#flyingfifteen – After a day of big winds yesterday, winds peaked briefly at six knots then disappeared, so no racing was possible today, Monday 23rd, on the final day of the Allen Flying Fifteen Nationals at Largs.
The Championship rested on the first two days of racing, in particular on the two races on Day 2, when Simon Kneller and Dave Lucas from Grafham Water SC took a win and a third place in two tricky light weather races. Very few competitors managed two good results on a difficult day.
Kneller and Lucas, improving with every race at this event, thus rose to the top of the leaderboard, to take the Allen Flying Fifteen National Championships. Kneller and Lucas were sailing in their tenth successive National Championship, and it was tenth time lucky as they landed the title for the first time.
Just two points behind, three teams were tied on six points, but the tiebreak gave Steve Goacher and Phil Evans second place, with husband and wife pairing David and Sally McKee third. Fourth in a brand new boat, launched on the first day of the Championship, were Irish visitors John Lavery and David O'Brien.
They were one of three Irish visiting boats from Dun Laoghaire, who joined Scottish, English and Welsh boats at this Championship at Largs.
Fifth were Charles Apthorp and Jonathan Clark, from Hayling Island. All five leading teams have years of experience in the class, and collectively boast many Championship titles. Racing was thus very competitive in this quality of fleet.
However those with a more relaxed attitude were also catered for, with several Silver fleet (older boats) and Classics (vintage) boats enjoying the Championship. Alex Tatlow, who sailed in the Silver fleet said, "A Silver FF is the most economic way to have a competitive boat. Silvers give excellent value for money, and need much less maintenance than many other boats. My brother and I really enjoy sailing our Fifteen at events like Cowes Week, and at Championships like this."
The Championship was well supported by sponsors, with title sponsor Allen supplying a generous range of prizes, while day sponsors Ovington, Goacher Sails, P & B and www.fotoboat.com added to the prizes. Loch Fyne supported a seafood reception and contributed prizes, while Loch Lomond Distillery provided very welcome liquid Scottish products.
This Nationals was a Qualifier event for the 2013 World Championships, and the final Worlds Qualifier event in the class will be the Scottish Championship at Loch Lomond on October 6/7, where a strong entry of over 30 boats is expected.
Results overall, Allen Flying Fifteen Nationals
Simon Kneller/ Dave Lucas, Grafham Water SC, 4pts
Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC, 6pts
David and Sally McKee, Dovestone SC, 6pts
John Lavery/ David O'Brien, National YC, IRL, 6pts
Charles Apthorp/ Jonathan Clark, Hayling Island SC, 8pts.
Top Scots: Hamish Mackay and Andy Lawson, Royal Highland YC in 15th overall.
Top Classic overall; Bobby Salmond/ Ingrid Magnus, Holy Loch SC in 19th overall.
Top Silver overall; Chris and Marion Bowen, Northampton SC in 24th overall.
Best boat over 7 years old; Peter and Sue Bannister, Hayling Island SC in 10th overall.
Full results on www.scottishsailinginstitute.com
