Thames Sailing Club
The Firefly Open 2006 - 20/21st May
UPDATE! Firefly Open 2006 Photographs
Fireflies compete for Craftinsure Vines Trophy event at Thames SC
The first dinghy Open meeting at Thames SC for 20 years saw 18 Fireflies come to the start line on day 1 of the Vines Trophy event, shared with Tamesis Club.
20 mph gusts and the more usual holes in the wind greeted the fleet as they came to the start line for the first race. A perfect start by National Firefly Champion Tony Gunstone saw him clear, as the rest of the fleet fought with the testing conditions, and each other, over 4 laps.
By race 2 the strong breeze had got the better of some of the home boats. A couple of really vicious gusts also tested the boat handling of some of the best Freddy sailors in the country. Barney Smith and Emma, from Hamble River SC, held off Gunstone to take the win in an exhibition of small boat skills not seen on the river for some years.
The last race showed no let up in the competitors enthusiasm for the start line, and only 5 boats were behind the line when the gun went.
A general recall saw a more orderly start and again Gunstone took an early lead. Local Thames SC Firefly, F18, a fully restored 1946 built Freddy sailed by Rob and daughter Georgina Cage, took to the front downwind. Tony retook the lead by the gun and with it secured the event.
Craftinsure provided the prizes.
Following the main event there was a feeder race from Thames SC to Tamesis Club - a first for both the Fireflies and Thames SC - in preparation for the Tamesis Open on Sunday.
Taking local advice, Simon Spolton and Daisy Tennant Thames in F1853 took the gun from Tony Gunstone
Stella provided the prizes.
(Rob Cage)
Overall Results:
| Place | Sail Number | Crew | Club |
| 1 | 3747 | Tony Gunstone | Castaways |
| 2 | 3023 | Barney Smith, Emma | Hamble River Sailing Club |
| 3 | 3841 | Ian Sanderson | Royal Lymington YC |
| 4 | 18 | Rob and Georgina Cage | Thames Sailing Club |
Page last updated: 21/06/2006 17:37:38
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