Racing
Set Up and Tuning Guides
Goacher Sails have a set-up and tuning guide on their website here.
Pinel and Bax have set-up and tuning guides on their website here.
See also, www.flying15.org/gbr/mckee_tuning.html
18th Flying Fifteen World Championship 2011
15 - 28 July 2011 , Hayling Island Sailing Club - England
The NZ team made up of four boats, two from Auckland, one from Napier, and ours had left in mid April and all arrived with no damage or problems thanks to our team sponsor MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.
The fleet size for the pre-worlds warm-up and British National Championship was always going to be a problem with 132 possible entries. As a result, flights were trialled in readiness for the worlds where boats were divided into 2 fleets and sailed a round robin type event to establish the top and bottom half of the fleet, which would then sail for the overall places. Unfortunately due to too much wind on two days and variable wind for the next 3 only 4 races were sailed.
The winner, Steve Goacher & Phil Evans from from Royal Windermere Yacht Club GBR, won the British National Championship title from 85 actual entrants without sailing against entrant and current World Champion Grant Alderson from Australia. This caused some comment and the organisers agreed to change the system if it looked like a similar problem was going to occur in the Worlds.
Both the nationals and the worlds was tough sailing with the wind coming mostly off the Hayling shore with an occasional glimpse of sea breezes on a few sunny days. Not the finest Hayling Island conditions we were told. However, although one day was lost through light airs, the full series was held for the World Championship and the system was not a problem. The current and the shifting winds were instead!
After a couple of lightish days we were sitting in 19th place and James Sandell and Graeme Robinson on Business 3754 won the first race and were in the top 3. Next day the sea breeze came in, building quickly to about 16 knots with a short chop and lots of current that was particularly noticeable at the top mark where half the fleet seemed to get hung up on the buoy as the sea slid sideways faster and faster the closer you got to the mark .. None of the Kiwis were very flash in these conditions and then they chucked in a third race, and the next day as well, which really showed up our out of season skill level.
Worlds Championship winners Graham Vials and Chris Turner led the charge of GBR teams who dominated the top 11 places with the exception of the defending world champion, Grant Alderson from Australia who placed 8th.
Ninety six boats competed over 7 days in the World Championship competition, with the Principal International Race Officer Roger Palmer running a full series of 2 lots of flights - a total of 20 races. The 17 Classic and Silver boats sailed on a separate course organised and completed 7 races over 7 days. Congratulations to Bob Salmond and Robert Till from Holy Loch SC for winning the Classic trophy and Malcolm and Alex Hall from Burton Sailing club winning the Silvers Title.
We finished 44th and James Sandell and Graeme Robinson (Business 3754) 22nd, Ben Lowe and Kate Gilbert (Ffortitude 3839) 30th and Murray Gilbert and Jonathan Burgess (Frenetic 3840) 31st. Not the result you hope for, but a big dose of reality to start the campaign for next time!
Graeme Robinson wrote some very good race reports during the regatta which were published onwww.sail-world.com. These reports capture both the excitement of winning a race at the worlds and the daily challenges experienced; they can be found on the Flying Fifteen forum on crew.org.nz here
The contest venue and atmosphere was great, and it was a good event to have competed in.
John Leydon and Sandra Williams Fflypast 3838
For Official Race Reports and Results http://www.hisc.co.uk/ffworlds2011/f15worlds_news.htm
See photos on the Zenfolio website - Click Here or at Fotoboat website here Flying 15 Worlds images. Plus some on the the HISC facebook site.
NZL boats arrive at Hayling Island SC, England ahead of World Championship
10 July 2011
The New Zealand boats have arrived in England ahead of the 18th Flying Fifteen International World Championship and the British Nationals to be held at Hayling Island Yacht Club 15 to 28 July 2011.
The team representing New Zealand was selected at the 2011 National Championships and is made up of:
• Murray Gilbert and Jonathan Burgess, Frenetic 3840
• Ben Lowe and Kate Gilbert, Ffortitude 3839
• John Leydon and Sandra Williams, Fflypast 3838
• James Sandell and Graeme Robinson, Busineff 3754
Gilbert and Burgess of RAYC placed ninth at the 2009 Melbourne Flying Fifteen Worlds Championships and will be seeking to improve their status after placing third in the New Zealand Championship this year.
Lowe and Gilbert of Glendowie Boating Club are NZs top male/female combination currently holding the Leatham Edmond Memorial Trophy. Lowe was the Pied Piper champion in 2008, 2009 and 2011 and prior to that competed at the 420 Worlds in 2007. This will be the first time they have competed in a F15 World Championship.
Sandell has had a successful record in sailing, both at Youth and Open Laser Radial Worlds and at a number of international events in the Laser Radial and full-rig Laser classes. He is the current F18 Champion, and is a successful match racer with the Black Sheep team. Sandell is sailing with the experienced Robinson of Napier,who is attending his 12th Worlds, 11 times as a competitor and once on the International Jury.
Leydon and Williams of Nelson last competed in a world championship in 2005, when they campaigned with other crew. Williams won the Silver Fleet International title, and Leydon placed 20th in the Gold Fleet. They were NZ National Champs in 2009.
Entry for the F15 UK Nationals and Worlds has now closed. Total entry is 133 including all fleets. Splits still have to be decided but entries as received indicate a total fleet of 104 for the Nationals and 118 for the Worlds. Race results will be posted at the HISC website.
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has been supporting New Zealand success in Flying Fifteen World Championships since 2003 and have supplied the container and shipping again for this 2011 18th International Flying Fifteen World Championship.
The International Flying Fifteen class World Championships are held every two years and New Zealand has sent a team every time since the first one was held in 1979, with the top NZ crews usually featuring in the top 10. New Zealanders have won twice: Roger Craddock and Steve Cunnold in 1994 and Barry Finlayson & Ian Norrie in 1980. There are also Silver and Classic divisions, with NZ crews having won the Silver division in 2009 and 2005.
Parua Bay Inaugral Flying Fifteen Regatta
25/27th March 2011
We had good support from Auckland with 3 Gold Class boats making the trip. A little disappointed to only get 1 of the expected 4 boats coming down from Waitangi, however given the weather and some injuries we can forgive them. We had a fleet of 7 boats with 3 local boats competing. Overall in the classic division Whangarei boats achieved 1st and 2nd which was very good result and demonstrating the level of effort from the local boats.
Saturday sailing conditions where NE of 10-18 knots with showers. The first 2 races were twice around windward leeward’s, the third and forth were 3 time around. The wind around the top mark did become a little shifty in the last 100 meters as the wind went more north in the afternoon for the last 2 races. Sunday became a wash out with no wind and showers so we had an early finish and back to Kissing Point for prize giving.
Overall the following comments have been received about with I think the WCC and it members should be very proud.
The Auckland boats have commented on the facilities, and sailing conditions. The flat water was appreciated and the possibility of overtaking tracks was enjoyed. The format of short rapid fire races was also enjoyed. Being close to the sailing course is something we take for granted where in other places they have to sail 30 – 60 minutes to get to the start line.
The Waitangi guy's also commented on how lucky we were with race officials and having the teams of older club members who are prepared to put in the time required.
Mention should be made of the crew on Flying Colours. Over the last 2 years they have put in a lot of effort and progressed from the back of the fleet to now being one of the hot contenders, New boat, rig and sails. Noting that in the case of Flying Fifteen classics “New” always means second hand from the Auckland Gold fleet. Due to a breakage at the start of the first race they were only able to get back out in time to join the 4th race of the day but put in a very threatening effort. They are now a crew to be watched.
The crew on Ffreedom demonstrated the flair and skill that has previously taken them to the keel boat club champs at OYC. Feelin Nauti was out for the first time in the hands of a new owner. It was good to see the improvements they made during the race. Amazing what a difference some rig tension make.
That's a lesson the crew on Revival had in Auckland in February, some extra rig tension took them 4 places up the finish list. It just too them 2 races to work out what the problem was. (Slow learners).
Results: 7 races, 4 completed
3840 Ffrenetic 2 1 1 1 5 1
3832 Blowfish 1 2 2 2 7 2
3508 Ffilanderer DNS 3 3 3 9 3
2032 Ffreedom 3 4 5 5 17 4
3085 Revival 4 5 6 4 19 5
3021 Feelin Nauti 5 6 4 6 21 6
2777 Flying Colours DNS DNS DNS DNS 28 7
2011 Wellington Champs 20 March.
25 March 2011, Lowry Bay Yacht Club
Wellington held their FF Champs over the week-end 19/20 March 2011 starting with some warm up races at Evans Bay on Saturday and the Champs hosted by Lowry Bay Yacht Club on Sunday.
The Saturday contenders were Doug Roberts sailing with Rob Woodward, a laser sailor from Wellington in Fantoccini, John Leyland and Sandra Williams over from Nelson and boat leant by Julian Bishop (Fanfare - which Brian Bennet won the 07 nationals in), Julian was sailing with his brother in law in 50/50 - Tony Hills old boat. Graham Brown (yes the one and only) was sailing in Flambouyant (ex Napier boat) which he has now bought with is old crew Alison.
Unfortunately by Sunday attrition reduced the fleet to 3 and in true Wellington style the forecast 5 knots variable turned into a 15-20 knot northerly which made for fantastic sailing in flat water. Final results were 1st Fanfare, 2nd Fantoccini and 3rd 50/50. Results.
The Lowry Bay Yacht Club contributed on a trophy for the class and made a big fuss of the 15s being involved in the regatta. Hopefully we get a bit of traction in terms of building the numbers.
Doug Roberts
Race 1 was started in a 15 knot Southerly. We all got a clean start with Fanfare just ahead, we came across on starboard at Flambouyant who refused to tack calling "sail your proper course" - still not sure what that means.
Top mark was Flambouyant, Fanfare, Fantocinni and 50/50. Unfortunately Fanfare had a gear failure and slipped back to 3rd while Flambouyant and Fantoccini fought it out. At the top mark for the second time there was only 5-10 seconds in it. Down the run Fantoccini was able to hook into some breeze and soak down inside Flambouyant at the bottom mark for the second time, Fantoccini was in front while Flambouyant had thought it was only a 2 lap race went for the finish line. This allowed Fanfare to close up and hold second till the finish while Fantoccini started the weekend with a win.
Race 2 Breeze was now 10 knot Southerly. 50/50 missed the start completely, while the others got away to a clean start. This time Fanfare cleared out with a good lead at the top mark, while Fantoccini and Flambouyant where neck and neck rounding the top mark, down the run Flambouyant were able to just hold their lead. Up the second beat Fantoccini put in an outstanding performance and cleared out from Flambouyant. The boat speeds were very even down the 2nd run. On the 3rd beat Fantoccini closed to within 2 lengths of Fanfare, but Fanfare was able to stretch out by 50 metres to take the 2nd race with Fantoccini a close second followed by Flambouyant and 50/50.
It was now 4 pm and the committee called off racing for the day after only sailing 2 of the scheduled 3 races. John and Sandra decided to sail Fanfare over to Lowry Bay and leave it tied up in the marina over night. The remaining boats came back to Evans bay where Fantoccini.
Sunday. The was expected to be variable 5 with a building southerly to 15 knots. In true Wellington style we started racing in a 15-20 knot Northerly. Four races where scheduled with the first start at 10:25. Unfortunately Flambouyant did not make it over as Grahams crew was taken ill.
Race 1. The course was set for two triangles. Fanfare lead till the first wing mark, when a bad gybe let Fantoccini in at the bottom mark. Fantocinni extended their lead up the windward leg to lead by about 200 meters. By this stage the breeze gone 20 degrees to the left and it was too tight to fly the kite. Fanfare did an absolutely magnificent display of two sail reaching to pass Fantocinni on that leg just before the wing mark and hang on for the win by about 2 boat lengths.
Race 2 and Race 3 were both 2 windward/leewards. Race 2 was a bit of a procession with a big left hand shift allowing Fanfare to sail the second upwind in one tack despite breaking the kicker.
Race 3. As the wind had shifted further to the left the race committee shifted the course between races 2 and 3. Despite resetting the course, the left was still heavily favoured. Fanfare and Fantocinni were tied together with a string on the first beat but Fanfare managed to slip away downwind. On the second up wind Fantoccini managed to close right up following Fanfare by less than a metre around the top mark, but a better set allowed fanfare to slip away for another win by about 30 seconds.
Race 4 was 2 windward/leewards. With about 30 seconds to go to the start Fanfare was spotted lining up for a port tack start, Fantoccini headed for the pin end on starboard, forcing Fanfare to sail over the line early on port tack. Fanfare re-crossed and started again on port. Fantocinni tacked onto port to cover and slowly extended her lead up the windward leg and continued to extend the race to take a comfortable win. Throughout the series the combination on 50/50 improved on their team work and by this last race were in the action on the beat and reduced their time to second place from over 4 minutes down to a minute, proving once again what a difference time on the water can make.
Doug Roberts
2011 Auckland Champs 13/14 Feb. Results here
16 Feb 2011
2011 Flying Fifteen Nationals Results - 7th win for Goodmanson and Rowlands
26 Jan 2011
Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands of Charteris Bay Yacht Club, sailing Fortune 3739, won their seventh National title at the 2011 Flying Fifteen Nationals making them the most successful combination in New Zealand Flying Fifteen nationals history.
A fleet of 22 boats from Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson, Napier, Auckland, Whangeri and the Bay of Islands competed in the series held as part of the Bay of Islands Sailing Week , 18 to 21st January 2011.
Weather conditions on Wednesday and Thursday were on our side to complete 8 of the 12 race series. Wednesday saw Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands in Ffortune 3739 of CBYC win the first two races in up to 12 knots of breeze. John Leydon and Sandra Williams from Nelson in Fflypast 3838 took first place in a wind shift in light conditions in Race 3 and Ben Lowe and Kate Gilbert of RAYC, competing in Fathers Folly 3839 at their first F15 national champs, took Race 4.
Thursday started light and patchy for Race 5 which was won by 420 sailors Frankie Lardies and Finn Drummond in a borrowed boat Southern Lights 3553. After a long lunch break the wind settled into a great sea breeze and Fathers Folly came through again to win Race 6. As the wind settled into 15-18 knots, James Sandell and Graham Robinson in Busineff 3754 of Napier took Race 7, and Fortune finished the last race of the day and the regatta with a first place.
Racing on day 3 was called off due to wind and tide conditions making the ramp unsafe for launching.
Racing was very competitive with first places shared amongst 5 boats in the 8 races completed. In Race 2, boats in positions two to seven finished within 15 seconds of each other. In the end, consistency across the series paid off and was reflected in the final regatta result with second place overall going to Barry Thom and Phil Quinn on Foreign Affair 3907 and third to Murray Gilbert and Jonathan Burgess on Ffrenetic 3840, both from RAYC in Auckland.
The Classic division was won by Bill Kidman and Grant Hamish of BOIYC on Feisty 2030 and the Silver division by Sally Garret and Neil Easton of RAYC on Iff 3087After attending the Bay of Islands Sailing Week prize giving at Opua Wharf for presentation of the first place getters in each of the Gold, Silver and Classis Divisions the fleet adjoined to the Sugarboat for a formal dinner and awarding of class silverware as follows:
1st Place (Wilkin Anderson half model): Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands, Ffortune 3739
2nd Place (Air NZ Plate): Barry Thom and Phil Quinn, Foreign Affair 3907
3rd Place (Te Wharoa Trophy): Murray Gilbert and Jonathan Burgess, Ffrenetic 3840
1st Silver Fleet pre sail number 3500 (Tauranga Trophy): Sally Garret and Neil Easton, Iff 3087
1st Classic Fleet (Tauranga Classic Trophy): Bill Kidman and Grant Hamish, Ffeisty 2030.
Helm over 55 years (Spencer Salver): Barry Thom
Top Fleet (Pinkies Pot): Canterbury (incl Nelson)
Improvers Trophy during series (Raoul Winters Handicap): Frankie Lardies and Finn Drummond, Southern Lights 3553
Trust Bank Handicap Cup: Robert Anderson and Steve Allen, Skinful 3169
Skipper improvement from 2010 nationals (Craddock Cup) John Leydon and Sandra Williams, Fflypast 3838.
Invitation race 1 (Sam Mason Memorial Trophy) Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands, Ffortune 3739
First male/female crew( Leatham Edmond Memorial Trophy ): Ben Lowe and Kate Gilbert, Fathers Folly 3839.
Thanks to the Bay of Islands Sailing Week for running the series on an in shore course shared with Sports Boats, Elliott 5.9s and A Class Cats and to the Bay Islands Yacht Club for hosting the nationals and their onshore and launching facilities.
This event also served as the selection regatta with the top six boats eligible to qualify for the NZ team to race at the 18th Flying Fifteen World Championship, the confirmed team will be announced by the end of February. The World Championship regatta will be held 15 - 28 July 2011 at Hayling Island Sailing Club, England.
Twelve races scheduled. 8 completed. 1 discard. Full results can be found by clicking here
Article and photos on Sail-World.com here
Photos at these link... Prizegiving Photos at the Sugar Boat and Bay of Islands Sailing Week Photos
Sandra Williams
Australian 2011 Championship
11 Jan 2011
Matt Owen & Andrew Reed win the 49th Australian 2011 Championship in silver boat “Form 3020”at the Canberra Yacht Club More...
Canterbury Champs Results - 27/28th Nov here
12 December 2010
Game of Tactics - BOI Festival of Fifteens Race Report
19 November 2010
The Festival of Fifteens regatta on the weekend of 13th and 14th November 2010,was one that relied on the skill and tactics of the Skipper and Crew. With the wind so fickle and from any direction at any given time, the result was always going to reward for good decisions and punished for the poor ones.
For the third year running the Bay of Islands Yacht Club hosted the regatta that has continued to gain momentum over the last three years. Once again the bay turned on a stunner of a weekend for Flying Fifteens from near and far. A good contingent from RAYC as well as 3 recently restored Classics from Paroa Bay in Whangarei added to the Bay of Islands yacht club fleet that has grown from 1 boat to 8 boats in little over 3 years.
First gun on Saturday morning saw a fleet of 12 boats on the water with what was most likely one of the oldest Flying Fifteens still sailing. NZL 659 Fractional Frantic (ex Franda) lovingly restored recently it was great to see the new to the sport of sailing Chris Byrne sporting an L plate on her stern.
In the classic fleet, the author secretly was sure of winning the trophy he donated last year for the first time, on the freshly restored and painted NZL3021 Ffeelin Nauti but the previous winners Bill Kidman and Grant Harnish on NZL2030 Ffiesty had other ideas, and in the light and fickle conditions were able to once again secure the Half Model Trophy. second and third places were taken out by the fleet from Paroa Bay. With NZL 2777 Fflying Colours - J Slagter and S Pollard in second and closely followed by NZL2032 Ffreedom - D Magison and D Burgh in third place.
In the open fleet we had 3 boats from RAYC that were surprised from time to time at the ability of some of the older classic boats that kept them pushed, in fact the third boat around the second to last mark on a 7 mile Bay race was none other than NZL 987 Tempus Fugit, once again this boat had spent the winter in the shed and has emerged a shining example of craftsmanship.
Open Fleet winner was NZL3840 Ffrenetic - M Gilbert and J Burgess and hot on the heels was NZL3832 Blowffish – C Coulam and A Rekke flowed up in third place NZL3508 Ffilanderer – C Field and J King
View photos and video
Wayne Henderson
Festival of Fifteens 2010 - Overall
1st Ffrenetic FF Gold 3840 Murray Gilberd Jonathan Burgess RAYC (2.0) 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 9.0 7.0
2nd Blowffish FF Gold 3832 Craig Coulam Adrienne Rekke RAYC 1.0 (2.0) 2.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 12.0 10.0
3rd Ffilanderer FF Gold 3508 Chris Field Jason King RAYC (3.0) 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 21.0 18.0
4th Ffeisty FF Classic 2030 Bill Kidman Grant Harnish BOIYC 4.0 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 (6.0) 33.0 27.0
5th Fflying Colours FF Classic 2777 Jerome Slagter Simon Pollard WCC 7.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 7.0 (10.0) 51.0 41.0
6th Ffreedom FF Classic 2032 Dave Magison Dave Burgh OYC 6.0 10.0 (11.0) 9.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 54.0 43.0
7th Ffeeling Nauti FF Classic 3021 Andrew Clarke Wayne Henderson BOIYC (11.0) 7.0 7.0 9.0SCP8.0 5.0 7.0 54.0 43.0
8th Revival FF Classic2707 Zane Lewis David Wright WCC 5.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 (13.0DNC)13.0DNC13.0DNC58.045.0
9th Skinfflint FF Classic 2779 Steve Ussher Mike Byrne BOIYC 10.0 8.0 6.0 8.0 9.0 (13.0OCS)4.0 58.0 45.0
10th Tempus Ffugit FF Classic 987 Andy Greager Andy Greager BOIYC 9.0 9.0 9.0 (11.0) 7.0 9.0 5.0 59.0 48.0
11th September Song FF Classic 2773 Geoff Lane Laura BOIYC 8.0 (11.0) 10.0 10.0 10.0 8.0 9.0 66.0 55.0
12th Fractional Frantic FF Classic 659 Chris Byrne Stuard Ewing BOIYC 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 (13.0DNC)13.0DNC13.0 DNC 87.0 74.0
FFI Constitution and Championship Regulations Update.
3 October 2010
FFI Constitution and Championship Regulations incorporating changes from the 2010 Ballot now released. Championship Regulations will be in effect for the 2011 World Championships at Hayling Island. View here.
The Class Rules are currently awaiting ISAF approval as they are responsible for approving the changes made in the Ballot, they will be posted when that approval is received.
Akarana Winter Series Results, 2010
The winter series had a mix of breeze – some a bit fresher gusting to about 20 knots. Sailing was on the inner course area in the main channel area – highly tidal which adds a bit of interest. The new harbour marks are made of plastic which is a little less intimidating than the old steel rusty ones – especially when the tide drags you towards them with unexpected haste. Rumour has it the combination of tide and wind made things interesting for Ben and Kate in their first season on Fathers Folly who capsized and had their keel up for some time... not sure what excuse Murray and Jonathan on Frentic had for doing the same thing. Phil showed that in a breeze on Foreign Affair they were fast - really FAST. Not all of the 12 entries braved every winter race, final series places were 1. Robert Anderson, Skinffull 3169. 2. Phil Quinn, Foreign Affair 3907 3. Murray Gilbert, Ffrenetic 3840.See full results here
Flying Fifteen European Champions - Steve Goacher & Phil Evans retain title
24-25 August 2010, La Rochelle
The final leading positions were:
1. Steve Goacher and Phil Evans 18 points 2. Andy Davis and Andy Couch 21 points 3. Mike Hart and Richard Rigg 23 points 4. Greg Wells and Mark Darling 24 points 5. Charles Apthorp and Alan Green 35 points 6. Alan Bax and Bill Masterman 37 points. For race full race reports see
2010 British National Champs - Steve Goacher & Phil Evans
18-21 July 2010
British National Championships were contested at Parkstone YC, 18 to 21 July. Goacher and Phil Evans from Royal Windermere YC raced a consistent and strong series and had secured the National Championship while the remaining places were still to be competed for.
Final overall positions were: Open Fleet. Champions - Steve Goacher / Phil Evans. Runners Up - Mike Hart / Mark. 3rd overall - Russell Peters / Tim Hall. Silver Fleet - Champions - Michael Green and Mark Green, St. Lucia YC (11th overall). Classic Fleet - Champions - Bobby Salmond and Roburt Till, Holy Loch SC (46th overall). For race full race reports see
BOI Festival of Fifteens 2010 - Race Report
20-21 March 2010
Festival Of Fifteens was hosted by Bay of Islands weekend of 20 & 21 March, the venue of the 2011 National Championship and World Championship selection trials. Blowffish, Ffrenetic & Ffilanderer travelled travelled North from RAYC Auckland and Revival from Whangarei fronted to race the local fleet of classic boats.
Conditions were light winds with flat water -suiting the classic boats well holding onto the gold fleet boats well up the first beat in most races. The fleet enjoyed close racing with steady breezes. Attention to detail was clearly lacking with all the gold fleet incorrectly sailing the harbour course on Sunday. Fortunately this didn't affect the final result with Blowfish 4000/3832 Craig Coulam Adrienne Rekkeof RAYC winning overall and the classic division winners Ffeisty2030, Bill Kidman Julie Kidman of BOIYC presented the beautiful half trophy created by Neil Deverell.
For full article go here: http://www.sail-world.com/NZ/Sunshine-and-Sea-Breeze-for-Flying-Fifteens/67692. Wayne Henderson
Auckland Championship 2010 - Race Report
7-8 March 2010
Eleven boats faced the starters gun on Saturday 7thMarch for race 1 of the Auckland Champs – however the wind wasn’t up to the task and the race was abandoned at the first mark. After three hours of waiting for the westerly to fill in and a patchy easterly hanging on - racing was called off for the day. Blowffish had the full set of development sails on for the part race and showed good pace leading around the 1stmark of the abandoned race.
Sunday’s breeze was not promising much at all so the fleet was towed to the racing area, to sit and bask in the morning sun. Shortly before midday Race 1 got underway in a light easterly with Murray and Jonathon in Ffrenetic showing good pace in a one lap race to lead the fleet into the downwind finish, followed by Blowffish, Snaffler and Skinffull. The morning breeze was finished and after a couple of hours of waiting a Northwesterly course was set. Steve and Robert sailing Skinffull, with the development sails on, held on to good pressure in the right side of the course and rounded Mark 1 with a comfortable lead, holding it till the finish, followed by Foreign Affair, Frentetic and Blowffish. Races 3 & 4 were held over the same course however the left side of the course paid well for Craig and Adrienne in Blowffish who held their lead to the finish from Foreign Affair and Frenetic. Race 4 had the fleet split with the majority of the fleet favoring the right side of the course in a breeze that was patchy at about 7 knots. However Snaffler, Ffrenetic and Blowffish who worked the left side of the course held onto a more consistent breeze. Blowffish rounded first ahead of Ffrenetic and built a lead in a dying breeze to the finish, and take the overall win from Ffrenetic by one point. Foreign Affair in third, Snaffler in fourth and Skinffull, fifth, were each separated by one point. Ffillanderer sixth, Fflight of Ffancy seventh and Different Priorities eighth overall. Craig Coulam
2010 Schneider Electric New Zealand National Championship
29-31 January 2010
Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands from Charteris Bay Yacht Club sailing ‘Ffortune’ confirmed their status as New Zealand’s Top Flying Fifteen sailors by easily winning the 11 race Schneider Electric Flying Fifteen Nationals sailed on Lyttelton Harbour at the weekend of 29th – 31st January. The 12 boat fleet included 6 of the New Zealand team who competed at the Melbourne Worlds last season, but the 20 knot NE winds suited the local boys and they showed with a good win in race one how they are able to make the international fleet look slow in these conditions.
Good tactics and crew work kept Fortune clear despite determined sailing from Brett Willcock and Dave Pearson also from Charteris Bay in ‘Ffoto Finish’ and Aucklanders Murray Gilbert and Jonathan Burgess in ‘Ffrentic’. These two crewed ranked 12th and 8th in the World could make little impression and it was not until race 7 in a dying breeze that Ffortune was finally beaten. Defending champions John Leydon and Sandra Williams from Nelson, having their first regatta in new boat ‘Fflypast’, got ahead in a wind shift on the first beat and opened up a good lead before having to cover Ffortune closely all the way to the finish line.
A change to cool southerlies on the last day brought flatter water in the harbour and Ffrentic won the first two races from Ffortune and then from Craig Coulam and Adrienne Rekke in ‘Blowfish’.
Ffortune sailed the last two races with an experimental mainsail being trialled by the class worldwide, and won the last two races from Frenetic.
The new sail is a suggestion to modernise the sail plan and has a shorter foot and larger roach. It seemed to do the job in the shifty gusty conditions and Goodmanson said it looked to have potential.
Final places were:
1st National Champion: Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands, Ffortune 3739, CBYC (Wilkin- Anderson Half Model)
2nd: Murray Gilbert and Jonathan Burgess, Ffrenetic 3840, RAYC, (Air New Zealand Plate)
3rd: Brett Willcock and David Pearson, Ffoto Finish 3823, CBYC, (Te Wharoa Trophy)
1st Classic Fleet: Neil Edmond & Nigel Soper, Icefflower 2775 (Tauranga Classic Award)
1st Silver Fleet: Sally Garret & Neil Easton Iff 3087, (Tauranga Trophy)
Pinkies Pot: Royal Akarana Yacht Club - Top fleet on average points.
Leatham Edmond Memorial Trophy: Craig Coulam and Adriene Rekke, Blowfish 3832 -First mixed crew.
Spencer Salver: John Leydon - Best placed helm over 55 years.
Improvers Trophy: Craig Sheppard & Grant Rutledge, Just Magic 3165 – improvement during the regatta.
Trustbank Handicap Cup: Sally Garret & Neil Easton, Iff 3087 - Time corrected handicap scores.
Craddock Cup: Murray Gilbert & Jonathan Burgess Ffrentic 3840 - Improvement from 2009 Taupo Nationals.
Full results can be found at http://www.navalpoint.co.nz/results/ff290110.htm
The contest was well run by a combined Charteris Bay/Naval Point race management team in conjunction with the Noelex 25 and 22 fleets and the Flying Fifteen crews were hosted off the water by a very capable and organised Charteris Bay Yacht Club with a full social calendar.
Full championship photo’s can be found a http://www.flickr.com/photos/47142287@N02/sets/72157623207631369/and http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/GoodyLyttelton/2010NationalFlyingFifteenCharterisBay#
Thanks to Charteris Bay Yacht Club and Sponsors Schneider Electric, Redpaths, Repco, Boat, Link International, Annie Edmond and the many Charteris Bay volunteers who were recognised at the Prizegiving. John Leydon