The beginnings of Fairey Marine
Fairey Marine's second day on the water - an extract from Yachting World June 1946:
"On Sunday May 5, the final race for the Henley Challenge Cup was sailed in cold, boisterous weather. Wind was north easterly, moderate to strong with rain squalls at intervals. Several boats filled, while one boat lost a couple of masts. It was thus good testing weather for the prototype of the YRA Firefly Class, which was making her first public appearance and raced on even terms with the National Twelves.
With Charles Currey as helmsman and Mrs Chichester Smith as crew, the boat put up a fine performance and outsailed the fleet of Nationals to finish second 1 min 25 sec ahead of the third boat, H. Scott Freeman's Dipper, but was herself completely outsailed and beaten by the handsome margin of two minutes seven seconds by Beecher Moore and Jack Holt, in the latter's boat Laughter."
