BIFFA

The untimely death of Richard Estaugh on the 11th April has been announced in most of the yachting press and news.  Richard (head of Speed Sails, multiple dinghy National and World Champion, including two Endeavour Trophy wins) has campaigned a Flying Fifteen in the past and I’m sure that all our members join us in expressing our condolences to Richard’s family, friends & colleagues.

Speed Sails have issued a statement on their website and details of the funeral arrangements will follow. Richard’s family have requested that flowers are not sent, but hope that people will make a donation to either sail4cancer or the RNLI in accordance with Richard’s wishes.

Grafham Easter Salver April 12-13

The annual Easter Salver event took place over Sunday and Monday of the Easter weekend. Twelve Grafham boats and three visitors took part. There was some excellent racing with place changes, protests, penalty turns and retirements.

An Olympic course was used for Sunday’s racing in a pleasant force 2-3.  In the first race Simon Kneller and Dave Lucas won in a brand new boat  with Justin Waples and Ian Stowe second and Mark Longstaff and Graham Wadeley third. Peter Waghorn and Pip Noon sustained sufficient damage to retire for repairs: they reappeared for the later races.

The second race saw Kneller and Lucas lead but a tack too close to Waples and Stowe and penalty turns put them behind : Waples went on to win with Waghorn and Noon in the hastily repaired boat second and Les Rant and Susie Sontag were  third after a protest.

Race three was held in a dying breeze. Waples and Stowe were forced to tack off early but that delivered them into a new breeze from the right which took them into the lead which they maintained.  Waghorn and Noon were second with Kneller and Lucas third.

There was no wind on Monday so racing was abandoned, leaving Waples and Stowe the winners. The salver, itself, was awarded to Peter Waghorn and Pip Noon as only Grafham members are eligible for this prize.

Simon Kneller

Change in the Flying Fifteen: potential new rig tested

A review of the Flying Fifteen Class by the Technical Committee of the Association recommended changing the rig towards a higher aspect ratio genoa with a shorter foot and a mainsail with a bigger roach and shorter foot. The brief for this development was to improve boat handling, gust responsiveness and to maintain boat speed performance; there should be no increase in the overall sail area of the mainsail and genoa. Such changes would allow the boat to retain its excellent performance but make it more appealing to a broader range of sailors, particularly of lighter weight at Club and Championship level. After some preliminary trials during the recent World Championships in Australia, Flying Fifteen International asked the British Association to pursue the matter.

The first formal trial weekend was very efficiently organized over the weekend of 4th and 5th of April by the Datchet Water fifteen fleet led by Fleet Captain Phil Tinsley.

Eight boats took part. Four retained the conventional rig and four were equipped with new rigs from Batt Sails, Pinnell and Bax and Goacher Sails (Mark 1&2). The jibs were all in Dacron as was the Batt mainsail which also featured a full length foot. The Bax and Goacher mainsails were constructed of Mylar and had a shorter foot than the conventional rig with the upper batten full length. No change was made to the mast or any other fitting in the boat.

Three boats also had a new and larger spinnaker to test which was larger, had fuller shoulders and used a longer pole.

The crews, of combined weight varying from 21 to 31 stones, raced each other over short courses and changed between the boats during the weekend providing a continuous comparison between old and new. The wind ranged from very light to a steady 10 knots with gusts up to 18. Participating were three World and National Champions and helmsmen from the upper part of the National fleet.

In the stronger winds the new spinnaker was found by some to be too big. Any change is likely to be in the shape rather than the area. The jib and mainsail, on the other hand, performed well. In particular, the gust response was good and no performance was lost. These initial designs will be modified into a further set of trial sails which will be distributed widely for additional evaluation nationally and internationally.  If the objectives of the development are met the class will seek ratification for use in 2011.

Report from Adrian Tattersall, President British Isles Flying Fifteen Association

Please note that the Inland Championships has moved from Draycote Water SC on the 25th and 26th April to Grafham Water SC on the 18th and 19th of April.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and that this is the last weekend of the Easter school holidays but this is due to events beyond our control.

Entry Form

Flying Fifteen Mid-Winter Championships.

The inaugural Flying Fifteen Mid Winter Championships were held at Datchet Water Sailing Club over the weekend of January 31st and February 1st.  The preceding weather forecast suggested a cold and blustery weekend.  The boats of those who had competed in the recent World Championships were still in transit. These two factors combined to reduce the anticipated turnout but 11 visitors joined 7 from the home fleet for some very good sailing.

A force 5 wind with stronger gusts greeted the sailors on Saturday. The first race saw Simon Kneller and Dave Lucas from Grafham battling with Ian Cadwallader and Dave Sweet from Chew Valley and Charles Apthorp and Rob Gutteridge from Hayling Island and they finished in that order. 

In the second race, in strengthening breeze, Cadwallader and Sweet were over the line giving Kneller and Lucas a second victory with Alan Bax and Neil Barford second and Apthorp and Gutteridge third. Peter and Sue Bannister from Hayling were fourth having been well down the fleet at the windward mark: they were the only boat to gybe and go left on a favourable breeze down that side and picked up 5 places.

Ian Cadwallader and Dave Sweet made no mistake in the third race: they won a pin-end start and tacked across the fleet on the first shift to take a lead they retained throughout for a comfortable win. Kneller and Lucas took second place to hold the overnight lead.

Sunday saw a stronger breeze with gusts up to 35 mph and colder air and frozen sheets taking a little time to function. Only 8 boats took to the water, some giving up because of the cold. Charles Apthorp and Rob Gutteridge took an early lead and led the fleet home by a comfortable margin, Cadwallader and Sweet were down the fleet on the first round but came back to duel with Kneller and Lucas who eventually took second place. The final race was abandoned because of the cold just as the snow arrived.

Simon Kneller and Dave Lucas became the first Mid-winter Champions with Ian Cadwallader and Dave Sweet second and Alan Bax and Neil Barford (substituted by Gill Browning on the Sunday) third.

Datchet Water Sailing Club gave a very warm welcome to the fleet and put on an excellent event. In particular, Race Officer Peter Short and the rescue crews were excellent in conditions best suited to polar bears.

Final Results                   Report by Phil Tinsley

Congratulations to Grant Alderson and Dean Mcaullay on winning the 2009 Flying Fifteen World Championship in Melbourne.

After a close-fought tussle, they won the event by one point from Barry Parkin.

This fantastic world-class event was enjoyed by all those who attended. Thank you, and well done to all the organisers and competitors.

After another very close race in difficult conditions Andy McKee & Maf Smith are worthy winners in the classic event.

FF Worlds results                    Classic Worlds Results

Racing in the 17th FF World Championships posponed today, day 5 [Wednesday] until Thursday 15th January when the last race, 7, will start at 11:00 EST.

” Challenging, yes very challenging are the words to describe the conditions and wind for race six of the FF world Championships held at 14:15 on the 13th January in Melbourne. The wind direction was from the North for the first time in the event. In the south of Australia this means it is coming straight of the desert and boy could you tell. Locals describe it as sailing in front of a hair dryer; they are right! Not only that but the wind is coming off the land and therefore much more likely to be shifty - today was no exception with 30 degree shifts up the beats. This was a day of snakes and ladders!

We entered the race with Grant Alderson AUS3833 and Steve Goacher GBR3821 leading the championship score board on equal points, we ended it with Alderson still being the joint leader but the British challenge has been replaced with Barry Parkin GBR3911.  The lead changed hands a number of times in this race with Alderson coming out on top. Mike Hart was second in GBR3917 and Charles Apthorp third in GBR3923, Barry Parkin was fifth in this race.

The lower placings changed dramatically during the last run of the course, when the sea breeze temporarily overcame the gradient northerly. This made the run a reach, fetch and beat at different parts of the leg, causing frequent lowering and re-raising of spinnakers! The last leg was shifted through 45 degrees with the finish line set towards the city.  Alderson managed to hold on to the lead to the line despite the variability of the wind .

An interesting and challenging day in which those who won on the ladders have a slight feeling of lady luck being on their side whilst the crews who suffered the snakes were left feeling if sailing in these conditions is a true test. Whatever perspective the RO finished the race and it is a counter.

We go into the last race with a duel between Alderson and Barry Parkin the mostly likey decider for the overall event, however it’s sailing so you never know”   Cheers   Adrian

PS your president had a fairly good day with  15th. He can report that as a result of a sartorial change (loose fitting dry shorts replacing tighter fitting neoprene hiking shorts) he is sitting much more comfortably, especially when the breeze found its way up the leg of the shorts!!!