Please select your home edition
Edition
Melges 2023 - Melges 15 LEADERBOARD

Flying Fifteen National Championship at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy - Runners and Riders

by Ian Cadwallader 19 Sep 02:54 PDT 21-24 September 2023
Greg Wells and David Tulloch © Peter Hickson

Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy is looking forward to welcoming 50 Flying Fifteens for the 2023 UK National Championships supported by UK Global between 21-24 September 2023. The championship consists of ten races, with a maximum of three races per day.

Entrants have come from all over the country including Scotland, Blackpool, the Lake District, many of the central lakes and the South Coast. The largest contingents come from Parkstone Yacht Club and Hayling Island Sailing Club with nine boats from each entered. The entry list includes World Champions, European Champions, National Champions, regular club sailors and a wide variety of ages.

GBR3760 - Jeremy Davy & Martin Huett. Multiple 15 champions and living proof that 15s have a long competitive window.

GBR4002 - Ben McGrane & Russ Clark. Ben makes a welcome return to 'lorry racing'. Sailing the Hyde works boat, can he go one place better than this year's Osprey nationals?

GBR4005 - Fiery Chariot: Andy McKee & Richard Jones: Current European Champions and runners up at the 2019 worlds.

GBR4021 - The Whopper & the Whippet: Steve Goacher & Tim Harper. Still trying to regain their confidence from the capsize of the season, Steve from Royal Windermere YC is another multiple world champion with two different crews, Tim & Phil Evans.

GBR4029: Matt Mee & Chris Robinson. This year's top GP14 team step into a borrowed boat. With Chris supplying sails from his Goacher loft, they'll certainly notice the difference in the size of the spinnaker.

GBR4060 - Ffil the Greek: Andrew Jameson & James Grant. Possibly the best dressed crew in the fleet, if not the best behaved. A very much underrated pairing with the potential to surprise on and off the water.

GBR4071 - Floaty McFloatface: Richard Lovering & Chris Turner. What a pedigree. the current world champion boat and crew, teams up with top sail designer and ex 15 national champion, Ritchie. Could be the bookies favourite if they can limit their intake of Salcombe Gin.

GBR4085 - Mr Potato Head: Shane MacCarthy & Richard Rigg. A multi-national team who are currently training in Ireland. Hopefully they'll be ok swapping Guiness for 'Fursty Ferret' and other beers from our sponsors, Hall & Woodhouse.

GBR4102 - Raffi: Andy Tunnicliffe & Ian Hopwood. Sailing a Ginger hull with his own Impact sails, this is their 3rd year in the class, and it could be the breakthrough year.

GBR4112 - Maurice: Greg Wells & David Tulloch. Winners of this year's Southerns in their new P&B fitted-out Ovington. Greg & DT could be this year's Dark horses.

GBR4114 - Full Welly: Richard Whitworth & Trefor Jones. After years of flirting with the 15, multiple class champion, Richard has finally gone and bought one. Winners of Poole week, this is their first trip outside the shire. Could they bring back the prize?

Our thanks to our sponsors UK Global, Sarah Hornby Art, Salcombe Gin, Allen Brothers, Ovington Boats and Goacher Sails.

Related Articles

Hyde Sails November Discounts!
Get ready for the 2024 season, buy now to get the best prices Get ready for the 2024 season, buy now to get the best prices on our sails, cover and accessories. Discount period ending 30th November! Posted on 18 Nov
Flying Fifteen New Zealand National Championship
Lake Taupo hosts the fleet Thirteen Flying 15 from across the North Island converged on Taupo last weekend for the 2023 New Zealand National Championship. The fleet included six of the boats that travelled to Fremantle for the World Championship in March. Posted on 16 Nov
A busy and successful Autumn for Hyde Sails
Winning the Flying Fifteen Nationals, the Squib Inlands and runner-up in the Osprey Nationals We chatted with Ben McGrane to find out about the busy schedule he and Hyde Sails had in September in a variety of classes, including the Flying Fifteen Nationals, the 70th Anniversary Osprey Nationals, and the Squib UK Inlands. Posted on 2 Nov
2023 Belgian Flying Fifteen Championship
Thirteen Flying from acroos Belgium and France take part Thirteen Flying Fifteens came together on 7th & 8th October for the 2023 Belgian Championship. In addition to the six crews from the organising club, three crews came from RYCM Liège and one from RCNV Visé. Posted on 16 Oct
Broxbourne Flying Fifteen
Final Southern Travellers Series Open of 2023 This was the last event in the Flying Fifteen Southern Travellers series held at Broxbourne Sailing club who sail on the gravel pit in the Lee Valley. Posted on 9 Oct
Flying Fifteen Western Australian Championships
Boisterous conditions on the Saturday during the event at Esperance, Western Australia The 62nd Western Australian Flying Fifteen Championships got under way under overcast skies in, what is normally, sunny Esperance. The predicted 25 knots of south-westerly didn't fully prevail but the breeze was boisterous enough. Posted on 2 Oct
Flying Fifteen Nationals at the WPNSA overall
The National Championship with everything! The final day dawned, and it was windy, a southerly with gusts of 26 - 28 knots. Many in the boat yard were wondering if the fleet would get racing and others had decided it was too windy for them and head home early. Posted on 26 Sep
Flying Fifteen Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3
A day where many boats got their best and worst results Day three dawned sunny with little breeze but with the promise of 7-12 knots from the south-west by midday. The class first enjoyed bacon sandwiches as they held their AGM and a dolphin was playing near the marina wall as added entertainment Posted on 24 Sep
Flying Fifteen Nationals at the WPNSA Day 2
Two races held on Weymouth Bay in a shifty North Westerly breeze The fleet headed out into Weymouth Bay in a shifty North Westerly breeze. The clear P flag starts ended on the first start as the fleet were over keen and a general recall was called. Posted on 23 Sep
Flying Fifteen Nationals at the WPNSA Day 1
Ben McGrane and Russ Clark lead after two races After the majority of competitors arriving on Wednesday had decided the best option was to lash the boats down and retreat inside Thursday dawned much sunnier and the boatyard was buzzing with activities as all competitors rigged their boats. Posted on 22 Sep
Doyle Sails 2020 - Cruising Confidence 728x90 BOTTOMHyde Sails 2022 One Design FOOTERPredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOM