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Flying Fifteen Open Meeting at Aldeburgh Yacht Club

by Adam Oliver 6 Aug 2024 05:21 PDT 3-4 August 2024
Sunset at Aldeburgh Yacht Club © Sebastian Mawson

Aldeburgh Yacht Club were delighted to host their annual Open Meeting with four visitors and ten local boats out of the burgeoning home fleet of sixteen racing Fifteens.

Our first course was a passage race round the cans taking us down river in a south westerly Force 3 in full sun. Start time was 30 minutes before high tide and those choosing the east bank benefitted, putting Justin and Amanda Waples followed by Duncan Matthew crewed by John Chalker out front. Adam and Clare Oliver made third place choosing the same bank.

Our second course was hard fought. Waples/Waples took first, followed by Matthew/Chalker and visitor John Hanson crewed by Philip Snowden.

We headed slightly further down river for a classic windward-leeward in stronger breeze after a shift to the south-east. The committee boat was moored alongside a major eddy, causing huge excitement at the start. Waples/Waples won again, with Matthew/Chalker second and Chris and Emma Sparks third.

Day 2 opened, as expected with a drift but this time up river to the stunning upper reaches of the Alde. The first race could have been anyone's with a very patchy wind. That should not take it away from Stephen Fulford crewed by Archie McEwen for their first, with Matthew/Chalker second and Waples/Waples third.

The sea breeze set in, providing excellent conditions for a tight windward-leeward won by Waples again after a recall. The final race was a passage back to the club line with the whole fleet nicely bunched and plenty of energy in the tank to compete up to the line. Matthew/Chalker prevailed over the Sparks, with Fulford/McEwen third. So overall it was Waples/Waples, then Matthew/Chalker then Fulford/McEwen.

We benefit at Aldeburgh from excellent and ambitious professional management, boatmen and caterers, all of whom accomplished themselves with a big welcome for our visitors. We must also thank Robert Mulcahy - our returning race officer - for his patience and for holding his nerve as we waited for the sea breeze on Sunday.

The Aldeburgh fleet is building, with a number of young faces now regularly racing. We will welcome visitors again to our 2025 event once dates have been set.

Overall Results:

PosBoatSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1stSparks & Bubbles4033Justin WaplesAmanda WaplesRCYC11131‑47
2ndTrue Luff3844Duncan MatthewJohn ChalkerAYC‑2222219
3rdRum Punch4055Stephen FulfordFreddie Fulford/Archie McEwanAYC6451‑7319
4thFfast Idiots3764Chris SparkEmma SparkAYC473‑84220
5thSnaffu4094John HansonPhilip SnowdenRYA‑83475625
6thForgetmenot3467Nick BarkerChris BrunsdonAYC557‑93727
7th 4035Tommy WilkinsonAnna WilkinsonAYC‑76646527
8thSweet Polly3826Adam OliverOliver ScottAYC388(RET)8835
9thJust The Tonic3636Gavin MarshallNicky ScottAYC‑1212969945
10thFfido4041Simon CooperAlastair CooperGrafham‑1111115111048
11thHalf Fast3564Oliver ScottJames KempAYC1010‑1211101253
12thFully Focussed3139Jeremy HintonAlex HintonAYC9910(DNC)DNCDNC58
13thNo Half Measures3485George SylversterAlfie Sylvester/Sarah ZinnsAYC‑14141410131162
14thFfirsty Work3695Anthony HintonSimon GerishAYC‑13131312121363

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