A novel 15–minute Youtube video that features interviews with competitors – including world champion Steve Goacher – at the Flying Fifteen National Championships gives an insight into the keelboat scene. 

Filmed by Vincent Polding, who says that despite not being an avid sailor, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to film some of the top crews. 

One question Polding says he forgot to ask during his time at the County Antrim Yacht Club, was why are they called Flying Fifteens?

Can anybody help him?

Perennial Steve Goacher from Lake Windermere sailed to victory in a single race on the final day of the Flying Fifteen Irish Championships at County Antrim Yacht Club. The multiple World and British Champion, sailing with Dun Laoghaire's Alan Green, counted five race wins in the six race series.

Today's single windward leeward race was raced on an inshore course given the gusty conditions at Whitehead.

Strangford Lough boats took second and third places. Andrew McCleary and Colin Dougan from Killyleagh finished second Andy and Rory Martin in third.

Waterford Harbour's Lee Statham and Andrew Paul took fifth and were the first boat from the Republic.

There will be some disappointment that the first Flying fifteen from the fleet stronghold at Dun Laoghaire was as far back as tenth in the 24–boat national championship fleet.

Download overall results below.

Visiting World Flying Fifteen Champion Steve Goacher is making short work of the Irish Championships that is otherwise dominated by Northern Ireland crews at Whitehead in County Antrim today. Results to date are downloadable below.

Goacher, from Lake Windemere, counts four wins from five races after a breezy day with gusts to 25–knots. 

The 24–boat fleet sailed windward/leeward followed by triangle courses.

Lying second is Andrew McCleary and Colin Dougan from Killyleagh are second. Third is Strangford's Andy and Rory Martin.

Defending Irish Flying Fifteen champions David Gorman and Chris Doorly of the National Yacht Club are out of this weekend's Championships at Whitehead in County Antrim following a dismasting on Dublin Bay.

The excitement is building for the Flying Fifteen Championships of Ireland being hosted this weekend by County Antrim Sailing Club with sponsorship provided by the local Wrights Spar shop and P&O Ferries, a welcome move to entice visitors from the UK. It seems the weather is also building so it promises to be a weekend of drama and great racing for these one design boats.

With good numbers of Flying Fifteens turning out at club level in Dublin and Strangford Lough in particular they now take to the road and head to Whitehead a picturesque location at the tip of Belfast Lough. There is also a vibrant fleet along the north east coast in Larne and Cushendall so a good fleet is expected.

As usual in this fleet it is very hard to call the winner as the racing is always close and exciting and any of a number of boats could win.

Holders Gorman and Doorly of the National Yacht Club have had to pull out as they had a mast break in a windy DBSC race last weekend. This leaves it open for those who have been in form in the regional events where we have had a different winner in each event, Brian McKee & Ian Smith (SLSC) and Willis & McPeak (CAYC) along with Andy & Rory Martin (SLSC) are all in good form and sailing well. Others hoping to go well are Andy McCleery & Colin Dougan (KYC), Ian Mathews, who has lost his regular crew to injury but Hugh Cahill is filling in. Word is that Alan Green has a top helm from the UK lined up to compete, all will be revealed on Friday but rumour is it is current World Champion Steve Goacher.

There is plenty to sail for and as this is the last ranking event of the season so the Travellers trophies for the Gold, Silver and bronze fleets are up for grabs.

A fun and successful evening was had out on the DBSC race course by all as the Flying Fifteen class held an open evening for those who attended the NYC Adult Training courses during the summer. The idea devised by National Yacht Club Committee members Helen Cooney and Chris Doorly was to give those who attended the course another opportunity to sail and keep the interest going after the course had finished. It also feeds into new crew availability and interest for this popular class.

Also included on the night were members of the regular Ladies Tuesday sailing group.

The race was ‘around the cans’ and in truth everyone was a winner. A big thanks to all those in the Flying Fifteen Fleet who helped with their time and boats and especially class Captain John O Sullivan who put the race together.

Northern Ireland entries took the top four places at the Flying Fifteen South Coast Championships at Wateford Harbour Sailing Club, Dunmore East in County Waterford at the weekend.

Strangford Lough brothers Rory and Andy Martin Martin of Strangford Lough Yacht Club were close winners coming out on top after some hard-fought racing.

The brothers were closely followed by Bryan Willis and John McPeake of County Antrim YC, just one point behind, with Brian McKee and Ian Smyth of Strangford Lough third, in a clean sweep for the Northern contingent. 

Race one started in sunny and moderate winds with a tidal sweep from the river affecting the race course. Collisions proved costly for some eager to get a good start. The right hand side of the course paid throughout the day. Martin Bros and McLeery/Dougan of Killyleagh YC had a good tussle for the top spot throughout the race with the eventual race winners McLeery / Dougan making a nice move on one of the final reaches.

Race two in similar conditions saw the same four boats finish in a different order. This time Flying Fifteen Stalwarts McKee & Smith taking the bullet with McLeery & Dougan in second.

Race three saw a change in the pecking order. National YC duo Coleman & Quinn led from start to finish with come cool headed sailing throughout. Local sailors Statham & Paul finished second with McKee & Smith third to become leaders over night.

Sunday saw a change in wind direction and increased sea state, Crews found themselves hiking in the helmsman’s toe straps to avoid swamping. Willis & McPeake fought off challenges to retain their lead. With the Martin brothers second, and other contenders having a mediocre race, the championship would be decided in the final race.

The final race of the series saw a general recall and use of the U flag which would put some manners on the competitors. The race got off to a clean start second time round. The left hand side of the race course seemed to be paying.

Martin Bros rounded the windward mark first, but wouldn’t have it all their own way. Court & O’Leary took the lead on the first reach but lost it again at the gybe. Hot on their heels was Willis/McPeake who would battle it out with some tight covering throughout. The Martin Bros rounded the windward mark with a small lead which they managed to increase in the final triangle with some nice waves & gusts and take the bullet in the final race.

On receiving the prize, Andy Martin thanked the OOD, Race & Shore Teams and Volunteers for fantastic racing, great hospitality and good tidal tips.

Next up on the FFAI events calendar is the Championship of Ireland, to be held at County Antrim YC, September 8th to 10th. 

Dun Laoghaire’s biggest one-design fleet sailing in Dublin Bay, the Flying Fifteens, have launched a search for competent crew to help get more boats out on the water.

The local fleet, now with 28 boats based in four locations around the harbour, has established an online crew register so that sailors looking for the close, exciting racing that the Fifteen has to offer can sign up with details of their skills and experience.

The ultimate aim is to maximise the number of boats racing each week.

Fleet Captain John O’Sullivan explains: ‘Especially around this time of year, with holidays and other commitments affecting people’s ability to sail, skippers can find it hard to get good crew.
‘We’ve been muddling through with impromptu calls, so we thought this might be a good way to allow folks declare their interest and let us build a register that gives people a bit of detail on potential crews’ abilities.

‘Just like any two-hander, crewing competitively in a Fifteen requires some previous experience, so we ask those interested to give us a rough indication of where they fit. Those who have sailed before, but perhaps not in a Flying Fifteen, usually come away impressed, especially if we’ve got a bit of a breeze!’’

Starting racing from scratch in a Fifteen is probably not a great idea for most: absolute beginners are advised to get a gentle taster in one of the waterfront club or sailing school courses, or keep an eye out for events aimed at introducing people to the sport.

Those signing up to the register will have their details pushed out to the fleet’s active mailing list, which skippers routinely use to source crew.

The form can be found on the Flying Fifteen website here 

On a cloudy grey evening with stormy clouds hovering the Flying Fifteen fleet got more than they expected with strong force 4-5 winds from the west on Thursday evening. With no race last week, repaired DBSC Committee Boat Freebird was ready and waiting at the start line. Despite the peak holiday season a great turnout of 16 boats had an exciting evenings sail with Alan Green and Chris Doorly taking the gun in a close and exciting finish from Neil Colin & Margaret Casey. 

The start with its pin end bias was hotly contested with Dumpleton and Green vying for a position to get the pin. Green popped out and after a while managed to cross the fleet on port as the fleet headed towards Harbour mark. It seemed that the hard work was done and he was in control of the fleet but it was not to last as those who headed in towards the shore got to the mark first, Neil Colin led the way from David Mulvin and Neil Coleman.

The wind really picked up on an exciting tight reach led by Colin, behind there were thrills and spills with several broaches! On towards Poldy the fleet were busy trying to avoid Ruffians. As they approached the mark Green got inside Coleman and on rounding the mark squezed inside David & Valerie Mulvin to move into second place on the beat. This is how it stayed for a while but the gap closed as we approached Bay mark and the chase was on down to East mark where Colin & Casey still held their lead. He headed inshore while Green headed toward the dark looming clouds towards the city. On tacking in towards the finish it was all about boat speed- what would happen as they converged adjacent the line? As the finish loomed closer it was Green that crossed clear of Colin to take the gun, a great finish to a great race set by Jack Roy and his team. It was still close behind with Alistair & Conor just pipping Coleman for third with McCambridge fifth.

Brian Willis and Alan McClernon (CASC) won the Flying Fifteen Northern Championships in fine style winning three of the four races in light winds. Sixteen boats competed in the event hosted by Lough Neagh Sailing Club, Its been a long time since the fleet came to these shores and the majority of competitors enjoyed the warm weather camping at the lake shore.

The first race was won by Mulvin & Beirne (NYC) with Harrison & Hickland second, Willis was sixth after going back for a recall. Willis, a long time master of lake sailing soon got into his stride to win the next two races closely followed by McKee & Smyth. Light winds, well no wind, greeted the fleet on Sunday. PRO did well to get one race in and Willis continued his consistent sailing which saw him win what a would be the last race to win the Championship – a nice way to start Fathers Day according to Alan!

There was a breezy downwind finish (see below) for the Flying Fifteen keelboat on Dublin Bay yesterday as captured from the DBSC Committee Boat by Jonathan O'Rourke.

The popular class is the biggest one design keelboat fleet on Dublin Bay with regular turnouts in the 20s for DBSC club racing on Thursdays and Saturdays.