BIFFA

Flying Fifteen Northern Championships
June 27 and 28 – Ullswater Yacht Club

THIRTY-NINE Flying Fifteens enjoyed five great races at the Northern championships held at Ullswater Yacht Club, despite a less than promising weather forecast.
The weekend forecast was a race officer’s nightmare – light easterlies on a North-South lake surrounded by hills.
With entries from all over the country, there was disappointment when race one on Saturday had to be postponed and all the boats returned to shore after drifting around the lake in no wind for more than an hour. It was good practise for the shore team who were rapidly perfecting their ‘high speed launch and recovery’ technique at the one-slip club.

But race officer John Robson’s patience paid off and later in the afternoon there was enough breeze from the top of the lake to set a traditional Olympic triangle/sausage course. So the boats launched again for race one. The winds were fickle and unpredictable and several ‘superstars’ found themselves stuck down the fleet.

Race two followed in the late afternoon and consistency paid off for Flying Fifteen gurus Steve Goacher and Phil Evans of Royal Windermere Yacht Club who were overnight leaders with two thirds. First places went to Dave McKee and Chris Hewkin from Dovestone SC and Mike Hart and Richard Rigg from Port Dinorwic SC.
Sunday brought more of the same easterlies and the fleet spent some time following the committee boat up and down Ullswater waiting for the wind to settle. This was an opportunity for newcomers to see more of the lake with its magnificent views to the south towards Helvellyn as well as wondering whether three back-to-back races would be possible.

Race three finally got under way with a windward/leeward course which saw Mike Hart take another first place. But that blue, white and yellow spinnaker was still up there and even though conditions were better suited to slightly more sylph-like crews, the Goacher/Evans team took a second place to keep them in the running.
The wind freshened a little although it was still very unpredictable but Steve Goacher managed to find his way around the holes and shifts and won race four and five, both traditional Olympic courses, to take the championships.
His Royal Windermere clubmates Nigel and Gavin Tullett sailed consistently all weekend to take second place. Veteran Fifteen sailor John Hardisty of Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, crewed by Roger Errington, showed the ‘youngsters’ the way round by coming third.

The sun had come out, the shore team’s boat recovery was slick, and an afternoon tea of sandwiches and home made cakes and scones rounded off a great weekend’s sailing.

This was Ullswater Yacht Club’s first Flying Fifteen open event and could not have been possible without the help of dozens of volunteers from other fleets in the club who gave up their weekend’s sailing to make it a success.
Full results can be found on the UYC website at www.ullswateryachtclub.org

Results:
1. Steve Goacher and Phil Evans, RWYC, 7 points.
2. Nigel and Gavin Tullett, RWYC, 15.
3. John Hardisty and Roger Errington, DRSC, 18.
4. Jeremy Davy and Dave Lucas, Draycote Water SC, 20.
5. Terry Crumpton and John Mathie, DRSC, 21.
6. Mike Hart and Richard Rigg, Port Dinorwic SC, 23.
1st UYC boat: Dave and Sue Giles, 8th, 32.
1st Classic: Graham Lamond and Scott Train, Ripon SC, 10th, 41.
1st Silver:  Andy Clark and Nadia Melnikova,  Datchet Water SC, 13th, 53.

Sue Giles

Flying Fifteens Open at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club

20^th&21^st June 2009

Eleven Flying Fifteens Classics and Silvers entered the Flying fifteen Cardiff Open with visitors from as far as Northampton to fight it out for the famous Dragon trophy.

Day 1 Race 1

Race officer team Helen and Andrew Phillips patiently waited for the wind to settle in shifty F3/F4 before starting race 1.

With all boats pushing hard for the line we saw some interesting and competitive jostling with World Classic champions Simon Dangerfield/ Dave Hemingway

in 2663 and Ian Horton/Nathan Bailey in 2655 both OCS. Horton returned but Dangerfield carried on this left early leaders John Craddock and Kendal Paul in 2695 to fight it out with Neil and Stuart Bartholomey with the Bartholomeys’ eventually winning  and Horton/Bailey third just passing Nick Sawyer/Simon Thomas on the last run.

Race 2

More pushing the line with Sawyer/ Thomas, Mike Jones/ Gilles Yzambart and once again Horton/Bailey OCS, all went back. The Bartholomeys in 2700 lead the race for most of the way being piped on the last lap by Dangerfield Hemingway for line honours with Horton/Bailey third.

Race 3

The now familiar pushing the line keeping the race officers busy, this time several boats over and a general re-call.

Dangerfield Hemingway 1^st Bartholomeys second 2^nd Horton/Bailey 3rd

Race 4

A port biased line and big wind shifts caused tough jostling for position. 2700 Bartholomeys and other boats were sailed outside the ODM starting last. Whilst the fleet followed the predictable and paying left side of the course the Bartholomeys were forced to go right and picked up a big wind shift as the wind moved to the NW making it first to the windward mark, with Craddock/Paul in second.

Eventually Dangerfield/Hemingway sailed their way to the front

Beer and a meal followed in the clubhouse and an entertaining evening.

Day 2

Race 5

The race officers gave Bill Turton in 2492 special permission to change his crew. Being Sunday his son in law Roger who is a member of the clergy had to go to work.

In Light winds at F2 forecast the race order was speculated to change and indeed it did. Craddock/Paul winning ahead of Dangerfield/ Hemingway Horton/Bailey third.

Race 6

Two boats OCS and once again Dangerfield/Hemingway taking line honours followed by Craddock/Paul and Horton/Bailey

Final result

1.    2663 Dangerfield/Hemingway

2.    2695 Craddock/Paul

3.    2700 Bartolomey/ Bartholomey

Click here for full results table

Click here for southern travellers table

Northampton Sailing Club – June 6 – 7 2009

Click here for results

Congratulations to Jeremy Davy and Jon Mildred, who made the best of shifty conditions to beat a field of eighteen boats at NSC’s first FF open meeting in ten years.

Boats from as far afield as Yorkshire and Hayling Island made the trek, and enjoyed great sailing, especially on Saturday when wind speeds remained above force three. However, Sunday morning brought torrential rain and very light winds. A strengthening breeze slowly kicked in, but failed to bring Saturday’s excitement.

Ben McGrain and Jamie Stewart were consistent across both days, and held onto second place with Sam Mettam and Martin Grady just one point behind. Fourth place went to the local boat of Miles Odell sailing with his old co-driver, Paul Busby.

Thanks to all at Northampton SC for resurrecting the Gittins Trophy, now in its fiftieth year. As part of the TNT series it may well now become a regular part of the FF calendar.

Parkstone Yacht Club – May 23-24 2009

Click here for full results          Event pictures (thanks to Sailing Scenes)

FLYING FIFTEEN SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP
The Flying Fifteen Southern Championship was hosted by Parkstone Yacht Club over the bank holiday weekend, 23 and 24 May. The event attracted 39 entries from all parts of the country. The entry list included thirteen Parkstone boats as well as many regular travellers but it was particularly encouraging to see a number of new faces who proved to be very competitive in what is a very strong class.

The Class association, BIFFA, and Parkstone Yacht Club had organised a training day on the Friday with professional coaching by Mike Hart who is an RYA coach and former Flying Fifteen World and National Champion. Conditions in Poole Harbour were perfect with sunshine and a stiff breeze.

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday was less favourable, with winds of five knots or less.  It was clear on Saturday that the forecast had been accurate. The day started fairly overcast with a very light easterly wind. PRO Bryan Drake set up the course in Poole Bay but, with the wind remaining light and fickle, it was some time before he could attempt the first start.

Two starts had to be abandoned as the wind was not sufficient for the boats to get away cleanly against a west going tide. After a long postponement, a weak sea breeze came in from the south to get the fleet away for what was to prove the only race which was possible that day. There were significant shifts up the beat and it was relative newcomers to the Class, Andy Clark and Nadia Melnikova, from Datchet SC, who played these correctly up the middle of the course who were first round the windward mark. They were closely followed by other newcomers to the Class, locals Pete and Jo Allam, who had chosen the right hand side of the beat. They gybed on to port early on the next leg of the windward – leeward course and this proved decisive. They took the lead and held on to it take the race, followed by David and Sally McKee, with Peter Slater and Adrian Simpson crossing the line third.

Sunday dawned with clear skies and bright sunshine. A light sea breeze arrived from south west just before midday and quickly stabilised. The decision was made to race in Poole Harbour as this offered a huge expanse of flat water but with less tide than in Poole Bay. The second race of the series was quickly under way in just over five knots of wind. The shifts up the beats of the windward – leeward course were all important and the Allams were in the lead at the first mark, followed by another local boat, Martin Lewis and Mike Riley who went on to take the lead by the second round and win the race. Charles Apthorp and Alan Green, who had been in close contention all the way round, crossed the line second.

The breeze had built a little more for the next race. By this time, the left hand side of the beat had begun to pay. Another newcomer to the Class and Parkstone boat, Jon Gorringe and Roger O’Gorman, led at the end of the first beat, followed by fellow newcomer Sam Nettam and Martin Gray of Hayling Island SC. Nettam and Gray took the lead by the next round and held it to cross the line first, followed by Gorringe and O’Gorman and then Henry Craven-Smith and James Grant in third place.

Race 4 was started in a good twelve knots plus breeze and in bright sunshine still. The left hand side of the beat was now the only way to go and the fleet powered off with some real hiking out. Mike Hart and RIcky Riggs took the lead, not to relinquish it. This race saw a little more of the old order re-established with long-time Class members at the front of the fleet. Newcomer Nettam, however, was amongst them to come second with Alan Bax and Bill Masterman third.

The racing throughout had been close and only one point separated the overall winners, Nettam and Grady, from the runners up, David and Sally McKee. Clark and Melnikova were first overall in the Silver Fleet. Guy Kippen and Emily McKee, Hayling Island SC took the Classic Fleet trophy and Gorringe and O’Gorman took the trophy for the first Parkstone boat.

A good day’s sailing on Sunday compensated for the frustrations of the Saturday caused by lack of wind and the event was marked by an influx of new names to stir up the established order.

Chew Valley Flying Fifteen Open Meeting: 16-17 May 2009.

Thirteen boats, six from the home club and seven visitors arrived at Chew Valley Lake for the annual open meeting despite a dreadful weather forecast.  (For those who think weather forecasts are useless, read on). Their arrival was greeted with a persistent force 5 to 6 wind gusting to force 8. Two elected not to remove the covers but ten started the first race with eight finishing.

Simon Patterson and Simon Thompson used their weight advantage to good effect by establishing an early lead which was not challenged. David and Sally McKee were second. Behind them a close struggle between David and Catherine Brockbank and Mike Thompson and Simon Millington resulted in the Brockbanks winning by one second, close enough that Simon and Catherine could almost hold hands.

The second race was sailed in the windier conditions of the two with gusts of 49mph recorded. Patterson-Thompson and the McKees fought out the lead again but not so far ahead. A slight collision in the difficult conditions made Patterson and Thompson do two turns, giving the McKees the win. The planned third race was abandoned for the day as the conditions worsened and the competitors retired to the club to enjoy some Butcombe bitter from the local sponsoring brewery.

Sunday looked to be perfect first thing in the morning but the meteorologists were soon proved correct when the wind and the rain arrived. Race three fairly quickly assumed the previous pattern and was won by the McKees with the two Simons second. The tussle for third was enlivened by the parting of the gooseneck fitting on the mast of Mike Thompson and Simon Millington’s boat resulting in third place for Peter Hogg and Alex Dobson. A failure of the main halyard in race four on Simon Patterson and Simon Thompson’s boat meant that Peter Hogg finished second behind David McKee. As the wind gusted once again to 48mph race 5 was abandoned leaving the McKees the overall winners.

Llangorse Sailing Club hosted 22 Flying Fifteens over the weekend of 9^th & 10th May 09 for the TNT sponsored Traveller event and annual LSC F15 Open Meeting.

There were 4 Open, 5 Silver & 13 Classics with 14 Visitors. A low turn out from the Llangorse boats

The wind strength was ideal 12 knots with gusts up to 15.Unfortunately the direction of SW was not the best for the Llangorse Lake.

With the forecast for Sunday being little wind it was agreed to try for 3 races on the Saturday

There were 2 starts Open & Silver followed by Classic.

Race 1

Both starts were clean but unfortunately the wind did a Llangorse and made for a biased beat.

In the Open fleet Richard Hope in 3642 made a good start which he consolidated during the race to win

Classic fleet saw Tim Tomlinson 2433 charging to the wrong mark. He did recover later in the race after a battle with Nick Heath 2520 and Peter David 2645 to win.

The Silver was won by Andy Clarke 3378.

Because of the big wind shift the Race Office shortened the race

Race 2

Good windward leg this time with the wind increasing to 15 with some gusts at 20.

Unfortunately Richard Hope had a gear failure which left David Morgan 3780 to establish a good lead which he held to the end.

The long run down the lake saw some big place changes. Some went low(Llangorse boats)some went high(visitors).It usual evened out on the beats.

Result

Open 3780

Silver 3378

Classic 2433.

Race 3

Fortunately Richard Hope repaired his boat and made the best use of the increasing wind strength crewed by Scott Smith.

There were some exciting spinnaker reaches for all the boats

There was no place changing in open fleet the result being

3642,3780,3751

In the other fleets it was business as usual

Silver 3378 followed by 3006 David & Lynne Travis

In the Classic 2433 made it a hat trick of wins

The fleets then retired ashore for the usual Llangorse food after sailing followed by the Castle pub in Llangorse with much noise and good humour.

Sunday.

Very little wind maybe force1 from the North.

The Race officer set a figure of 8 course.

Race 4

The Open & Silvers made a clean start with 3751 coming off the worst. In the hope of improving things 3751 tacked off onto port into the middle of the lake.

This proved a good move where he got more wind reaching the windward mark 1^st. The wind varied from zero to just about planning.

3751 consolidated his lead finishing a comfortable winner.

The Classic race was much more frustrating with big holes in the wind and much place changing especially off the wind.

2695 eventually won followed by 2606

Silver saw a change of winners with 3365 followed by 3385

Race 5

The result for the Silver & Classic looked very much decided but with all to play for in the Open fleet.

Race 5 ran a similar pattern to race 4.

3751 broke away on the 1^st beat to set up a clear lead. There were a few anxious moments when they went into a hole but all was well in the end.

In the Silver it was again 3365 with Classic 2433 proving a comfortable winner.

Overall

Open.             3751   Nick & Claire Taylor

Silver              3378   Andy Clarke & Nadia Melnikova

Classic           2433   Tim Tomlinson & Mark Greer

Thanks to the race officer Robert Dangerfield and his team for all their efforts over the weekend

Royal Windermere Flying Fifteen Open Meeting – 2nd-3rd May – Click here for results

Lake Windermere was the setting for the annual Royal Windermere Yacht Club Open Meeting. The event attracted seven visiting boats from as far as Loch Earn Head SC, Sunderland, Ripon and Nottingham along with ten RWYC boats. All enjoyed the competition of the 2007 World Champion, Mike Hart and his crew Richard Rigg in Art Gekko but not without them having a “wake-up” call in the first two races.

On Saturday, sailing in the south lake with a variable force 2-3 breeze, local sailors John Atkinson and Elizabeth Moreton in Funny Enuff left Hart and Rigg a little anxious when the first race gave them a clear win, with much cheering from the home team. In the second race, Atkinson and Moreton paid penalties so Hart and Rigg still snoozing from the night before finally woke up and stepped it up a gear with a win.

In race 2 Nigel and Gavin Tullett demonstrated their skills in Kiffs (RWYC) with a second place and third overall. David (Daisy) Brockbank and Janet Lefton in Five (RWYC enjoyed a third place with fourth place overall , Mr. B now in touch with his feminine side by having a very large white daisy put on his very pink spinnaker (NB this could happen to any past Commodore of BIFFA so beware).

In race 3, Atkinson and Moreton returned to give the champion another strong challenge but on the final spinnaker run Hart came, apparently from nowhere, for another win. The race did not go without needing a gel-filling session later to Kiffs and Funny Enuff.

Two races on Sunday were sailed in the scenic north lake in a force 3-4 gusting 5 brisk breeze and Hart and Rigg won both..  Bobby Salmond and Robert Till in Vim (Loch Earn Head SC) showed their skills with two third places with the most travelled boat prize going to them.   Between races competitors lunched: Frank Kelly and Brian Garvey in Factor Fifteen (RWYC) tied up to a mooring, dropped their mainsail and had a picnic. They did not hear the warning signal or the five minute gun and if it were not for the fact that there was a general recall would have missed the start of race 3 altogether.

The Classic prize went to Graham Lamond and Scott Train in Fettercairn (Ripon SC) being a well deserved 8th overall.

The Franklin Eldridge trophy was collected by David Brockbank on behalf of team winners RWYC.

RWYC expertly organised the weekend with their on and off the water team and are to be complemented for their friendly hosting and excellent cuisine. The event was generously sponsored by Pattinson Builders and Goacher Sails.

Carole Berry

F15 Fleet Secretary, Royal Windermere Yacht Club.

Results for the Grafham Easter Salver invitation series are attached

Results Table