Flying Fifteen Mid-Winter Championships at Burton SC

by Flying 15s UK on 4 Feb 2011 Flying Fifteen Mid-Winter Championships was hosted by the Burton Sailing Club for the first time and were treated to a great days sailing on Saturday with the wind from the NE, the best direction for the reservoir, F2 to F3. The race officer set windward-leeward courses. Local sailor Malcolm Hall crewed by Grant Pollard sailing 2864 sailed the beats to perfection and headed the fleet home to win the first race.

Race 2 on the same course had the crews scratching their heads to avoid some fairly big holes in the wind at the windward mark. Chris Swallow with Arthur George (3932), having their eyes out of the boat, managed to find the best way through and won followed by Mike Kilbee with local top crew Adam Kenney (3901) second and Malcolm Hall continuing his strong form in third. The windward mark was moved away from the dam wall for race 3 which proved to be the tightest yet, producing another race winner as Mike Kilbee claimed the win by less than a foot from Chris Swallow.

With little or no wind forecast on Sunday a fourth race was run one competitor fewer: one of the visitors had departed as he had managed to lock his car keys in the car. His crew had to make the round trip home to get the spare set. Choosing the right way up the first beat proved crucial. Chris Swallow and Arthur George got their nose in front at the windward mark and extended it down the run to an unassailable lead. Mike Kilbee and Malcolm Hall battled for second place with Mike coming out on top. Sunday, as predicted, dawned with a flat calm which did not get any better so the overnight results stood.

1st 3932 Chris Swallow / Arthur George Burton Sailing Club
2nd 3901 Mike Kilbee / Adam Kenney Parkstone / Burton
3rd 2984 Malcolm Hall / Grant Pollard Burton Sailing

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