Firefly (dinghy)

Current Specifications
F Class Symbol
Crew	2
LOA	3,660 mm (12 ft 0 in)
Beam	1,420 mm (4 ft 8 in)
Hull weight	74 kg (163 lb)
Main & Jib area	8.36 m2 (90.0 sq ft)
D-PN	99.6
RYA PN	1168
Former Olympic Class

The Firefly is a two-sail, one design, wooden or GRP sailing dinghy with no spinnaker, designed by Uffa Fox in 1938. The first four boats from the production line were named Fe, Fi, Fo and Fum. Number one, Fe, is now owned by the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Although designed as a double hander, it was selected as the single handed class for the 1948 Olympics but was subsequently replaced by the Finn class. The class then became popular as a low cost, one design, double hander, as was originally intended, tolerating remarkably well combined weights of 16 to 25st. The Firefly class today has a thriving open events calender in the UK. The National Championships always held at a sea venue attracts a very high level of dinghy racing competitors in boats of all ages from all over the country and fleets of 60 enties plus. Away events are held at a number of the top end sailing clubs in the UK being Restonguet, Itchenor, West Kirby, Felixstowe Ferry, Southport, Budworth, Rickmansworth to name a few. It has become particularly successful as a team racing boat in the UK, thanks to its high maneuverability, easy handling, and low cost. Another benefit is the use of smaller mainsail which enables sailing in stronger winds. The class has become particularly popular for the British Universities Sailing Association team racing events, thus a large number of universities that team race have a fleet of Fireflys, taking advantage of the benefits above. The Firefly ideal was to produce a one-design dinghy at a low cost; this is why the class celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2006 and continues to grow. The Firefly appeals to all ages and is raced by both men and women. A more detailed history will be found on the class association website.^[1]

Design

All modern hulls are made from GRP/fibreglass and hulls have to be ordered in advance for a batch of them to be made. E.g. universities and other institutions getting together to procure entire fleets of boats. Being made of GRP with aluminium spars makes the dinghy very light and thus fast in the right hands, thus emphasizing more on crew skill. They are also designed to be very simple, thus all parts are uniform, e.g. shackles and pulleys, helping to cater for a wider range of clients. All boats are the same with the exception of sail colour (some universities have team colour-coded sails) and certain accessories such as sheet colour and edge protectors. There is also a significant number of cold moulded wooden ply fireflies still being lovingly maintained by owners, young and more mature of age, since wood boat production ended in the late 90's. A number of the older wooden boats are still very competitive if maintained and kitted with latest modern fittings etc. They are also often sold on at very good low prices, so ideal for younger sailors if they know what they are doing. When racing in a mixed fleet of classes, the Firefly uses a Portsmouth Yardstick handicap of 1168^[2] (in the RYA scheme) or a D-PN of 99.6^[3] (US Sailing scheme).

References

1. ↑ History page of the Firefly Association website
2. ↑ "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
3. ↑ "Centerboard Classes-Inactive". US Sailing. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 

External links

• Firefly Association UK
• National Maritime Museum Cornwall - the UK's national museum of boats

Other types of Sailing Dinghy

v t e Sailing at the Summer Olympics 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 List of multiple medalists Table of competing nations List of medalists by class List of venues