On Thursday 21st July at West Kirby, the home of team racing BUSA and the American Allstars clashed in a best of 9 series in fireflies. The Tour rules required each team to change helms after each race, which resulted in the likes of Andy Cornah being seen in the front of a firefly for the first and possibly last time.
On another windy day, cut downs were again in use, which made for an interesting battle between BUSAs firefly experience and the Americans weight advantage. The BUSA first team of Mark Lees, Andy Cornah and Ed Green shot out of the blocks and dominated the first race with a 124 combination. The second team of Ahol King, Jon Pinner and Ed Males had a tougher time in their first race with Athol starting early. BUSA never recovered, and narrowly lost. This pattern continued with the first BUSA team winning their races and the second team narrowly losing. Then the first team lost after giving the Yanks a 1,2 to make the score 4-3, this meant the second team would have to stand up and be counted.
BUSA rounded the bottom mark in a 2,3,5 which then became a 2,3,6. Athol managed to tack into some unsuspecting Americans and give them a penalty, and in what was a very long beat, some good work from Ed Males converted it through to a 2,3,4 and the match was even at 4 all with one to go.
The tension was there for all to see, BUSA rounded the top mark in a 1,5,6. Andy Cornah hunted down one of the Americans on the run and Mark Lees busted a big move at mark 3, resulting in BUSA emerging with a 1,3,4. On the last beat BUSA showed their lack of time sailing as a team with slightly conflicting ideas of what to do, and the Americans showed good speed to get back in the match and managed to complete a narrow victory, and level the series one all.
The next trophy match is three boat team racing in lasers over the weekend, with the final two matches next week.
Watch this space for updates.