Flying Fifteen National Championship
Sun 27 July to Fri 1 August 2008
Images of the racing are available on Lucy Jameson's website - Click here
Day 6 - Final
The final race on Day 6 of the Flying 15 National Championships at Hayling Island SC was abandoned due to Gale force winds in the Bay.
Greg Wells and Mark Darling (HISC) are the new Flying 15 National Champions for 2008. Second Barry and Sue Parkin (HISC) and third Mike Hart and Richard Rigg (Port Dinorwic SC).
Winners of the Classic event were Bob Tait and Mick Musgrave (2606), second Ian and Gavin Shaw (798) and third Duncan Baird and Tim Bowen (1155).
Winners of the Silver event were Dave and Jimmy Moody (3393) second Andy Clark and Nadia Melnikova (3378 and third Mike and Claire Durrant (3271). - GN
Day 5
Greg Wells and Mark Darling went afloat Thursday as series leaders at the Flying 15 National Championships knowing that they had to face two challengers to the title - Mike Hart and Richard Rigg from Port Dinorwic SC and Barry and Sue Parkin of HISC. They came ashore as National Champions following two races, having successfully defended their lead to take the title with a race to spare.
The first race started in a light southerly with a difficult tide, from a slightly port biased line. Wells, Parkin and Hart all started at the port end on starboard. Wells stayed with his nearest rivals to the title to protect his position, not risking a flyer.
As it was those that went out to sea, towards the Isle of Wight poured into the windward mark, led by Ian Linder and Kevin Sweetman from Burghfield SC. Hart, Parkin and Wells rounded in the late teens, early twenties.
The Parkins did a massive catch-up job to finish fourth behind the winner Lindman and Sweetman, with Robert Hogben and Glyn Morgan second and Andrew Jameson and James Grant third. Wells and Darling finished ninth but Hart and Rigg were down in 17th and out of title contention.
With Hart and Rigg removed, Wells and Darling were able to concentrate completetly on staying close to Barry and Sue Parkin - now the only ones who could force it to another day.
The Parkins did everything they had to do - they won race 8 - but Wells and Darling also did what they had to, finishing second and closing the door on a final race showdown.
So congratulations to Greg Wells and Mark Darling of Hayling Island SC, the 2008 Flying 15 National Champions, with a race to spare. - GN
Day 4
Just the one race Wednesday at the Flying 15 National Championships being held at Hayling Island SC, but once again a race of superb quality with the result in doubt right to the line. For Greg Wells and Mark Darling second place confirmed their overall lead going into the final two days and Thursday could be the make or break day for the Hayling pair.
Such is the depth of talent in the class that even a seven point lead cannot guarantee them certain victory. Thursday has two races scheduled and the list of potential challengers for the title reads like a rollcall of the class great and good!
In second, Mike Hart, then Barry Parkin, Alan Bax and Steve Goacher all former national and/or world champions and all capable of taking this title in the next three races if Wells and Darling relax for one second.
Not that Greg and Mark are thinking of dropping their guard at this stage. A steady build-up this season, including winning the Southern Championship, sees them on peak form at just the right time and Thursdays double header could see them confirming their championship potential.
In race six the fleet got away in a light southerly, with Hart and Rigg going out of the port end on starboard, while Gill Browning and Simon Weatherill tacked to the right to lead at the windward mark.
They were followed by Peter Hogg and Alex Dobson, Ian Linder and Kevin Sweetman, the Parkins and then Wells and Darling. At the end of the two reaches Browning and Weatherill led with the Parkins second and Wells and Darling third.
Barry and Sue Parkin took the lead on the next beat and held it to the finish, with Wells and Darling getting an inside edge to take second ahead of Browning and Weatherill.- GN
Day 3
Day 3 of the Flying 15 National Championships at Hayling Island SC. And day 1 race leaders, Greg Wells and Mark Darling take back the overall lead after five races completed.
The term 'champagne sailing' is much overused in the sailing media, perhaps it should be replaced with 'horses for courses' in refering to the third day of the Flying 15 Championships sailed in Hayling Bay. A 20 knot southerly, with a rolling swell and fifty Flying Fifteen keelboats competing in the conditions Uffa surely had in mind when he put pen to paper, just across the Solent, over sixty years ago.
Race one went to Mike Hart and Richard Rigg, who after dipping a number of sterns off the line, were motoring upwind. Charles Apthorp and Alan Green arrived at the windward mark first with Howard Green and Ian Preston. After Apthorp had completed turns it was Hart who was in the lead, then Green and Wells in third.
Hart and Rigg went on to win with Wells and Darling second and Steve Goacher and Phil Evans, flying down the reaches to take third.
Race 2 had the fleet spread along the line with Wells coming out of the middle but it was Green and Preston first at the windward mark, followed by Ossie Stewart and Kevin Richardson, then Hart with Wells in fourth.
Hart hit the mark and Wells eventually took the lead until Hart recovered the lead on the run. Wells regained the lead again but Jeremy Davy and Tim Harper snatched it on the line to take their first win. Wells was second and Goacher came through to take third.
Following the redress given for the Black Flag disqualifications Monday, Wells and Darling lead by seven points, with Hart and Rigg second and Barry and Sue Parkin in third overall.
Alan Bax and Bill Masterman are in fourth place and Henry Craven-Smith and Matt Alvarado fifth. - GN
Day 2
The flags were out for the second day of the Flying 15 Nationals at Hayling Island SC - trouble was they were the Black sort. Light Easterly winds combined with an east running tide created a difficult situation for the fleet and with a biased line the black flag was soon in operation.
Caught over in the first race of the day were Steve Goacher and Phil Evans, who had finished third in the opening day race, but worse was to come when they were out again in the second race. Jeremy Davy and Tim Harper were another crew to hit the double today.
The second race removed a whole swath of front runners - overnight leader Greg Wells and Mark Darling, second placed Barry and Sue Parkin and the current world champions, Mike Hart and Richard Rigg. The Spanish pair, Javier Chacaregui and Miguel Santa Usula were another team who went in for an early shower.
Smiling through it all were Alan Bax and Bill Masterman, winners here in 1999 when the Nationals were last held at HISC. A pair of second places were enough to take them into the lead at the end of day two and together with second placed Henry Craven-Smith and Matt Alvarado, they are BFD free.
Third overall are Barry and Sue Parkin, and fourth are Wells and Darling. Charles Apthorp and Alan Green leapt up the standings with a sixth and then victory in race three to be fifth overall, while Hart and Rigg take sixth overall.
A feature of the series so far has been the close tactical racing in the leading group, all races have been windward/leeward, with six to eight boats fighting right to the line. In the first race Monday the leading four boats finished within five seconds, led by Craven-Smith and Alvarado with Bax and Masterman second and the Parkins third. In race two it was Apthorp and Green who led all the way, again with Bax and Masterman taking second and then Gill Browning and Simon Weatherill third place.- GN
Day 1
The Flying 15 National Championships got underway at Hayling Island SC in perfect conditions in Hayling Bay, Sunday. Greg Wells and Mark Darling were the eventual winners of the first race after a close tussle with Barry and Sue Parkin.
The first race was held in a strengthening sea breeze over four rounds of a windward/leeward course in Hayling Bay. Barry and Sue Parkin nailed the start and flopped onto port and led at the windward mark.
Henry Craven-Smith and Matt Alvarado rounded second, then Alan Bax and Bill Masterman hit the mark, as did several others in misjudging the strong tide. Wells and Darling were sixth at the windward mark but started fourth on the first downwind leg, due to the turns being done.
Wells and Darling moved into second on the offwind leg behind the Parkins and then took the lead on the second beat. On the second run Parkins retook the lead.
On the third beat Wells and Darling led again and then slightly extended their lead on the run. On the final beat Wells and Darling were safely ahead with the Parkins in second and taking third it was Goacher and Evans on a charge, with Bax and Masterman, recovering to fourth and Craven-Smith and Alvarado in fifth with Mike Hart and Richard Rigg recovering well to finish sixth.
Two race are scheduled for Monday. - GN
FF Nats Starts Sunday
Cowes is the birthplace of the Flying Fifteen - Uffa's bath, so they say! But Hayling Island SC like to think that it's spiritual home is at HISC.
This weekend sees the start of the eighth running of the Flying Fifteen National Championship at the club, the first back in 1957 and the most recent in 1999. Then it was won by Alan Bax and Bill Masterman and they will be back together to attempt a defence of their 'HISC Nationals'.
But, there will be 50 other competitors, including entries from the distant Tayvallich and Largs Sailing Club Scottish fleets, all just as determined on winning, including the current reigning champion Steve Goacher with Phil Evans, and World Champion Mike Hart teaming up with Richard Riggs for this one.
Plus a strong contingent from the Hayling Island home fleet - Greg Wells and Mark Darling have been going very fast this season in their new boat and won the Southerns a couple of weeks ago. Olympic medalist Ossie Stewart is a newcomer to the Fifteen fleet, being better known for his exploits in the Thames Raters of late. He is with old team mate Kevin Richardson for the nationals.
Competitors will take part in nine races over six days for the National Championship title on the waters of Hayling Bay, some of the finest sailing water on the south coast, under the command of Jamie Jameson, Principle Race Officer and his team.
None of this would have been possible with out the commitment of the Event Director Martin Stainsby and his team of helpers pulling together the programme and the excellent support of our sponsors. Hayling Island Sailing Club is looking forward to welcome you. - GN
Entry and NOR
The Flying Fifteen National Championship at HISC is open to all boats with a valid measurement certificate of the International Flying Fifteen Class. Competing helms shall be a member of an Association affiliated to the FFI.
A completed On-line entry form and entry fee, must be received by Hayling Island SC on or before 12 July 2008. After this date an additional fee will apply. Entry on the first day of the event may be refused in the event of over subscription. Payment is accepted on-line by Debit or Credit Card only.
Note: American Express is not accepted.
Note - Entries received in the HISC entry database without On-line payment are not valid and will be removed. Check the Entry List here on the website to confirm your entry acceptance. Please allow 24 hours for update.
The entry for the championship, including reception and prizegiving meal, is £145.00 (£180.00 entry after 12 July 2008).
Entry process is in 2 Steps:
Step 1 - On-line Entry of Boat and Crew details - Click here
After successful data entry you will be taken to the on-line payment stage.
Step 2 - On-line Payment - after completion of payment you will receive a confirmation email.
Please give Full Names of Helm and Crew on the Entry Forms (not just first names or initials).
Competitors who are under 18 at the start of the event are required to complete and present a Parent/Guardian Declaration to the Office before taking part in the event.
Parent/Guardian Declaration Form - Click Here
Scrutineering Form - Click here (pdf document)
Sailing Instructions - Click here (pdf document)
Notice of Race - Click here (pdf document)
Social Programme - Click here (pdf document)
Programme for Flying 15 Championship at HISC - 27 July to 1 Aug 2008
Saturday 26 July - Registration at HISC Event Office between 09:00 and 18:00 hrs.
Saturday 26 July - Measurement and Inspection between 09:00 and 18:00 hrs.
Saturday 26 July - Competitors Briefing at 18:30 hrs.
Sunday 27 July - Practice Race - 1st warning signal 11:55 hrs
Sunday 27 July - Race 1 - 1st warning signal 13:55 hrs
Monday 28 July - Race 2 - 1st warning signal 11:55 hrs - Race 3 to follow
Tuesday 29 July - Race 4 - 1st warning signal 11:55 hrs - Race 5 to follow
Wednesday 30 July - Race 6 - 1st warning signal 11:55 hrs
Thursday 31 July - Race 7 - 1st warning signal 11:55 hrs - Race 8 to follow
Friday 1 August - Race 9 - 1st warning signal 11:55 hrs
Note: Minimum number of races for the championship is two.
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