A total of 82 boats have now entered the Crewsaver 60th Firefly National Championships, to be held this summer at Abersoch from the 5-11 August.

With entries still expected from a number of Firefly sailors, including at least a dozen boats from Nottingham, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities, the National Firefly Association is confident that the magic 100-boat barrier will be passed in the next few weeks.

Firefly Class Chairman, Will Mason, commented: “To have over 80 boats entered with three months to go before the championship begins is an almost unheard of situation for the Firefly class. The Crewsaver 60th Firefly National Championship is shaping up to be an amazing event, the highlight of a very special 60th Birthday year for the class.”

The 81st and 82nd entries to the championship show the great diversity of the Firefly Class. Entry 81 was from Dick Uren, now in his ninth decade, and a Firefly stalwart from the 1940s and 50s. Entry 82 was from Colin Gordon of the New York Yacht Club, who will be making a special trip across the Atlantic in August to join the celebrations.

Many of those competing at Abersoch will be talking to the water over the weekend of May 20/21 to sail in Event 1 of the 2006 Craftinsure Vines Trophy – the principal Firefly Class Travellers series – which opens with a doubleheader weekend of racing on the River Thames at Thames and Tamesis Sailing Clubs.

For more details of the Firefly class and how to enter for the Crewsaver 60th Firefly National Championships visit www.fireflysailing.co.uk.