#flyingfifteen – Roger Chamberlan and Charlie Horder from Strangford Lough have produced a consistent 5,2,2,1 in Dunmore East, County Waterford to be overnight leaders going into tomorrow's final two rounds of the Irish Flying Fifteen Championships off Hook Head. Full results are downloadable below as a jpeg file. 

Shifting light to medium winds resulted in all five races of the Waterford Harbour series sailed so far being shortened for the 30–boat fleet.

Lying second overall is Dublin Bay pairing Ian Mathews and Keith Poole from the National Yacht Club. Third are UK visitors, Poole Harbour pairing, Andy and Anthony Osman.

The final two races begin tomorrow at 12 noon, light north westerlies are forecast.

#flyingfifteen – The sunshine beamed down again, but on whom would fortune smile in this final day of the UKGLOBAL Flying Fifteen National Championship?

For the first time, the fleet left Portland Harbour for Weymouth Bay. Winds started at NE 8 kts, moving round to SE as the day progressed.

The first race started after a couple of general recalls, and after a light first beat, the leaders were father and son combination Graham and Ben Scroggie. They only joined the class last year, and were sailing in their just launched, brand new, boat. Graham, 73, had won a Merlin Championship here 15 years ago, and seemed to remember his way round the course! Under much pressure, they defended their lead to take first place, ahead of championship contenders Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado in second, with Alan Bax/ James Grant taking third. The race win for father and son Graham and Ben emphasised the family nature of the Flying Fifteen class, and also showed how newcomers to the class can do very well against longer standing members.

The second race was soon under way, and this time all three of the main contenders for the Championship were at the front. Championship leader Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans led for much of the race, but were keeping a very close eye on Lovering/ Alavarado. Meanwhile the other contenders, Mike Hart/ Jeremy Davy slipped through to take this final race, with Goacher/ Evans second and Scroggie/ Scroggie third to earn the best pair of results today.

But Goacher/ Evans' secure second place gave them the National Championship by seven points. Goacher and Evans added the 2013 Nationals title to a long number of titles in this class, and they demonstrated the merits of a settled partnership of helm and crew. Just to rub in their years in the class, Goacher and Evans also received a trophy for best pair of over 100 years combined age. Mike Hart and Jeremy Davy's second win of the week took them up into second place overall, with Lovering/ Alvarado third.

Results
Race 8
1. Graham and Ben Scroggie, Parkstone YC
2. Richard Lovering/ Matt Alavarado, Hayling Island SC
3. Alan Bax/ James Grant, Hayling Island SC
Race 9
1. Mike Hart/ Jeremy Davy, Hayling Island SC
2. Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC
3. Scroggie and Scroggie, Parkstone YC

Final Championship positions overall
1. Goacher/ Evans, 16pts
2. Hart/ Davy, 23pts
3. Lovering/ Alavarado, 24.4pts
4. Bax/ Grant, 37pts
5. Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet, 39pts

#flyingfifteen – On another day of glorious sunshine and high temperatures, the only element missing today at WPNSA was a steady wind. But after an initial fickle Easterly, the wind settled to SW, 5-6 kts, to allow racing to start in late afternoon. A single race was sailed round a windward leeward course in Portland Harbour, with competitors sailing three and a half rounds to complete the race before heading ashore.
Today's single race takes the Championship up to seven races of the possible eight despite light winds all week.
There was all to play for this morning, as completion of a seventh race would create a second discard within the series, so sailors were aiming to improve their position today.
The winners of the two races yesterday battled out today's race. Ian Cadwallader and Dave Sweet continued their momentum into today, leading at the windward mark. But on the first run, Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, who won the other race yesterday, took the lead, which they held to the finish. In an event with many race winners, Goacher/ Evans became the only team to take a second win. Cadwallader took second place, while Adrian Tattersall/ Vincent Harris enjoyed their best result of the week in third place.
Championship contenders Richard Lovering and Mike Hart stayed in touch overall, with fourth and fifth places respectively in today's race. Today's winners Steve Goacher and Phil Evans move into the final day with an improved lead of 6.4 points, with Lovering and Hart in second and third places.
The UKGLOBAL Flying Fifteen National Championship concludes tomorrow, Friday 19th July, and brisker breezes are expected, allowing the Fifteens and their sailors to stretch their legs and finish the week on a high.
Results
Race 7
1. Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC
2. Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet, Chew Valley Lake SC
3. Adrian Tattersall/ Vincent Harris, Parkstone YC
4. Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvarado, Hayling Island SC
5. Mike Hart/ Jeremy Davy, Hayling Island SC

Positions overall after seven races, after two discards
1. Goacher/ Evans, 10pts
2. Lovering/ Alavarado, 16.4pts
3. Hart/ Davy, 18pts
4. Bax/ Grant, 20pts

#Flyingfifteen – Flying Fifteen sailors enjoyed a third day of sparkling sunshine and light SW breezes, as they added another two windward leeward races in Portland Harbour.
Two crews scored well on both races to climb up the leaderboard, while many others managed only one good race to count.
Racing was held in the afternoon, and the breeze was up to 7kts at the start of the first race. At the windward mark, it was three of the leaders in contention, with Australians Ashley Smith and Kym Thumpkin leading at the top, followed by Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans and Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvarado. In this race most of the frontrunners stayed there. On the third beat, Goacher closed on Smith, and took the lead at the spreader mark. He held his lead to win by just two boat lengths from Smith, with Alan Bax/James Grant gaining a place to take third.
The breeze stayed at 6 kts allowing a quick start to the longest race yet, of three rounds plus a beat. However, of the top three at the windward mark, two were given OCS, Ashley Smith and Richard Lovering, altering the picture at the front when they left the race. So the leader was Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet. They maintained their lead to the finish. Goacher/ Evans improved from sixth at the first windward mark to second by the finish, despite pressure from Alan Bax/ James Grant, who held position well to take third.
The big winners on the day were Goacher/Evans who moved into a six point lead, from day 2 leaders Hart and Davy. Bax/ Grant were the other gainers, and their two good results lifted them to third overall, just a point behind Hart/ Davy. Two days of racing remain, with the best winds expected on the final day, and another discard soon to kick in, which could change the positions.
Many Flying Fifteens are sailed by mixed teams, including husband/ wife and parent/ child combinations. Mixed teams often do well in the class, and husband/ wife teams have won World Championships. Best of the mixed teams here are Australians Ashley Smith/ Kym Thumpkin, who currently are in fifth overall, with Kym a strong contender to gain the prize for highest placed female sailor.

Results (subject to protest)
Race 5
1. Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC
2. Ashley Smith/ Kym Thumpkin, Sandgate YC, AUS
3. Alan Bax/ James Grant, Hayling Island SC
Race 6
1. Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet, Chew Valley Lake SC
2. Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC
3. Dave Tabb/ Chewey Sherrell, Parkstone YC
Positions overall after six races, after one discard
1. Goacher/ Evans, 13pts

#flyingfifteen – In a second day of Mediterranean conditions at Weymouth, the Flying Fifteen fleet enjoyed another day of sunshine and high temperatures. Winds were again light SW, around 6 kts in the first race, and down to 5kts in the second, but another two good races were achieved to keep the Championship well on course.

Leading contenders hoped to manage a couple of good or goodish results, but some took a tumble in the second race in tricky conditions.

The first race appeared to go more to the form book. Day 1 leaders Mike Hart and Jeremy Davy took their first win of the Championship in the first race. Simon Kneller/ Dave Lucas took second, with Alan Bax/James Grant climbing well into third place. But to take this race, Hart had to pull off a dramatic recovery after being stuck in the 20s at the first windward mark, subsequently taking many places on the first run to commence his fightback.

Flying Fifteens come in all ages and construction types, and Stephen and David Crosbie showed what an old wooden example can do, driving the oldest boat in the fleet to a mid teens placing round the first mark, and holding very well to finish mid fleet.

In the second race, a new face appeared at the front as Justin Waples and Jamie Waterhouse sailed into the lead. But by the end of the second beat, Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvaredo seized the initiative, carving out a comfortable lead, which they held to the end of the race, which was shortened to a two and half lap course.

Thus all four races so far have had different winners, underlining the competitive nature of the fleet. Lovering was followed home by Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, with Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet making their first visit to the top three. The second race had shaken the dice, with some leading contenders taking a plunge, but the first discard has now kicked in, keeping most of the leaders in contention.

Overall, Mike Hart/Jeremy Davy retain the lead, but Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvarado accelerated into second place overall. Just as on Day 1, that second place is shared three ways, with plenty of other contenders poised close to the leaders. Tomorrow more wind is expected, which will allow contenders to enjoy some exciting sailing as well as the tactical battles seen so far.

Results
Race 3
1. Mike Hart/ Jeremy Davy, Hayling Island
2. Simon Kneller/ Dave Lucas, Grafham Water
3. Alan Bax/ James Grant, Hayling Island
Race 4
1. Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvaredo, Hayling Island
2. Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC
3. Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet, Chew Valley Lake SC.

Positions overall after four races, after one discard
1. Hart/ Davy, 8pts
2. Lovering/ Alvarado, Kneller/ Lucas, Goacher/ Evans all on 10pts.

#flyingfifteen – Racing got off to a great start today at the UKGLOBAL sponsored Flying Fifteen Nationals. Two races were held in sparkling conditions as Weymouth baked in 25 degree temperatures.

Both races were held within Portland Harbour, just beside hosts Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA). Breezes were light, with 6 knots on the first race, while the second started in 8 kts. Both races were held on windward leeward courses.

The 40 competing boats included visitors from France and Australia, and the Australian pair swiftly adapted to sailing in the UK, taking a bullet in the second race. In the first race there were many place changes at the front of the fleet, as first one then the other side of the beat was favoured. The lead was closely, and very audibly(!) contested all the way to the last turning mark leading to the short reach to the finish line. Charles Apthorp and Jonathan Clark took the win, with reigning National Champions Simon Kneller/ Dave Lucas in second, and Alan Bax/ James Grant third.

However in the second race, the ups and downs of the first race were not to be repeated. Instead the well travelled visitors Ashley Smith and Kym Thumpkin, from Sandgate SC near Melbourne, Australia, took a comfortable early lead, which they maintained to the finish. Their boat looked well powered up in the 6-8 kts breeze, with Kym alone of the crews able to fully hike upwind, helping create their lead. Second were Mike Hart/ Jeremy Davy, with current leaders of the UKGLOBAL World rankings, Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvarado taking third place.

After a very close day's racing, Mike Hart and Jeremy Davy lead overall. Three teams are just a single point behind in what promises to be a very closely contested Championship.

Results, Race 1
1. Charles Apthorp/ Jonathan Clark, Hayling Island
2. Simon Kneller/ Dave Lucas, Grafham Water
3. Alan Bax/ James Grant, Hayling Island

Race 2
1. Ashley Smith/ Kym Thumpkin, Sandgate SC, AUS
2. Mike Hart/ Jeremy Davy, Hayling Island
3. Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvaredo, Hayling Island

#FF – An initiative to introduce more sailors to one of Dublin Bay's most popular one design keelboats has been boosted with news of a fleet sponsor for the double-handed Flying fifteen (FF) class.

Kia Motors Ireland are on board with the Dublin fleet that is based almost exclusively at the National Yacht Club on Dun Laoghaire's East Pier.

The fleet currently has 20 plus boats for local DBSC racing with at least double that number for regional championships.  The class plans a number of local initiatives to encourage sailors from other classes to try out the FF during midweek racing.  Local sailing instructors are also being targeted as possible new recruits.

The class recently published its 2013 fixtures with two events in Northern Ireland –  another FF stronghold –  but the season finale is in Dun Laoghaire in the autumn and there are big plans to gather as many crews as possible for the October 5th event under the Kia motors banner.

#flyingfifteen – International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Umpire Gordon Davies will talk on the new 2013 racing rules, covering changes to mark rounding rules and starting, in advance of the Flying fifteen (FF) season in Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay, the biggest FF racing fleet in the country.

The sesssion on Tuesday 26th March will take the format of a Pub Quiz at 8pm in the National YC.

A voluntary collection will be held afterwards to raise finds for for the Irish Team Racing Association (ITRA) of which Davies is secretary.

Last year enough money was raised enough at the rules evening to send two trainee umpires on a course in the UK. They have both now qualified as umpires.

Davies, a recently appointed member of ISAF's 'rapid response' team racing call group, will follow up with to an on the water racing rules session in May for the FF fleet.

At its AGM FF fleet members voted to change the 720 penalty rule to a 360 rule and also introduce an arbitration procedure at the end of each race.

#flyingfifteen – The Irish Flying fifteen keelboat class has published its championship schedule for 2013 as follows. Two events will be held in Northern waters and two in the republic, one in Dun Laoghaire and the Irish championships in August at Dunmore East.

May 11-12 Northern Championship CAYC Whitehead

June 15-16 Southern Championship Killyleagh YC

Aug 30-1 Championship of Ireland WHSC Dunmore East

Oct 5-6 East Coast Championship NYC Dun Laoghaire

#flyingfifteen – Former Irish Flying Fifteen champion David Gorman sailing with David Cahill made a clean sweep of the National Yacht Club's frostbite series on Dublin Bay finishing the series last Sunday with a faultless 12 wins from 12 races, a full 21 nett points clear of the chasing fleet.

Gorman's National Club mates Michael McCambridge and Peter Murphy took second, a single point ahead of Charlie Boland and Andrew Paul, who had travelled from Waterford for each of the four days of the last series of 2012.