#flyingfifteen – National Flying Fifteen champions Ian Mathews and Keith Poole of Dun Laoghaire could not match Roger Chamberlain and Charley Horder for Northern Championship honours at Cushendall Sailing Club today. The Strangford Lough pair moved up a gear from the last meet at Carlingford a month ago to win the 20–boat championships by four points. Results sheet available to download below.

While other east coast sailing events were becalmed the Fifteens enjoyed a good sailing breeze off the Antrim coast at Red Bay even if Saturday's winds were shifty.

Three windward leeward courses were sailed on Saturday in the lighter winds but today saw triangle courses in up to 20 knots of breeze. 

Third overall in the keelboat class was another Northern Ireland based Flying fifteen, Stifflers Mom, sailed by Brian McKee and John Gibson of Portaferry.

There was applause for the excellent race management at Cushendall and also for the shoreside marshalling and local hospitality.

Full class report below: 

What a weekend that was in Cushendall at the foot of the amazing Glens of Antrim. With wind and sunshine you would be forgiven for thinking we were on the continent. Twenty boats took part in The Flying Fifteen Northern Championships in the picturesque village of Cushendall at the weekend hosted by Cushendall Sailing Club. The welcome and hospitality were great and very appreciated by those who traveled. Roger Chamberlain & Charlie Horder (SLSC) won the event comfortably on the score board withr some very consistent results and could even afford to retire from the last race. Ian Mathews & Keith Poole (NYC) were second with McKee & Gibson (SLSC) third.
Saturday morning there was a light breeze, more than enough for racing but it was to be shifty in a challenging tide.
Race1: the fleet got away at first time of asking, on the beat the fleet split tacks but those on the left came in to the weather mark first, Niall & Nikki Meagher sailing Ffantastically Mr Fox(NYC) lead the way followed closely by Green/Mulligan in Frequent Flyer. Downwind they increased their lead, on the second beat the Meaghers stayed out as Green went left closer to the shore. As they tacked for the weather mark there was a drop in pressure and a major shift, the two lead boats had their spinaker's up before the mark, unfortuently for the Meaghers Green got inside as did many others who went in towards the shore. On the final run with the course shortened as the wind dropped the whole fleet bunched up but Green held on to take the gun beating over the line followed very closely by Chamberlain, McCleery, Marcus Creighton and Mulvin who all drifted towards the line faster.
Race 2: the fleet set off in shifty conditions. Midway through the race the breeze was battling with a sea breeze, the tide was strong running south towards Belfast but it was supposed to be going out! Chamberlain was going well with McCleary and Mathews going wel, also having another good race was Marcus Creighton (SSC)and Joe Coughlin (NYC) The PRO again shortened the course and the top positions didn't change, even on the last beat place were lost and gained with the shifts.
Race 3: we thought the wind had settled to a sea breeze but there were a couple of shifts shortly after the start, there was also a strong tide especially out on the right. On the beat most boats headed towards the shore, after a few short tack Gorman/Doorly (NYC) got to the weather mark first just ahead of Mulvin and Chamberlain with Mathews and McCleary close behind. The wind remained steady, on lap two Chamberlain got inside Mulvin to take second place, Mulvin sailing extremely well kept the pressure on Chamberlain but remained in third place at the finish. All three laps were completed, the first full race of the day!
Once ashore the club put on great entertainment and food, after the refreshments some crews headed up to Giants Causeway for a bit of culture others into JJ's pub also for a bit of culture. Sunday morning greeted us with beautiful sunshine and a nice breeze from the NW, perfect conditions for racing. The tide was coming in most of the morning but even though it is open sea the tide does turn well before the high water. 

Race 4: the fleet got going at the second time of asking, the pin end was favoured and the majority of boats headed inshore, some including McKee went right. McKee arrived at the weather mark first just ahead of Gorman and Mathews. Today we had a triangle and the reaches were exciting. McKee held on to take the gun with Mathews second and Chamberlain third crossing the line with Gorman. Chamberlain was now in pole position to win the event.

Race 5: again the pin was favoured and most boats headed for the shore, there was an individual recall and McCleary and Chamberlain had to go back. McKee again went right. It clearly paid as he came to the weather mark followed very closely by Mathews, Gorman and Murphy. Downwind Malcom Crighton and Tom Murphy went left and went into second and third place. The next beat was again shifty with different wind strengths up the course Murphy was sailing really well and moved into second place. On the reaches some places changed but Mc Kee held on to win with Murphy second and Mathews third

The silver, bronze and classic fleet were close affairs and all the results can be seen on website www.flyingfifteen.ie. For our second regional championships, the competition in the fleet was as keen as ever with very close racing. Even though Roger and Charlie won with a race to spare the racing was incredibly close with boats crossing the line together on the water.

Roger Chamberlain thanked the club Commodore for an enjoyable event, the sponsors, the PRO and his team, his fellow competitors and even his crew Charlie who then went on to thank everybody again! A special word of thanks from from Roger in his capacity of FFAI President was for those who prepared the fantastic food and for the shore team that helped get us on and off the water. Those who didn't travel missed an enjoyable event in a fantastic setting. The next event is the Championships of Ireland which will be held in Portaferry in August.

#ff – Visiting former world champion Charles Apthorp showed the Dublin Bay fleet a clean pair of heels winning the two DBSC races in Frequent Flyer with Alan Green as crew.

There were about ten boats training with Apthorp in light winds on a short course inside the harbour prior to the DBSC racing. Following the training everyone was keen to get going in the races and practice their new or improved skills. The wind had begun to build up from the se/south as forecast a the tide was flooding. Seventeen boats started the first race, in close racing the Meaghers who were sailing fantastically fast lead at the first mark followed by Apthorp/Green, Mulvin, Colman and Gorman. Apthorp gybed to the left of the course and took the lead but the Meaghers were tucked in behind them.

On the next beat the wind shifted to the south, Gorman got up to second and Colman third, it became a soldiers race for the remaining two laps but as Gorman got stuck in traffic with other boats Colman was quick to pounce and take second place with Gorman third, the Meaghers fourth and Dumpleton/McNeilly fifth

The second race started after the PRO changed the course, by now the wind was force 4/5 and we were given 4 laps- it was going to be a long afternoon! The fleet split going up the beat and Athorpe came to the weather mark first from the right side with Gorman second from the left side. Downwind the fleet bunched up but on the beats it was generally favoured to go right towards the shore and the shallower waters for less tide. Not a lot changed in the race, crews were busy hanging in there in the by now windy conditions. Athorpe won the race comfortably with Gorman second, Dumpleton third and Colman fourth. Club Rear Commodore and fireball sailor Frank Cassidy was helming in 3773 with Joe Hickey crewing and finished sixth.

Once again it was great racing and fantastic to see such a large turnout. Special thanks to Charles Apthorp for coming over and coaching and racing with us. A lot was learnt and hopefully it can be put in practice when the fleet travel to Cushendall for the Northern Championships this weekend. Once ashore and packed the fleet had a very enjoyable bbq in the NYC organised by our class captain Nikki and her committee.

#flyingfifteen – On a beautiful sunny summers evening with a s/se force 4-5 breeze it was perfect sailing conditions for the 17–Flying Fifteens. PRO Jack Roy and his team set a great course and there was some exciting sailing especially downwind.

With the tide ebbing those who went towards the shore had less wind than those who elected to stay out. Doorly/Quinn were first at the weather marked followed by Murphy/Ratto, Mulvin/Beirne and Dumpleton/Mulligan. Dumpleton sailed a great reach to take the lead and at the next mark he was followed by Mulvin and Doorly. These three stayed ahead. On the last reach Dumpleton sailed too low allowing Mulvin to get the lead. Dumpleton clawed back on the last beat to the finish but Mulvin held on by a whisker to record his first win in his new boat IRL 4028. Dumpleton was second followed closely by Doorly in third, Leonard fourth and guest helm Jon O'Rourke in fifth.

Once again it was great racing and fantastic to see such a large turnout and once ashore and packed the fleet had a very enjoyable bbq in the NYC.

#flyingfifteen – British Flying fifteen ace Charles Apthorp will lead a training day for one of Dublin's biggest one design keelboat fleets on Saturday, June 7th. 

The former World and British champion from Hayling Island Sailing Club will focus initially on the critical area of mast set-up in the 20–foot keelboat. 

The training will start at 10am at the National Yacht Club before on the water tuition that will lead into DBSC racing where the class has been achieving turnouts of up to 18 boats for Bay competition.

#flyingfifteen – On a cool evening with a NE force 3 breeze a great turnout of 18 Flying Fifteens took part in Thursdays DBSC series. There was great excitement as David Mulvin and Ronan Beirne launched a brand new boat IRL 4028. 

The first mark was Zebra, Tom Galvin and Alan Dooley came in from opposite sides to lead from guest helm Prof Maurice O'Connell sailing with Mary Jane Mulligan in IRL 3606 in third place and David Mulvin in fourth. Prof was fouled at the mark by Doorly/Green but soon got going downwind to keep in touch with the leaders. This group stayed ahead as those behind kept bringing each other up high downwind and downtide!

On the last downwind leg Prof and MaryJane stayed low and with the incoming tide were able to take advantage coming into the leeward mark and take the lead and the race. Galvin was second with Dooley a very close third, Mulvin fourth, Doorly fifth and Murphy sixth.

Once again it was great racing and fantastic to see such a large turnout and once ashore and packed the fleet had a very enjoyable meal together in the NYC.

Full results here

#ffirl – On a cold day with a n-ne force 3/4 breeze a great turnout of 17 Flying Fifteens took part in the RIYC regatta on Saturday.

In exciting close racing David Gorman & Chris Doorly, back after a two year break, put in a good days work winning the two races.

After a shift in the starting sequence of race 1 the PRO put the AP up, shortly after the first race got underway, there was a small bias at the pin but with so many boats and a short beat it made sense not to get pinned in out left in the shifty conditions. Those who went up left of centre fared well but there was very little in it. Mathews/Poole got their nose in front closely followed by Gorman with Murphy third and Green fourth. This is as it stayed but there was a twist on the last broad reach, Gorman was always snapping at Matthews heels and went low on the last reach hoping to gain from the tide. A little surge on a wave and being able to reach up to the last leeward mark enabled them to get their nose in front and win the race.

The second race eventually started after a long cold interval, again the pin was slightly biased. Green was over the line and went back, Dooley and Galvin were flying and were one and two at the weather mark, followed by Tom Murphy. From fifth at the mark Gorman got the wind in his sail and sailed a superb reach to take the lead, a lead he was not to lose. On the second beat the wind was still shifty, Dooley was sailing well and went up the right as did Gorman. Mathews had moved up to third and went left, luckily Gorman covered them as Dooley lost out over on the right side.

This was how it stayed with Mathews finishing a close second with Murphy third, the Meaghers fourth and Dooley fifth. It was great racing and fantastic to see such a large turnout and once ashore fleet headed to the RIYC for refreshments and entertainment.

Top five overall results were as below, for full results see

1-Gorman/Doorly

2-Matthews/Poole

3-Murphy/Diego

4-Green/Murphy

5-Dooley/Hickey

#ffirl – On a cool summers evening with a NE breeze 18 Flying Fifteens took to Dublin Bay last night for Thursday night DBSC racing. David and Claire Gorman of the National Yacht Club took the gun in their first outing of the year in IRL 3920 followed by Tom Galvin in IRL 3757 with Tom Murphy third and Geraldine O'Neill fourth. This group got ahead on the first beat and as many struggled in the light airs to get going.

PRO Jack Roy and his team set a great but challenging course around the Bay with three beats. After a frantic start bunched at the pin end most of the fleet headed out to the left. At the first weather mark Geraldine ONeill/Ben Mulligan lead from Tom Murphy followed by the Gormans with Tom Galvan close behind.

Down the fleet there were some good recoveries after poor first beats notably Ken Dumpleton/Mary Jane Mulligan who got finished fifth and Alan Green who redeemed himself with a seventh!

It was great to see such a large turnout and once ashore the club bbq was in full swing and a great evening was had by all.

Full DBSC results for last night here.

#flyingfifteen – John Lavery of the National Yacht Club marked his return to the Irish Flying Fifteen circuit with a win at the southern championships at Dundalk Sailing Club on Carlingford Lough at the weekend. While there was a small enough turnout of 13 boats there was a tight finish at the top of the fleet after four races.

Sailed in everything from 20–knot gusts on Saturday to less than 5 knots and 2–knot tides on Sunday, visiting race officer PJ Gault from Strangford Lough did well to complete the series given the unpredictability of the south westerly conditions.

Lavery, sailing with David O'Brien, finished with a 1,2,2 but second and third overall were decided only on the tie break rule with Strangford's Andrew McCreery and Colin Dougan counting a 1,3,4 but earning the runner–up slot from clubmate's Roger Chamberlain and Hamo Baker on the same score.

The full results of the Flying fifteen 2014 Southern Regatta are available to download below.

The next event for the 'ffers' is next month's Northern Championship at Cushendall SC from June 14/15.  The Championship of Ireland is also heading North to Portaferry SC on Strangford Lough from August 22-24. The season conlcudes with the East Coast Championship in Dun Laoghiaire, at the National YC from October 4/5

#flyingfifteen – On the eve of its Southern championships in Carlingford and on a beautiful warm summer evening with a variable s-se breeze twelve Flying Fifteens from the National Yacht Club took to the Bay last night for DBSC Thursday evening. Chris Doorly/Alan Green took the gun in Frequent Flyer IRL 3970 followed by Tom Galvin in IRL 3757.

PRO Jack Roy and his team set a great but challenging course around the Bay. After a frantic start bunched at the committee boat end most of the fleet headed in towards the shore out of the strong incoming tide. At the first weather mark Alan Dooley/ Joe Hickey lead the way followed by guest helm Geraldine O'Neill with Ben Mulligan and Michael McCambridge/ Peter Murphy in third with Doorly/Green back in sixth place. This is how it remained till the last long beat from Pier mark up to Island mark.

The first three headed in out of the tide but the winds were lighter inshore, IRL 3970 headed out to sea followed by 3757 on a shift and found more wind. On arrival at the mark those who went in were nowhere to be seen and these first two had a sizable lead. That's how it remained till the end with Dooley in third place followed by Adrian Cooper in fourth. 

DBSC Thursday results here.

#flyingfifteen – National Flying fifteen champions Ian Mathews and Keith Poole were dismasted during a breezy start to the Dublin Bay season last weekend. It's a set back in preparations for this weekend's first regional Flying fifteen event at Dundalk Sailing Club on Carlingford Lough which the duo are still expecting to contest.

The National Yacht Club pair, who won the national championships in Dunmore East last season, broke a stay leaving them looking for a replacement spar for the County Louth fixture. Sailing Instructions for the event are downloadable below.

Up to 30 boats are expected on the northern lough on Saturday for a five race event that is forecasted to be a light air event.

Meanwhile, there was an early start to the season for a number of Irish FF sailors who travelled to Palma Vela regatta, held in Mallorca a fortnight ago. The National Yacht Club's Alan Green sailing with Michael Clough was the winner of the Flying Fifteen division. Irish crews Simon Murray, Chris Doorly and Ken Dumpleton were also racing in Spain.

In buoyant times for the class, the Kia sponsored Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen fleet continues to expand with a number of new boats to the fleet as well as some crews upgrading their boats. For the first time in a long number of years the fleet has expanded to include boats in the DMYC. More on the FF fleet expansion here

Flying fifteen duo Ian Mathews and Keith Poole secure their boat after a dismasting in DBSC racing last weekend