Firefly Troy Trophy at Rickmansworth Sailing Club

Mixed weather greeted the Fireflies and when combined with hangovers from the previous nights Champagne party it was always going to be a difficult day. The first race tested the ability of a number of sailors from as far a field as South Staffs and Lymington with shifty conditions and variable wind strength.

The first race was tense, however, Angus Cook crewed by Emma Healey led at the windward mark but during the mid part of the race they were overtaken by Ian Sanderson and Linda Eadie and Jon Billington crewed by Sue Mellor. Whilst these two swapped places Ed Smith and Angus Cook were just behind waiting for a mistake. Unfortunately for Sanderson and Billington, they misread the finish line and passed on the wrong side leaving the way clear for Ed Smith and Jonquil Brooks to snatch victory followed by Barney Smith and Nina Hartley and Ricky Tagg and Gemma Gillingham. By the time that Ian Sanderson and John Billington returned they had dropped to 6th and 5th respectively.

The second race followed shortly after on the same course with a little more wind, the leading bunch broke away earlier on and the race became a fight for the lead between Ian Sanderson and Ricky Tagg from Ed Smith and Jon Billington. Ed Smith fell foul of a big shift and gust halfway through a tack and emerged head to wind and full of water. This enabled Ian Sanderson and Ricky Tagg to break clear by the end of the first lap. Ian Sanderson was again in control but on the last lap they split on one beat which and the fickle finger of fate dealt Sanderson another blow. Ricky Tagg managed to find more pressure and shift to take the lead and with only half a lap to go he made sure that little opportunity was given to Sanderson. Ed Smith recovered from his turmoil to finish third closely followed by John Billington.

The final race was shaping up that anyone of four could win the event. The wind dropped for the last race and Steve Greaves crewed by Rosie Brown jumped into an early lead followed by Cook and Tagg. At the windward mark, Cook led closely followed by Tagg and Greaves and a big pack with all the other contenders. The run was very light and by the bottom, Tagg had slipped by Cooke with Greaves third and Billington 4th. Towards the end of the first lap, the pack just behind Tagg were neck and neck and Greaves was first to spot the breeze and sailed round everyone to arrive at the leeward mark just behind Tagg and with a significant gap over the following pack. From that point Tagg extended his lead followed and the pack tried to chase down Greaves but to no avail. At the finish Ricky Tagg took the gun to give him the event, with Steve Greaves second and Ed Smith third, securing him second place, with John Billington 4th and Ian Sanderson 5th.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Firefly Page

Results generated and submitted using Sailwave - completely free Windows sailing scoring software