Firefly Inland Championship 2024 at Bough Beech Sailing Club

This year's Firefly Inlands was a fantastic success. Forty-one double-handers for an Inland championship is extraordinary. It was also great to see so many of the students enjoy themselves and learn. Thanks to the two schools and UEA for making it such a fun event. The event was sponsored by Sailboat Trailers, and further prizes provided by Craftinsure and Allen.

The sailing was challenging but fun. The race officer's preference for a heavily port-favoured line meant starting was a real challenge, with most of the fleet wanting to start within 4 boat lengths of one another. OCS (premature start and disqualification) was the real enemy.

Firefly Inlands at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Race 1 got away on the 2nd attempt after a large majority of the fleet pushed the pin end bias a little too far on the 1st edition of Race 1. Jono Pank and Freya Phillips were forced over and rounded the ends gifting Jason Aldous and Joesphine Mason a clear lane off the start to the left hand side of the track. Nigel and Emily lead briefly but succumbed to Jason and Jo's superior negotiation of the wind shifts, taking their first ever Inlands win!

Jono and Freya made no mistakes in Race 2 to take the win. Another new pairing, Jenny Smallwood Ph.D. and James Ball sailed divinely and were blessed with the Race 3 win.

Race 4 was the obvious highlight for Alex Baxter and Erin Pank, winning their first Inlands race having previously come second in seven! It was a tricky and shifty race, a shift and gust finally decided the race on the run which allowed Alex and Erin to get away from the chasing pack.

Firefly Inlands at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Race 5 Alex/Erin rounded in second, to Nigel/Emily. Alex felt he had the upper hand in terms of shifts and speed upwind, as the breeze had now built considerably. Eventually, with some great covering and protective sailing, Nigel and Emily just (with some discussion about infringement) prevailed.

When the fleet came ashore, no one knew who was leading or how many OCSs had been scored. A few of the front runners had scored big. Others breathed a sigh of relief.

Firefly Inlands at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

The majority of visitors went for a curry and some late-night rum drinking at the Johnson's house. Overnight leader Emily Saunderson cut short the weekend to catch up on some work (earn money), leaving Nigel Wakefield in the care of Jenny Johnson on Sunday.

Alex Baxter's highlight of Sunday was giving a briefing to all the school children on how he rigs a Firefly. He spoke about the importance of when to pull the centreboard up, rig tension settings and transits on the start line. On the next start he scored an OCS. Another of Alex's personal lessons for the weekend was to arrive on time. His reliance on "friends" to rig his boat had backfired. Whilst on the water, he had to drop the jib, detach the shrouds and re-step the mast. Never one to be held accountable, he was also heard muttering about accepting lifts from unreliable drivers!

Firefly Inlands at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

On Sunday, Jono/Erin were quick out of the blocks and stated their intentions by winning Race 6.

Roger Morris and Anna Morris took Race 7, also winning the day with an impressive 1,2,4 scoreline. Alex Davey and Stella Davey finished a close 2nd.

Jenny Smallwood Ph.D. and James Ball lead Race 8 by a miraculous distance. Despite labouring devoutly, they dropped to third allowing Nigel/Jenny and Jono/Freya to ascend. Dr Jenny Smallwood said afterwards that the race profile was analogous to the previous evening, where she'd drunk a large glass of neat rum.

Firefly Inlands at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Once ashore the scores were counted. Despite the fleet's continued erratic scoring, the top three were unchanged. Nigel/Emily/Jenny hung on for first overall. Jono/Freya 2nd and Alex/Stella 3rd. Other worthy mentions are Leo Dixon returning to the fleet sailing with 11-yr-old daughter Lily, finishing 6th. Well done to Jamie Middleburgh and Josh Beverley, who didn't sail on Saturday but lead two races on Sunday.

Rosie Heydorn and Allegra Fleming 1st all U18 crew
Sophia Johnson 1st U18 helm
Jenny Smallwood Ph.D. 1st female helm
Amy Morris and Gilly Ansell 1st all female crew
Thommie Grit and Rosie Howes 1st students

Firefly Inlands at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Many thanks to Bough Beech Sailing Club for kindly hosting the event so well on their beautiful expanse of water.

Overall Results: