Firefly National Championships 2024 at Restronguet Sailing Club - Day 3

Race 4

On the 'A' course type ('trapezoid, sausage') for the first time this nationals, the fourth race of the series was sunny, light, shifty and tidal.

It was good to get some different conditions to the other days... oh wait. However, the wind had shifted 180 degrees which meant a change in strategy, spicing things up for all. After the start, which got away on second attempt after a general recall, the fleet was quickly onto port. Our boat made its way from left to right - sitting in first family and then Pank dirty air to find a lane.

Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 3 - photo © Jim Bramley

The first downwind was rather light, with gybes seeming to be one of the main strategical choices for some, that and attempting to avoid the tide. On the next beat the wind clocked left, giving a few people a track back into the race, whilst at the front (or just behind it) those that got into the tide on the right were saved as, near the lay line, the wind went a little right again.

Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 3 - photo © Jim Bramley

The top 5 overall were top 5 in the race, although not in their proper order, with Chris Kameen ultimately taking the win he had narrowly missed yesterday. We managed to find some pressure on the final downwind to overtake family competition for 6th at the final mark, only later to find out the consequences of such an action... Our reports are written by the 6th paced boat in ach race!

Crews' Race

The Fleet got away cleanly In what was easily the nicest wind of the week so far, with all 41 boats managing to stay behind the start line. Striga found a lane out left into what they thought was more pressure, while the leader Pogie and most of the rest of the fleet went right. At the windward mark it became apparent that Pogie had a reasonable lead with the main challenger being Desperado, while Striga and the rest of the eventual top 6 were scattered from 3rd to about 15th.

Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 3 - photo © Jim Bramley

After 2 more or less uneventful reaches, the leaders again headed out right, while Striga and a few others battled their way up the left. After tough beat it emerged that Pogie had cemented her lead with Tic Tac rounding 2nd and Squabbling Phoenix in a very narrow 3rd in front of Desperado and Fursty Ferret while Striga worked had their way into a defendable 6th.

Through a very patchy and light run, the top 2 easily held on to their places, while Squabbling Phoenix Just about managed to hold their position to finish third, followed by Fursty Ferret then Desperado.

Firefly Nationals at Restronguet Day 3 - photo © Jim Bramley

Striga managed to avoid falling back into the next clump of boats and held on to finish 6th.

Our thanks to our class supporters for their generous prizes help Marlow Ropes, Craftinsure, Allen, kSailEvents, Selden Mast, Sailboat Trailers, Ovington Boats.

Results after Day 3: