BIFFA

Burton Sailing Club Flying Fifteen Open and TNT Series Round 6
13th / 14th September 2008
For the 6th event of this 8 Open series, competitors moved to Burton Sailing Club for what proved to be a hotly contested event sailed in very light and fickle zephyrs.

With little or no wind forecast it was good to see 20 Flying Fifteens at Burton for their Open. After an hour’s postponement the wind managed to fill in sufficiently to get race 1 away. Pete Needham and Brian West in 2660 read the wind well to get to the windward mark first and hold this to the wing. David McKee and Chris Hewkin got the lead by the leeward mark and held it to the finish. Adam and Emma Mangan pulled through to 2nd with Pete and Brian holding on and finishing 3rd. The wind fell away as the boats struggled to finish and only 9 boats make it to the line within the time limit. Racing was then abandoned for the day.
The Club lived up to its reputation by putting on a feast after sailing followed by a vigorously contested “Bar Boat” championship. This was enjoyed by the competitors and club members and no doubt produced some “thick heads” for the next day.
4 races were scheduled for Sunday but the wind looked to be little better. Richard Hope and Scott Smith in 3642 broke away in the first, winning from David and Chris with Mark Gardner and Mike Irwing 3rd. The second race saw David and Chris return to the front with Arthur and Angie George 2976 second followed by Richard and Scott in 3rd.
Following Lunch the breeze improved and David and Chris continued their winning ways with Adam in second and Richard in 3rd.
With one race to go David had it wrapped up but the remaining podium places were still undecided between Richard and Adam. Graham Lamond and Scott Train contrived to find the wind and get into the lead only to be taken by David on the run. On the last beat however Graham once again got it right and led down the final Run with David in 2nd and Paul McCarthy and Gary Butler in 3278 3rd.
It looked as if Richard and Scott would have to settle for 3rd overall finding themselves in mid fleet for the first time in the weekend but Adam had to pull out of the race leaving Richard 2nd and Adam 3rd overall.
After 6 events of the “TNT post north” traveller series we now have 8 boats that have already qualified with 3 results headed by Richard Hope on 5 points closely followed by Chris Swift on 6 points. The Silver fleet is headed by Colin Pierce on 5 points. So far 78 boats have taken part in the series. With 2 events left at Notts County on 27th/28th September and the final event at Draycote on 18th/19th October, there is still all to play for.