6th UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge

The 28th April 2009 saw the start of the 2009 UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge, the sixth running of this increasingly popular annual three day regatta, organised by serving and ex members of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The weather was less kind this year with strong winds and rain greeting the competitors, some of whom had travelled from as far away as West Yorkshire. The number of entries once again showed an increase on previous years with 31 boats leaving the pontoons for the race area, including 1 yacht from our ‘Gold’ sponsors telent and six yachts crewed by representatives of five Police forces, one Ambulance service and one Mountain Rescue Team, making this probably the only ‘999 Emergency Services’ sailing event in the country. To allow the more inexperienced crews to compete, skippers were given the option to race with white sails only (no spinnaker) and 12 boats went for this option.

Day 1:

Having made their way to the indicated mark competitors were first kept waiting whilst one of the yachts was held up at the pontoon as a result of defective equipment. The flat seas and light winds that were to become the dominant feature of the first day’s sailing then caused a further delay whilst the regatta officials were forced to switch from their intended initial start point to one where we would at least get some racing in. The only bonus was the fact that when the first race started, at a just after midday, the lighter winds enabled the 31 entrants to ease themselves over the start line without incident.

The racing format has always been a passage race to start the event, to give crews a chance to get to know their boat and indeed each other as many crew members are trying sailing for the first time. The UKFSC organising committee actively encourage skippers to enter crews of mixed ability so that newcomers to sailing are provided with a safe but exhilarating introduction to sailing. For the first time the passage race was won by Peter Crowther who skippered yacht number 8 from West Yorkshire. Peter had proven in 2008 that he was particularly adept at maximising progress even the smallest of breezes and 2009 was to be no different. Peter Crowther won the first and only race of day one with Roger Glass (Met Police 2) in second place and Robert Jones (Oxfordshire Fire) in third place, Michael Holt (Suffolk Police) was the first ‘White Sail’ yacht over the line. With deteriorating wind strengths racing for the remainder of the day was abandoned and the fleet made its way to Cowes Yacht Haven for its overnight mooring.

Mick Stead, chairperson of the UKFSC organising committee, opened the gala evening by welcoming the 248 competitors. Using the results of the day’s racing he announced that the 31 boat fleet was to be separated into one of three classes to facilitate a secondary competition on day two of the event. The Haven Events Centre staff had prepared a delicious meal and we were joined by the author of the award winning book ‘Left for Dead’, Nick Ward and his wife Chris. Nick was the last survivor to be rescued from the ill-fated 1979 Fastnet Race and had kindly agreed to be our guest speaker for the evening. His captivated and harrowing experiences enthralled competitors and Nick was given rapturous applause at the end of his talk in appreciation. The rigours of the day certainly told on the crews though as many retired to their bunks before 11 pm ready for the next days racing.

Day 2:

The day commenced with the same very light winds experienced the previous day and race official Simon did a commendable job in locating a section of the Solent that offered some improvement to facilitate quality racing. In all four races were to be achieved on day 2 and whilst they involved the same buoys in many instances each produced a variety of outcomes.

Ray Crouch and his crew aboard yacht number 14 (Hampshire 4) were to show by winning the first race of the day that they were major contenders for an event trophy. By race two however Peter Crowther and the crew of yacht 8 (West Yorkshire 2) returned to their winning ways and were to complete their hatrick of first places by race 4 on day two of the event. Adrian Murphy and his crew aboard yacht 22 (West Sussex 1), who had been so dominant in previous years, had to wait until race three of the day to secure their first win of the 2009 Challenge.

Frustratingly an anticipated fifth race of the day was cancelled due to the race official’s yacht fouling its propeller whilst trying to retrieve a large inflatable buoy it had laid earlier in the day. The UKFSC photographer’s rib was able to assist the official by transferring him to the designated marker for the completion of race four of the day. With racing unable to continue all crews returned to Cowes for more fun and games in the evening.

The telent Gala Evening was particularly busy and following a first class chicken dinner Mick Stead rose to provide the commentary for the prize giving, raffle and charity auction. Dave King, of telent Technology Services Ltd, kindly agreed to present UKFSC mid-event Class Awards to West Yorkshire 2 (Peter Crowther), Hampshire 1 (Mick Stead) and West Yorkshire 3 (Robin Moore).

UKFSC committee member Shaun Coote had done some sterling work in the period leading up to the UKFSC 2009 and had gained over £2,500 worth of prizes for the raffle and auctions which were held during the course of the evening. Vic George, one of our event photographers, and his wife kindly added to our auction with a yacht charter for 10 people on their luxury yacht. Not to be outdone BAA Heathrow also came up trumps when they donated a SatNav system towards the auction. The raffle that followed the prize-giving raised just over £1,800 and a further £1,325 was added with the auction of significant donations.

Day 3:

The last day of the event presented stronger wind conditions and the crews responded by becoming even more proficient resulting in some very close racing that took place in the final three races of the event. In the first race First honours of the day went to Ray Crouch and the crew of Hampshire (4), with Adrian Murphy in West Sussex (1) beating Peter Crowther’s West Yorkshire (2) boat into 3rd place.

After six races these three yachts entered race two of the day with everything to gain. On this occasion however Adrian Murphy West Sussex (1) took the honours with Peter Crowther’s West Yorkshire (2) second and Dave Sharman of London (3) gaining third place, his highest position in the series.

The last race of UKFSC 2009 was to prove eventful with Adrian Murphy consolidating his push for event honours by gaining his third win of the series. He was followed over the line by his old adversary Mick Stead from Hampshire (1), but it was not to be Mick’s day and an upheld protest after the finish saw Mick’s boat disqualified from race 8. Second place went to Michael Holt from Suffolk Police, a result that is to be applauded as Michael and his crew were part of the ‘White Sail’ fleet. Third place was taken by Nick Harding of London (2).

Returning to Port Solent the crews gathered in the bar in readiness for the UKFSC prize giving event. Prizes this year were presented by our patron, Mike Golding OBE, and the children of our former fire service and sailing colleague the late Ian Thresh. The UKFSC committee are very grateful to Mike not only for his continued support but also his willing contributions as Patron.

Overall Results and Trophies:

1st - UKFSC Rosebowl, Peter Crowther (West Yorkshire 2)
2nd – UKFSC Silver Yacht, Adrian Murphy (West Sussex 1)
3rd – UKFSC Silver Yacht Manikin, Ray Crouch (Hampshire 4)
Boddingtons Electrical Trophy - White Sail, Paul McCartney (West Yorkshire 4)
Ian Thresh Trophy (1st Hampshire boat), Ray Crouch (Hampshire 4)
SolentNightz Trophy (1st non fire service), Roger Glass (Met Police)
Sponsors Trophy, Dave Redman (telent)
Best Hertfordshire Trophy, Trevor Bassett (Hertfordshire 1)

Despite the lack of consistent sunshine, good sailing winds and three boats potentially losing their security deposits all competitors thoroughly enjoyed themselves and have said that they will be back next year. With the great help of our ‘Gold’ sponsor telent, Silver sponsors Boddingtons Electrical and Inspired 2 Learn, Bronze sponsors SolentNightz and SunSail and the ongoing generosity of crews £2,500 has been raised for each of our two deserving charities of this year – The Fire Fighters Charity and Care of Police Survivors (COPS).