Dull and windless weather greeted the early morning arrivals for the Firefly Autumn Trophy competition at the Welsh Harp on 7 November. The race officer Roger Wilson decided on a half-hour postponement, and half an hour later a light breeze duly appeared allowing the 17 boats to get under way.

Lucy Boreham and Rachel Crebbin won this race from Will Mason and Marion Mason, with Douglas Maxwell and Alex Evangelides third.

In the second race, the same three boats managed to repeat this performance. Overall victory was thus sealed for Boreham and Crebbin, but the other places were still to play for.

In the third race the Masons raised their game to win, giving them second overall on the tiebreak from Maxwell and Evangelides. John Wilcock and Ken Daniels took fourth place overall on another tiebreak from John Lawson and Jane Hill.

In recognition of the large contingent of youngsters from Harp Youth Sailors who entered, a prize was awarded for the first youth, won by James Wells and Conan McKenzie who were also sixth overall.

Next year will be the 50th Autumn Trophy event. The trophy was first awarded in 1955 and has been sailed for annually except for one year when the Harp was drained for dam repairs.