be sailed in heats with a final, every effort should be made to avoid this.
h. In view of the possibility of very light or very bad weather, which may necessitate the postponement of the race, it can be sailed on the Thursday or Friday of the event and the programme should allow for this. This race shall take precedence over other points races.
i. Subject to a sufficient number of entries trophies should be given to at least the first three boats home.
j. The trophy is a permanent challenge trophy. It shall be held for one year by the winning team. And shall be brought by the winner or appropriate representative to the National Championships on registration day the following year.
N.F.A. Guide for fleet selection
The Gore fleet shall be chosen as follows:
i) Chose any entered boat that came in the top twelve in the preceding year’s Gore Race.
ii) Then in all points races in the days preceding the Gore Choose:
Boats who came 1st, 2nd 3rd 4th etc until a fleet numbering half the number of entrants for that year’s championship is reached.
iii). Anyone who has ever been a Gore winner and not an entrant to the current championship is entitled to enter that race. Racing costs may be charged as appropriate.
D. Marlow Trophy – Presented in 1960 by Marlow Ropes who also give a mainsheet to each year’s winner. For the winner of a race by those boats not qualifying for the Gore and held simultaneous to the Gore Challenge Race.
Marlow Trophy conditions are as follows:
i) The boat must be entered for National Firefly Week.
ii) The boat must not be eligible to sail in the Gore Cup.
Individual Race Awards
NFA advisory note, each race is given a number which is like a title and therefore the trophy stays allocated to that race in whatever order the races are held in. For example, if Points Race 2 is abandoned and resailed on the Thursday it remains Points Race 2 with its allocated trophy.
E. Port of Plymouth Trophy – Presented in 1959 by the Plymouth local authority on the occasion of Firefly Week being held in Plymouth. For the winner of points race No. 1.
F. Sussex Silver Firefly – Presented in 1965 by Arun Y.C. and previously their open meeting trophy. For the winner of points race No. 2.
G. Felixstowe Ferry Trophy – Presented in 1966 by Felixstowe Ferry S.C. on the occasion of Firefly Week being held at the Ferry. For the winner of points race No. 3.
H. R.A.F.S.A. Trophy – Presented in 1967 by the R.A.F.S.A. The R.A.F. has owned over 100 Fireflies and kept an active interest in the class for its entire history. For the winner of points race No. 4.
I. Mike Nye Memorial Trophy – Presented in 1964 by Medway Y.C. in memory of Mike Nye who had served on the N.F.A. committee until his death in 1964. For the winner of the last points race in Firefly week.
Other Trophies
J. Rothmans Trophy – Presented in 1971 by Rothmans who sponsored that year’s championship held in Ireland. For the best helmsman in Firefly week counting all races sailed with no discards. That includes the practice race and any other non-points race.
K. Veterans Trophy – Presented in 1954 by W. P. Bush. For the best-placed helmsman in the Sir Ralph Gore Trophy who was over 50 years of age on the preceding January 1st.
L. Geriatric Trophy – Presented in 1961. For the best-placed helmsman in the Sir Richard Fairey Points Cup aged over 50 years on the preceding January 1st.
M. The Ultimate Trophy – Presented by Phil and Jill Slater on the occasion of the 1987 National Championships held at Felpham. This trophy is to be competed for by the five most senior crews entered in the Firefly National Week. The Seniority of the crews will be judged by adding up the ages of the helm and crew.
If however, the combined ages of more than five crews exceed one hundred then all shall qualify for the trophy competition.
The trophy will be awarded to the qualifying crew who are best placed in the Sir Richards Fairey Points Series.
N. Deben Ladies Trophy – Presented in 1972 by Felixstowe Ferry S.C. and replaced in 2014 by the NFA due to wear. For the helmswoman “fastest Lady” with the best position in the Sir Richard Fairey Points Cup series.
M. Restronguet Ovaloid Trophy – Presented in 1969 by Restronguet S.C. For the helmsman under 18 on the preceding January 1st who has the best position in the Sir Richard Fairey Points Cup series.
O. The Chris Lynham Trophy – Presented by his family as a previous firefly sailor involved in a serious motorcycle accident. It replaced the missing Insurance Trophy presented in 1975 by Bryant and Shaw Insurance. For the helmsman under 21 who has the best position in the Sir Richard Fairey Points Cut series. Cannot be won by the winner of the Ovaloid Trophy.
P. Tolly Cobbold Cup – Presented 1982 by Tolly Cobbold plc the sponsors of the 1982 National Championships at Felixstowe Ferry. For the Club who have the lowest aggregate points in the Sir Richard Fairey points results for their four best-placed helms. Definition of club: Affiliated with RYA or equivalent if non-UK club.
Other Event Awards
Q. Chichester Smith SingleHanded Challenge Trophy – Presented in 1949 by Colin Chichester Smith D.S.C. For the winner of the singlehanded championship. Conditions are as follows: Previously this race was a copy of The Sir Ralph Gore Challenge Cup but with only one crew to replicate the previously singlehanded Firefly. The venue and timing of this race is decided by the committee and shall be a fair, single-handed race in suitable conditions. It currently is held as part of the South Western Championships
R. Uffa Fox Memorial Trophies – Presented in 1973 by the N.F.A. For the under-18 winner of the Junior Championships. (under 18 on January 1st of the year of sailing). (Currently sailed as part of the Inland Championships.)
Under 16 Trophy – Presented in 1973 by the N.F.A. For the under-16 winner of the Junior Championships. (under 16 on January lst of the year of sailing).
S. Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Trophy (Silver Firefly)
The Inland Championship was initiated by the N.F.A. in 1978 in recognition of the fact that most Fireflies were now sailed inland where different skills were needed to win than on the sea in the National Championships. This trophy is now used for the winner.
The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club was at that time holding a Silver Firefly Trophy which was no longer being sailed for. They loaned it to the N.F.A. as a perpetual trophy for the Inland Championships with the following conditions:
a) It shall be called the R.C.Y.C. Trophy.
b) If it is not awarded for four consecutive years it shall revert to the R.C.Y.C
c) It may be sailed for as a special event or as part of a major open meeting.
T. Vines Trophy (Updated with Vines family permission in 2012) – Presented in 1965 by the Vines family
For the boat with the best performance on the Open meeting circuit. Vines Trophy conditions are as follows:
Rules For The Vines Trophy
a. The trophy shall be called the Vines Trophy.
b. It shall be held by the winner for a year.
c. It shall be awarded to the Helmsman scoring the least number of points in the four or five open meetings selected from the open meeting circuit by the committee of the National Firefly Association.
Such meetings shall be referred to as having Vines Trophy status.
The National Championship will not be nominated to have Vines Trophy status. Clubs may apply to the committee to be considered for Vines Trophy Status.
d. Vines Trophy Status will be granted by the National Firefly Association with the aim to spread across the calendar year, support current sailors and clubs and promote the class. A nominated club can opt out of the arrangement if they so desire (not within 8 weeks of the proposed date of the event)
e. In order to qualify for the trophy a boat/helmsman must sail in two meetings.
f. Clubs running Vines Trophy Events shall notify the final results to the Sailing Secretary of the National Firefly Class within 2 weeks of the event except the last event of the year where the results must be available on the last day of sailing to enable prize presentation.
g. Open meeting with Vines Trophy status.
i) will be expected to conform to RYA rules and recommendations wherever practical, and failure to do so will jeopardise the status of their open meeting for the following years.
ii) The event races shall have a fair start and course.
iii) Entry shall be restricted to members of the Firefly Association as defined in the rules of the Firefly Association. (At least one sailor in each boat shall adhere to this rule)
iv) Boats used must have a certificate valid at the time of each race.
h. Points will be awarded to Helmsmen/Boat in each designated event on final results as follows: 1 st … 1 2nd … 2 3rd … 3 4th … 4 … etc.
For an event not sailed the points shall be n +1, where n is the entry number of the Vines event with the largest number of boats sailing.
i. In the case of a tie, it shall be broken by the event with the largest entry.
j. In nonracing matters the decision of the National Firefly Association committee is final. In racing and race administration appeal to the R.Y.A. must be permitted.
k. Vine Trophy events postponed on the day of the event to a later date will only retain their status if they do not clash with another Vines Trophy meeting.
U. M25 Trophy
Initially presented in the autumn of 1987 by Guy English and Peter Lanham for competition by members of the National Firefly Association based on Open Events held at Clubs within reach of the M25 Motorway. Initially included opens at Tamesis, Laleham, Upper Thames, Rickmansworth, Chipstead and Wembley Sailing Clubs with the Trophies to be presented after the final event of the season, or as is convenient.
Since 2012 it has been awarded as per Vines Trophy rules for all other open meetings with 5 or more entrants.