Day 1 - Salcombe Gin Race Day

After the majority of competitors arriving on Wednesday had decided the best option was to lash the boats down and retreat inside, Thursday dawned much sunnier and the boatyard was buzzing with activities as all competitors rigged their boats.

At the competitors briefing Mark 'Woodsy' Woods announced that against his better judgment the fleet's first start would be under P Flag rather than his preferred 'U' Flag.
The fleet launched and headed out into Weymouth Bay for their first two races of the championship.

The first race was set up as a windward-leeward course of 2 laps. The fleet behaved and got away clear first time much to the surprise of the Race Committee. During the race a squall came through where competitors were rained on and it got a bit breezy. Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett on 3760 were first with Ben McGrane and Russ Clark on 4002 second and current European Champions Andy McKee and Richard Jones were third.

Between races the wind shifted 40 degrees, so the racecourse was changed and the fleet continued their good behaviour and got away clean on the first attempt. Up the first beat the wind shifted back 60 degrees leading to the entire fleet gybing around the windward mark and reaching down to the gate. Race winners were Richard Lovering and Chris Turner on 4071, second were Ben McGrane and Russ Clark on 4003 and in third were Shane MacCarthy and Richard Rigg on 4085.

With two seconds winners of the day were Ben McGrane and Russ Clark.

The fleet returned to shore for a coaching debrief by Adam Bowers who went through boat set up and start line and windward mark tactics. Following the coaching the fleet enjoyed a curry and daily prize-giving where five lucky competitors received a bottle of Salcombe Gin.

Day 2

The fleet headed out into Weymouth Bay in a shifty North Westerly breeze.

The clear P flag starts ended on the first start as the fleet were over keen and a general recall was called. The fleet got away cleanly on the second attempt under the Black Flag for a windward leeward course.
Ben McGrane and Russ Clark in 4002 were first at the first mark and held the lead to the first gate taking the left hand gate mark followed by Andy McKee and Richard Jones in 4005 and Alastair Stevenson and James Grant in 4030. First boat around the right hand gate mark was Richard Lovering and Chris Turner in 4071.

Ben McGrane and Russ Clark, 4002, retained their lead up the following beat and to the finish followed by Richard Lovering and Chris Turner, 4071, and Andi Tunnicliffe and Ian Hopwood in 4102 were third.
The first start attempt of the second race was under U Flag and the fleet behaved well and got away clean for a second windward leeward course.

Andy McKee and Richard Jones in 4005 were first to the first mark and kept the lead around the course to finish in the lead. Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett in 3760 had another good race and finished second followed by Andy Tunnicliffe and Ian Hopwood in 4102 in third. Class president Ian Cadwallander and Si Forbes in 4055 had their best result of the series so far finishing fourth.

A squall hit the fleet as they were finishing the second race and once this had gone through the wind had shifted significantly so Woodsy adjusted the course and started the start sequence for the third race. As the preparatory signal was raised the wind shifted and the AP was raised to avoid a general recall. On the fourth attempt the fleet got away under the black flag. As the fleet headed up the beach a squall running up the coast resulted in more wind on the right-hand side of the course which never reached left hand side. Woodsy made the decision to abandon the race and looking at the weather decided racing should be abandoned for the day.

The fleet headed back to shore for snacks and beer and another excellent coaching session by Adam Bowers. The daily prize-giving was held for an Impact Marine cover.

Day 3 - Goacher Sails Race Day

Day three dawned sunny with little breeze but with the promise of 7-12 knots from the south-west by midday. The class first enjoyed bacon sandwiches as they held their AGM and a dolphin was playing near the marina wall as added entertainment, before heading out into the bay.

On arrival at the race area the fleet was greeted with a shifty breeze and the first start under a P flag was a general recall. The 1st substitute was replaced swiftly with an AP as the wind at the windward mark had dropped to 3 knots. It wasn't long before the wind had picked up to more than 5 knots and the fleet got away under the black flag with two boats identified as over.

The fleet split up the first beat hard to both sides and it was Matt Mee and Chris Robinson in 4029 who made it to the first mark first. There was less of a split up the second beat and 4029 managed to hold their lead to the finish although the Irish boat of Shane MacCarthy and Richard Rigg were a very close second, with Greg Wells and David Tulloch on 4112 in third.

The wind remained shifty for the second race and, Justin Waples and Jackie McKeller in 4033 had a great start at the committee boat and just one boat was identified as over in the U Flag start. It was Ian Cadwallader and Si Forbes in 4055 who arrived at the first mark first. They held this lead to the gate but it was 4033 who made it to the second windward mark first closely followed by 4055. They had a good battle downwind and it was 4055 who made it over the finish line first closely followed by 4033. Dave and Harry Lucas in 4017 finished third.

The third race saw one general recall before the class got away under black flag with one boat identified as over. It was Ben McGrane and Russ Clark in 4002 who took the lead to the first mark, a lead that they never lost returning to winning form. Andy McKee and Richard Jones in 4005 finishing second followed by Charles and Charlie Apthorp in 4004 finishing third after a very disappointing second race of the day.
It was a day where boats not only got their best results of the week but also their worst results of the week.

The fleet returned to shore in time for the England rugby match with pasties and beer provided. The final coaching briefing was delayed until all competitors were enjoying their BBQ. The daily prize-giving was held with one lucky boat winning a voucher for a new Goacher Jib.

Day 4 - Sarah Hornby Art Race Day

The final day dawned, and it was windy, a southerly with gusts of 26 - 28 knots. Many in the boat yard were wondering if the fleet would get racing and others had decided it was too windy for them and head home early.

Soon the Race Officer confirmed that the fleet would be having one race in the Harbour thanks to the Contender Fleet happy to stay ashore for us to sail our final race before they headed out to complete their three races.

A depleted fleet headed out into the harbour for a windward leeward course. The fleet got away at the first attempt under the U Flag with only one boat been identified as been over.
It was a return to the top for Andy McKee and Richard Jones, 4005, who took the final win of the event with Richard Lovering and Chris Turner, 4071, in second, Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett, 3760, in third.
There was drama further down the fleet with one boat, unusually, turning turtle but which was successfully recovered, and the crew returned to shore with smiles on their faces.

Round up

The final prize-giving was held whilst competitors enjoyed afternoon tea.

Ben McGrane and Russ Clark, 4002, were crowned National Champions having sailed a very consistent series returning to the Flying Fifteen for the first time in a while.

Ben McGrane said, "Really enjoyed returning to racing in the F15, the fleet laid on an exceptionally well planned and executed event both on and off the water with slick race management, well attended socials and regatta coaching aimed at helping everyone in attendance to improve. The racing was extremely close with plenty of opportunities to gain and lose in what is tight tactical racing, we were absolutely thrilled to come away with the win and are now looking to the Europeans next year in France and the UK hosted Worlds in 2025 as further opportunities to get out racing in this fantastic class."

Ian Cadwallader said, "At any championship there can only be one winner. But, thanks to the drive of the Flying 15 committee and the generous support of our sponsors led by UK Global, we were able to lay on a package where hopefully all competitors took something away with them. This included two evenings of meals and a prize-giving tea included with the entry, that kept the fleet together; three days of coaching with the legendary Mr Adam Bowers - focusing on improving the mid fleet sailor; Daily prize-giving's with prizes right through the fleet; and finally, free wine and beer with post-race snacks.

"As for our winners, Ben & Russ - they sailed really well and were deserving champions of a challenging week. I'm especially pleased for Ben who served a Flying 15 apprenticeship, sailing with his dad, Terry at Chew Valley 10 years ago.

"And as for future winners... well, there were two father and son combos in the top 10. So, place your bets on Charlie Abthorp or Harry Lucas for the 2034 nationals!"

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, UK Global, Sarah Hornby Art, Salcombe Gin, Impact Marine, Goacher Sails, Allen Brothers, Hyde Sails, Ovington Boats and Pinnell & Bax.

As the championship series of 2023 has been completed, we look forward to the 2024 season, which will be a World qualifying series, starting with the Southern Championships at Parkstone Yacht Club in June. We will be back at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy for the International Flying Fifteen Association World Championships in 2025.

Overall Results