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Displaying items by tag: Flying fifteen

The Flying Fifteen Western Championships took place in the Larne at the weekend and were hosted by East Antrim Boat and Yacht Club.

22 crews descended on the town in what was the last event of the season. Andy McCleery & Colin Dougan (KYC) pipped Gorman/Doorly (NYC) to win their second event in succession, had the last race not been abandoned it could have been a different story . . but that's sailing!

Third overall were locals Norman Hamilton and William Rutherford.

The large contingent of classics was won by Rory McKenna & David McFarland (CAYC). Gorman's second overall was enough to put him at the top of the ranking list at the end of this season.

Published in Flying Fifteen
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An exotic weekend in Dun Laoghaire with the start of an Olympic class keelboat event plus the arrival of a Volvo 70 into the harbour but Irish weather meant all did not go to plan. Click our links for a round up of the weekend's sailing events from around the country: Mansfield Wins 1720 Euros in Baltimore, Squall Puts Paid to First Race of Star Europeans in Dun Laoghaire, West Kirby Teams Top ISAF Worlds in Schull, Johnston's Beneteau 31.7 is Good Prospect, Killyleagh Pair Scoop Flying Fifteen East Coast Cup, Lively Lady Sails to Victory in Fickle ISORA Race to Rockabill, SB3 Team Sanya Welcome Scuppered by Strong Winds. We'll have more reports later this morning from the J24 Easterns in Howth, the National 18 season in Cork and J80 Match racing.

Published in 1720
Andrew McCleary and Colin Dougan from Killyleagh Yacht Club won this weekend's the East Coast Flying Fifteen championships, hosted this weekend by Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club.

Strangford Sailing Club's Brian McKee and Ian Smyth finished second after five races in Red Bay over Saturday and Sunday, while Roger Chamberlain and Jason Scammell-Maarch from Strangford Lough Yacht Club finished third, despite helm Roger receiving a knock to the head and retiring from the fourth race.

FFs

Eventual winners Andrew McCleary and Colin Dougan from Killyleagh Yacht Club (far right) lead off the line. Photo: Damian Connon

First in the Silver fleet was Tom Murphy and Andrew Marshall from Dun Laoghaire's National Yacht Club. The Bronze fleet was led by Philip and Anna Sanford, again from Strangford Sailing Club, while Bryan Willis and John McPeake from Whitehead's County Antrim Yacht Club were the leading boat in the Classic fleet.

In all 27 boats took part in the racing, which saw calm but overcast conditions on Saturday, and increasingly fresh breezes with gusts over 20 knots during Sunday's three races. Clubs participating in the championships included: Killyleagh Yacht Club, Strangford Sailing Club, Strangford Lough Yacht Club, the National Yacht Club, Portaferry Sailing Club, County Antrim Yacht Club in Whitehead, Larne's East Antrim Boat Club, Carrickfergus Sailing Club and Courtown Sailing Club in Wexford, as well as four local boats from Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club.

The first home of the locals were Rob Pelley and Marc Ritson. Paul Lowry and Brenda Reddington were next, followed by Eddie and Eoin Ritson. Paul McLaughlin and Michael McKinley, competing in a borrowed boat, were next over the line.

Published in Flying Fifteen
30 boats will travel to Cushendall this weekend for the East Coast of Ireland regional sailing championships in the Flying Fifteen class.  The two-day championships will be the penultimate major event in Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club's 2011 sailing season, during which the club celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Last year's East Coast Championship in Carlingford was won by Strangford Lough Yacht Club's Buckfast, helmed by Darren Martin. Brian McKee, also from Strangford Lough Yacht Club in Killinchy, and sailing Stifflers Mom is currently ranked first in the national fleet, with only this weekend's event left to race. David Gorman aboard Hy5ive and from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire is second; while Strangford Sailing Club's Gerry Reilly on Over the Moon is ranked third. The winner of the south coast championships at Dunmore East two weeks ago, John Lavery is not competing.

The Flying Fifteen is a 20-foot keelboat that provides competitive sailing for its two-person crew. There are thriving fleets across Ireland and the UK, with approximately 50 boats regularly competing in races in Ireland. More than 4,000 flying fifteens have been built worldwide to date and a large number of these are still sailing.

CSBC Commodore John Lowry said: "This is the second regional event to be hosted in Cushendall this year, following the Topper Ulster Championships in June. We're all looking forward to some great racing on the water, and great craic off it. We have six Flying Fifteens in our club, and I know that those sailors are excited by the added competition from the visiting boats this weekend. We're crossing our fingers for some good weather," he added.


Published in Flying Fifteen

An early start for the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen fleet paid off yesterday when up to eight of the 20-foot keelboats ventured from their moorings at the National Yacht Club (NYC) across Dublin Bay and up the river Liffey for the Royal Alfred Yacht Club's (RAYC) annual Liffey Challenge in Dublin's city centre.

fifteensirish_times

Although there was little wind for the confined event the class nevertheless made the headlines; splashed across the front page of this morning's Irish Times newspaper. An impressive five column wide photograph captioned 'Liffey reflections' by Irish Times snapper Brenda Fitzsimons is top of the page. One no doubt that will now hang on the wall of the Dun Laoghaire clubhouse!

 

Published in Flying Fifteen
Sign up for this mornung's e-bulletin (see past editions here) for all the weekend's Irish sailing news, pics and results straight to your inbox.

This morning's edition includes photos and pics from Sunday's Figaro departure from Dun Laoghaire and the Rick Tomlinson's pics of the start of the Fastnet race from Cowes. Derry-Londonderry is on her way to Rio in the Clipper race. Regrettably there was no Gold, Silver or Bronze from Weymouth but we're in a strong position. See our video with Annalise here. Plus: The Topper Worlds at the National YC, John Lavery's win at the Flying fifteen South coast champs in Dunmore East, the J24 Nationals from Lough Erne, A local pair whitewashed the RS Feva Nationals in Cork Harbour, some great shots from Bob Bateman. The Oppy Nationals start in Howth and Afloat's Sailor of the Month for July Martin Byrne retained the Dragon Nationals in Kinsale. There's also the full weekend results from Dublin Bay SC.

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Published in Racing
Big seas and big winds off Hook Head for the opening day of the Flying Fifteen South Coast Championships at Dunmore East, County Waterford produced some of the most exciting sailing of the season for a fleet of 16 of the two man keelboats at the weekend. John Lavery and David O'Brien called a halt to David Gorman and Chris Doorly's recent run of success with three wins win to retain the South Coast title that concluded yesterday. The top Irish performers at the recent world championships Brian McKee and Ian Smyth of Strangford Lough Yacht Club were third. Next up for the Fifteens is the class Northern Championships at Cushendall in County Antrim in two weeks time.
Published in Flying Fifteen
Sign up for Monday's Afloat e-bulletin (see past editions here) for all this weekend's Irish sailing news, pics and results straight to your inbox.

Monday's edition includes photos and pics from Sunday's Figaro departure from Dun Laoghaire and the start of the Fastnet race from Cowes. Will it be Gold, Silver or Bronze from Weymouth? How will Peter, David and Annalise end up at the Pre-Olympics? Plus: The Topper Worlds at the National YC, Flying fifteen South coast champs in Dunmore East, the J24 Nationals from Lough Erne, Teens battle for the RS Feva Nationals in Cork Harbour,  the Cove People's Regatta, The Oppy Nationals at Howth and the Dragon Nationals from Kinsale. There's also the full results from Dublin Bay SC and Howth.

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Published in Racing

After finishing fifth in the penultimate race Graham Vials and Chris Turner were able to head back to HISC for an early shower after winning the 2011 Flying 15 World Championships at Hayling Island SC. The Championships closed yesterday with British boats occupying the top ten places in the 120-boat fleet. Ireland's Brian McKee and Ian Smyth from Strangford Lough finished top of five Irish boats competing in 17th place overall.

Mike Hart and Richard Rigg won the first race of the final day, second Greg Wells and Mark Darling and in third Arnaud Biet and Fabien Constant of France. Vials and Turner finished fifth to take the title with a race to spare. In the final race the 2010 champions, Grant Alderson and Dean NcAullay from Australia took the final gun. Second were Russell Peters and Tim Hall with Hart and Rigg in third.

The Classic and Silver fleets also completed their series. Bobby Salmond and Robert Till GBR627, from Holy Loch SC are the 2011 Classic Flying 15 Champions and Malcolm and Alex Hall from Burton SC took the Silver event title.

Flying 15 - Final Leaders 2011 World Championship at HISC
1. Graham Vials / Chris Turner, GBR, 21 points
2. Mike Mcintyre / Gemma Mcintyre, GBR, 41
3. Andy Mckee / Richard Jones, GBR, 44
4. Greg Wells / Mark Darling, GBR, 46
5. Russell Peters / Tim Hall, GBR, 48
6. Jeremy Davy / Simon Childs, GBR, 52
7. Mike Hart / Richard Rigg, GBR, 57
8. Grant Alderson / Dean Mcaullay, AUS, 66
9. Alan Bax / Bill Masterman, GBR, 74
10. Charles Apthorp / Gavin Tappenden, GBR, 75

Published in Flying Fifteen
If you missed our e-news bulletin yesterday (sign up) here's a chance to catch up with all the Irish sail racing news from the weekend. Diane II Races to Ruffian Success on Dublin Bay. McKee and Smyth Lead Irish hopes at Flying Fifteen Worlds. Largest Ever Fleet of National 18s Assemble at RCYC. Latest pics here. Optimist Sailor Hyland Wins Howth Dinghy Regatta. Butler and Andreasson 16th at 470 Youth Worlds. Lula Belle Wins ISORA Night Race. McGrotty is the Ulster Fireball Champ from a fleet of 19. The World beat Ireland in Match Racing. Pics here.
Published in Racing
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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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