Temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius and a Force 3 helped to make this year’s Tamesis Firefly open meeting on 21 April a sparkling success.

Club members ran a superb event with excellent race management and onshore catering. Rowing boats, Thames pleasure launches and wind bends from tower blocks and trees created interesting sailing conditions for the 16 competing boats.

Will Henderson and his young son Robert from the home club took home the Elizabeth Cup after working their way to the front of the fleet in each of the three races. Despite the dominance of the Henderson family, racing was extremely close throughout the fleet. Each of the top six overall led a race at some point, and just two points separated second from fifth overall. The sizeable onshore crowd also enjoyed the day, with the odd capsize adding to the entertainment.

The Tamesis open was the fifth in the National Firefly Association’s 2001-2002 M25 travellers trophy series. With just one event to go at Rickmansworth on the 9 June, Ian Sanderson and Rhiannon Jones are in pole position counting two wins and a third. Their main challenge will come from Nigel Wakefield and Rachel Crebbin from Spinnaker Club whose current best three results are a first, second and third.

Overall Results

1st F2319, Gigi, Will and Robert Henderson, Tamesis, 2pts

2nd F2649, Mustard, Alex Davey and Emma Shaw, Rickmansworth, 5pts

3rd F2803, Grendel, Ed Smith and Lucy Barber, Rickmansworth, 5pts

4th F3690, Waynetta, Ian Sanderson and Rhiannon Jones, Royal Lymington, 6pts

5th F3133, Fourwood Thinking, Barney and Nina Smith, Rickmansworth, 7pts

6th F708, Doris, Jeremy Vines and Liz Tickle, Tamesis, 11pts