Flying Fifteen European Championship at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club – Days 1 & 2
by Jonny Fullerton Aug 23 14:24 UTC
August 21-25, 2022
The year of the 75th anniversary of the international Flying Fifteen class is proving to be an exceptional year.
As the curtain falls on a highly successful Uffa Fox 50 extravaganza, attention turns to the 2022 European Championships where 71 boats representing the length and breadth of the UK, Australia, Belgium, from Hong Kong, South Africa and Spain gathered at one of the class’ homes, the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club to continue the festive year of regattas.
Day 1
The Solent served up a classic Cowes day with semi-overcast skies, a light choppy breeze and moderate tidal flow. The course has been set up in the busy Bramble Bank area of the Solent between Southampton Water and Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Laying a course through this busy section of water in the height of August is a daunting task, but the RO has arranged for two runs lasting about 90 minutes.
With some petulant changes and a slightly nervous fleet unaccustomed to a large starting line, it took several attempts to get the first race started. On the fifth attempt under the dreaded black flag, the first race started around 1:00 p.m. in a gentle fluctuating breeze of 5-10 knots.
The pin end of the eventual departure was a bit messy and caught up with some of the top contenders. Steve Goacher and Tim Harper (RWYC) got caught up in the mess with the pin mark, leaving them to be one of the last boats to leave the start line. Ian Pinnell and Ian Cadwallader (Hayling Is SC) took a solid lead over locals Henry Bagnall and James Downer (Cowes Corinthian YC). The bulk of the fleet chased these two for three leeward-windward legs.
However disappointment for Ian Pinnell crossing the finish line to realize that he was one of the four boats under the black flag. It gave Bagnall and Downer a win. Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado (WYC/HIS) worked hard to take second and Michael Wilson and Peter Greenhalgh (Isle of Man YC) moved up to third.
The RO redefined the course and the second race started in a slightly more sustained SW breeze of 9 to 11 knots. This start under the black flag is exemplary and the fleet is well distributed. Andy Mckee and Richard Jones (Dovestone SC/Shotwick Lake SC), led the race from the first mark around a course of two sausages and a triangle to take the victory followed closely by Steve Goacher and Tim Harper (Royal Windermere YC), making amends for a poor result in race one. Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado again rode a sold race to finish on the podium and with their consistency, the first lead of the regatta. Ian Pinnell & Ian Cadwallader recovered from their disappointment in Race 1 to finish 4th in Race 2.
Among the visitors, Campbell Alexander and David Herridge from Durban in South Africa sailed a strong day to take 10th place overall and Phillippa Packer and Dean McAullay from Royal Freshwater Bay YC in Perth, Western Australia are in 11th place in the overall standings at the end of the day.
Day 2
The second day of competition was greeted by drizzle, overcast skies and a light and rather capricious breeze of 7 to 12 knots from S/SW. 3 races were on the program suggesting a long day on the water.
After a few attempts Race 3 escaped sailing a 3 lap course. Andy Mckee and Richard Jones picked up where they left off with victory for Andrew Jameson and James Grant (WYC / HISC) reaching the podium for the first time. Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett finished third.
Race 4 of the regatta took place under the same conditions, but with a few more black flags. Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado (HISC) were back on their way to victory and Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett found some consistency with a second. Hamish Mackay and Andrew Lawson (RTYC / HISC) were third.
Race 5 followed in the late afternoon when the wind shifted slightly causing the course to be redesigned. More black flags and some lingering drizzle. Greg Wells and David Tulloch (HIS) won their first race of the regatta. Nigel and Gavin Tullett (Royal Windermere YC) rode well to finish second and Hamish Mackay and Andrew Lawson (RTYC/HIS) finished third.
After five races, Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado increased their lead in the overall standings after dropping their worst result to date of 12th to take the lead in the standings with 16 points.
The big movers were Andy McKee and Richard Jones, dropping out on their 22nd opener and posting a 1, 13, 8 to move from seventh to second with 23 points.
Henry Bagnall and James Downer couldn’t match their day one performance and a 19, 4, 15 dropped them to third place with 26 points.
In fourth are Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett, now able to drop their BFD, for 28 points. Fifth are Hamish Mackay and Andrew Lawson with 31 points and sixth are Greg Wells and David Tulloch who won the final race of the day with 33 points.
The best visitor boat is John Lavery and Alan Green of National YC Dublin, who are in 10th place overall.
On Tuesday August 23, the fleet is moving away from the Europeans to take part in a special Class 75th Anniversary regatta departing from the Royal Yacht Squadron. The Europeans resume on Wednesday August 24.
For full results visit www.ff75.org
