Firefly Open at Rickmansworth Sailing Club
by Steven Greaves 31 May 2012 08:04 BST
27 May 2012
Fireflys at Rickmansworth © Jo Webb
Sunday 27th May saw the return of Open Firefly racing to Rickmansworth SC for the first time in eight years. The class has always been strong at the club and the five local boats were joined by seven visitors for what can only be described as picture perfect conditions.
The experienced race team of Martin Smethers and Peter Axford got the race 1 away first time in the lightest breeze of the day. Current team racing world champion helm Andy Cornah sailing with Kate Fairclough snuck into a fragile lead eagerly pursued by local sailor and current class chairman Steve Greaves crewed by Poppy Jukes. These two played cat and mouse all the way around as behind a battle royal erupted. Multi class champions Will and Mandy Henderson fought with fast father and son team Josh and Tristan Richardson.
It all came flooding back to former local sailor Jonny Bickford, having learnt on the lake before moving away and teaming up with Claudia Wilson they tussled race long with Will Mason / Alannah Witherby and sisters Caroline Webb and Susan Steyn.
Andy and Kate got the bullet in race one and never looked back in race two, sailing off to a comfortable lead. West Oxfords Tony Thresher and Mike Radford showed their lake sailing prowess taking second from the chasing pack.
After a great lunch the wind had increased further for the final race, with Cornah once again showing the fleet a clean pair of heals. The fight behind was as changeable as ever, with Will and Mandy thinking they had secured second until a gust brought third to sixth placed boats back in contention. Whomever finished second would finish there overall, and it is the Richardsons with a mere layer of varnish between them and third place Greaves / Jukes at the gun, with Thresher / Radford and the Hendersons following close behind.
A fantastic day's racing was topped off with tea, cake and medals.
With the Firefly Rickmansworth Open now firmly back on the calendar bigger and better things are already being discussed for next year, and eagerly awaited they will be!
Overall Results:
1st Andy Cornah & Kate Fairclough (West Kirby SC)
2nd Josh & Tristan Richardson (Ardleigh SC)
3rd Steve Greaves & Poppy Jukes (Rickmansworth SC)
4th Tony Thresher & Mike Radford (West Oxford SC)
5th Will & Mandy Henderson (Tamesis SC)