iconswoosh
  • icon-home.png Home Hello!
  • icon_travel_services.png Travel Services To help you prepare
    • icon_shield.png Travel insurance Be safe, not sorry
    • icon_lifering.png Travel safety training Save £30 off training
    • icon_planner.png Travel planner diary Stay on top - plan ahead
    • icon_lodging.png Accommodation Bargain lodging
  • icon_travel_tools.png Travel Tools Now & while away
    • icon_gift.png MTGY gift vouchers Family & friends can help
    • icon_globe.png Info service Worldwide daily news
    • icon_luggage.png Travel discounts Save money on kit
    • icon_safe.png Document safe It pays to have a backup
    • icon_communicate.png Interpreter services Understand the locals
    • icon_login.png Travel journal Keep your memories safe
  • icon-research.png Info Area Check the facts
    • icon_magnify.png Gap Year Directory Volunteer, work & courses
      • icon_volunteer.png Volunteering Make a difference
      • icon_work.png Working Find employment
      • icon_sportscourse.png Sports Courses Get qualified
      • icon_culturecourse.png Culture Courses Learning while going
      • icon_more.png Additional Services More...
      • icon_advice.png Travel Advice Dig deeper
    • icon_youtube.png Our YouTube Channel MTGY Video Choices
    • icon_newspaper.png MTGY News Section Read all about it
    • icon_more_reading.png Further Reading More Gap Year Articles
  • icon_login1.png Login To My Account

Firefly record in line-up for Schools Championships at Itchenor

Fifty-eight boats, representing 20 British schools, are competing this week in the 63rd annual Schools Sailing Championships at Itchenor Sailing Club.

Itchenor briefing

The three-day event opened today with a briefing for competitors followed by a chance to get in some last-minute training in good wind and weather on the waters of Chichester Harbour. Racing begins in earnest tomorrow (Thursday) and continues on Friday.

Event co-ordinator Nigel Glennie says: “Despite some schools missing this year’s event for funding reasons, we still have an excellent turnout. The 49 boats in the Firefly class is a record. However, there are only nine International 420s, which is somewhat disappointing – but it could spark keener competition.”

This year MPI Brokers joins its sister company Mind The Gap Year which has sponsored the event for the past eight years. Michael Pettifer, Managing Director of both companies and a keen sailor, says: “Sailing, including dinghy racing, is becoming an increasingly important part of the Travel Insurance we provide, so it is logical for us to bring MPI centre stage.”

The Schools event has been staged every year since 1952, when it was known as the Public Schools’ Firefly Invitation Championships. Its aim has always been to promote competitive inter-schools sailing and encourage young sailors.

The Firefly was the dinghy of choice as it was one of the first production dinghies built in large numbers. The first four were bought by Sir Geoffrey Lowles, commodore of Itchenor Sailing Club. In 1985, the International 420 was brought in alongside the Firefly to encourage the use of spinnaker and trapeze boats for school sailors.

In the early days of the championships, schools did not have their own boats, so competitors sailed in boats lent by Itchenor club members. The members also accommodated the competitors in their homes and at the club – a tradition that continues today.

Use the #ItchenorSC hashtag on Twitter to follow race news and results or to comment.

Joomla Templates and Joomla Extensions by ZooTemplate.Com
< Prev   Next >

General News and Travel Information

free_01SIGN UP! Equip yourself with the safety tools you'll need for your Gap Year adventure! Click here!

Quick Quote From MPI

All of our cover is now provided by our sister company MPI Brokers.
Click here to get a quick quote from MPI!

MTGY News

  • General News & Travel Information
  • NEWSFLASH - Urgent Information
  • Airline Failures
  • About Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sponsorship
  • Affiliates Scheme
  • Site Map
  • Events
  • Newsletters

Mind the Gap Year® and MPI Brokers are trading names of Michael Pettifer Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Copyright Mind The Gap Year® Ltd - © 2002-2018

Website designed by Virtueservers