Firefly open meeting at Rickmansworth Sailing Club

Glorious sunshine and a light but very sailable breeze greeted the seventeen competitors at Troy Lake for the annual Rickmansworth SC Firefly Open Meeting on the 12th June. After tea, pastries and the inevitable bimbling the thirteen visitors joined four local boats on the start line.

The clean but crowded start ensured close competition and lots of snakes and ladders for the first few laps. When things finally settled there was a four way fight for the front, with Dom & Sophia Johnson ducking it out with lake specialists Jenny Smallwood & Phil Aldhous. Local sailors Steve & Arthur Greaves joined the fray, with Guy Davison & Huw Farmer - having travelled all the way from Llangorse - very keen to take home a suitable prize.

The Greaveses and Smallwood & Aldhous edged out a tiny bit of breathing space and with the locals leading on the second last leg a victory looked secure. Smallwood & Aldhous had other ideas though and a well executed manoeuvre at the last mark saw them take a hard fought win over the Greaveses, with the Johnsons not far behind.

Race 2 followed back to back and after a general recall it was Davison / Farmer who shot into the lead. The Johnsons were having none of it though and by leg three had established a position out front, with Smallwood & Aldhous resuming their battle behind. Smallwood & Aldhous took the fight to the Johnsons, eventually finishing second to the Johnsons.

Davison & Farmer clocked up another fourth, and the consistent Jonny Bickford, crewed alternately by seven year old son Charles, and Claudia Wilson, consistent again in fifth.

Steve and Arthur Greaves win the Firefly open meeting at Rickmansworth - photo © RSC

So with the same players peppering the front it was effectively 'who ever wins, wins' in the last race with two of the three results to count. The usual tussle ensued but when the dust settled it was the Greaveses who took the win and with it the trophy, with Smallwood & Aldhous consistent in second place in the race and overall.

The Bickfords had a great result crossing third, elevating them to fourth overall above Davison & Farmer. The Johnsons completed the top three overall.

Prize-giving in the sun with a cold beer ended a great day's competition. We'll be back for more next year.

Overall Results:

Jenny Smallwood and Phil Aldhous take second place in the Firefly open meeting at Rickmansworth - photo © RSC