Fifteens fly round Dovestone Reservoir

by Caroline Addison on 23 Apr 2008 Dovestone Reservoir’s very special microclimate posed an excellent challenge for keen Flying Fifteen sailors in the first 2008 TNT Northern Traveller event on 19/20 April.

Saturday’s mix of Force 6/7 gales with some Force 9 gusts deterred some competitors, however the first (and only) race of the day was held mid afternoon. Five hardy boats out of 23 registrations sailed the four lap course, averaging less than twelve minutes per lap and DSC’s Chris Massey won the day.

Sunday dawned with a blustery 16 mph easterly, temperature 7 degrees C. Two races with 17 Flying Fifteens on the water - half the fleet from visiting clubs Burton, Grafham Water, Thornton Steward and Draycote Water. The course set by the Race Officer Mal Hartland involved two screaming reaches and a couple of tricky beats.

With many more Flying Fifteens on the water compared to Saturday, Chris Massey and Russ Clarke in ‘Sweet Chariot’ reported that there were ‘a lot more boat-on-boat tactics’ and the enthusiastic debate between crews could be heard easily from the shore! Dovestone's Fleet Captain David McKee and crew Sally McKee had excellent starts to both races and were never seriously challenged for first place.

Flying 15 - Final leading results

Open Fleet
1st David and Sally McKee (DSC)
2nd Chris Massey and Russ Clark (DSC)
3rd Chris Swallow and Matt Pallett (Burton SC)
4th Richard Hope and Scott Smith (Draycote Water SC)

Silver Fleet
Scott Train and Graham Lamond (Thornton Stewart SC)

Classic Fleet (Sail no under 2700)
Andy McKee and Maf Smith (DSC/Holy Loch SC)

Vintage Fleet (Sail no under 2000)
Guy Kippen and Emily McKee (DSC)

First DSC Boat in First Race
Chris Massey and Russ Clark (DSC)