The 75th Anniversary Flying Fifteen European Championship on the Solent came to a fitting close on another semi-overcast but warm, humid day.
There was a short delay of an hour to wait for the wind to fill, which it did, to start one final three-lap race at 1330hrs on the second attempt.
The wind averaged 10 - 12 knots from around NW in direction, with a slightly stronger ebbing tide improving upwind boat speeds by a shade. With a second series race discard coming into play, the maths was a bit complicated, but Andy McKee and Richard Jones did enough with an 18th finish in the last race to win the championship. The pair from Dovestone SC / Shotwick Lake SC counted four race wins, and an overall net points score of 25 points.
Their nearest threat before the last race of the series was Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado (WYC / HISC) but the Hyde Sails pair suffered a bad start and struggled deep in the pack for the first two laps, deciding to throw in the towel and retire.
Ireland was represented by John Lavery and Alan Green from the National Yacht Club, who finished 15th in the 71-boat fleet.
The Classic fleet trophy went to Graham Latham and Sara Briscoe from Parkstone YC. The trophy for best local sailors went to Henry Bagnall and James Downer.
This event, staged by Cowes Corinthian YC, brought to a close two weeks of FF15 sailing on the Solent on this 75th anniversary of the class.
