What the Firefly means to me - Guy Davision

by Alex Baxter 6 May 15:00 UTC

As the Firefly class celebrates its 80th anniversary, we are sitting down with some class legends to hear their reflections on the fleet, including why they keep coming back and what it means to them.

We are kicking off with a true one-of-a-kind, legend of the class Guy Davision.

By way of background for Guy. He's the Firefly-class's notorious OAP. Guy has looked exactly the same as long as I have known him. He was the Firefly National Champion in 2018, his first win after 46 years of trying! He is the owner of Firefly 3318 'Lynestra' and 2539 'Dillon'. The former is a beautiful Tony Thresher M4, his 'Championship' boat, and the latter is a beautiful M1A, his 'pond' and open meeting boat.

But to be frank, Guy is so much more than just a winner and boat owner. He is generous with his time, enthusiastic around the racecourse (always with an interesting 'take' on disagreements), and he and his wife, Francis (who undertakes the Duckhams), in many ways are the Firefly class.

Their humour, energy, and overriding joy about Firefly's is ever present. That Guy is still competing at the front end of the fleet at - whatever age he is - is amazing, and ought to be an inspiration to all. I have been reliably informed that his sailing has improved since he purchased some sheep, which forced him to lug around his bales all day - perhaps this is the trick?!

Getting him to share his thoughts on these marvelous little boats and the Firefly family was a real pleasure.

Reminiscing by Guy... whilst he still can

My initiation into the Firefly class started at the tender age of 15 after cavorting around in Ducklings and Mirrors at Itchenor SC in Chichester Harbour. I used to crew Roddy Bridge (6 ft tall at the time) in the Duckling (an 8ft 6 inch round front type of scow); he was a young Finn and Star Olympic aspirant who, on that journey, became our teammate with Ricky Tagg. My first Firefly was F2531 called, I thought trendily, "Psychic". She was a write-off when she failed to predict a speed boat reversing into us off the public hard... Our Itchenor Firefly fleet, being full of teenagers, raced regularly as a fleet of 20 boats, which honed our fleet skills as well as individual boat speed. As a member of the then Itchenor team, being relatively youthful too, we were excited runners-up in the RYA Dunhill Team Race National Finals, beaten by the very successful Castaways (ex London University) team who took the honours. AI had difficulty giving me an exact year, but it was the mid-70s.

Next in my Firefly journey was Lancaster Uni SC. Here I managed to introduce Fireflys, with a degree of success, but only a couple of boats were affordable due to the budget; so the same old Uni problem! Not much changes, does it, University sailors! In those days of old, UL and the London Unis had about 40 Fireflys at Welsh Harp.

From then, I stayed loyal to the Firefly class, though dabbled along the way in Nat 12's, Lasers, windsurfers and L4000's, whilst I navigated the world of paid work. From Uni team racing times and seeing different waters, I was introduced to the joy of open meetings, and it was here that I really began to appreciate the friendships we gain along the way in this amazing class. I was also able to chat face to face with class legends such as Phil and Jilly Slater, Peter & Dawn Langdon, Mike Arnold, Pete, David and Pam White, John Tagg and Peter Slimming. All of these were amazing sailors, and I trailed behind watching and asking how they went fast in all conditions.

These Open events were always a great adventure, with visits to WKSC, Hollingworth, Poole, Restronguet, South Staffs, Laleham, Tamesis, Rickmansworth, Welsh Harp, and, of course, Felixstowe Ferry. Friendships were made, and even today, after 50 years of Firefly sailing, these friends keep appearing and remind me of the daft things we all did back then. Some of these shenanigans appears in the historical Duckhams reports and Auntie Pip's letters page, in past and hopefully irretrievable Class Bulletins!

Talking of the Duckhams, my wife Fran (Faggot), who has been able to deliver this daily eulogy on many occasions at our championships, was for twenty plus years, my suffering crew and team mate. Fran has endured my on-water frustrations and occasional sailing successes. If you can share the love of Firefly-ing for that long, your relationship will survive!

So, to my inaugural Firefly Nationals as an 18-year-old, being Fly 72 at FFSC. Those of a certain age will recall Fireflys used to have small different profiled swept back rudders. In a lumpy sea state or planning little of it was in the water. We survived that first windy week on the North Sea though I can't recall how! I was also mightily impressed that Ferry men and women each bought a crate of Tolly Cobbold (12 pints) for the evening's refreshments. No discrimination here! Did I enjoy my first Championship, it was amazing; so this year it will be my 55th Firefly Nationals, a testament to all the laughs and fun we all have at these weeks.

Having a crew and developing that teamwork to manage the variables in dinghy racing and at the same time give one's all to keep the boat flat, fast, etc., etc. develops friends for life. My continued racing is only made possible by Sally, Amy and Izzy, all of whom have sailed on and off with me for years... I can't say how long for the risk in giving out their ages! But with their crewing skills and years of experience, we still have some results and, most importantly, fun out of it all.

With 55 years of Firefly racing behind me, it's great to see old and new friends again, but what makes for even more pleasure is being part of the "Firefly Family" and how each generation all get on. From time to time, the class has a good reason to celebrate, be it its longevity or the fleet's enduring relevance. In our 80th Year celebrations, we'll see that a lot of that for sure. This year's Tenby Nationals, the plethora of Open meetings and the Class 80th Anniversary Dinner will all be awesome and not to be missed, so don't is my advice!

Finally, if you get a chance to support your class, be it as a Class Captain of your Club fleet, Team race lead or a Committee role on the NFA, our Firefly Association, do step forward. You'll make amazing friends, learn loads and see all the good work that all of those folk give in order to deliver the amazing events, racing and our Firefly communities that we all enjoy so much.

The 80th Anniversary Year

The 80th anniversary year is kindly being sponsored by a variety of companies.

Our travellers series, the Vines Series, is proudly supported by Craftinsure.

As part of the Firefly Class's 80th anniversary celebrations, the fleet will come together for a landmark season of racing and events, including the Tideway 80th Anniversary National Championships at Tenby Sailing Club, kindly sponsored by Tideway Wealth Management, a full calendar of Open Meetings across the country, and the 80th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

The 2026 anniversary raffle prize is a race-ready Firefly (F4444), generously provided by Ovington Boats - complete with Selden Mast, Hyde Sails, covers, and a launch trolley from Sailboat Trailers.

Up next, the fleet heads to the Rickmansworth Firefly Open on Saturday 16 May.

All results, entry details, and further information can be found at www.fireflyclass.co.uk