Flying Fifteen Bulwark Trophy at Hayling Island Sailing Club

Ian Cadwallader & Dave Sweet hidden by a huge wave during the 2012 Flying Fifteen Bulwark Trophy © Chris Bashall

Strong turnout at Hayling (by Tom Waples)

There was a strong turnout for the event with 19 competitors, 10 visitors (from as far as Royal Highland SC). Competitors arrived on Saturday morning and were greeted by the infamous Hayling Bay conditions, which were so sorely missed at the World Championships last summer.

PRO, Mike MacIntyre, (who was probably incredibly envious of the competitors) set a large Olympic course, which enabled the Flying 15 to thrive in its ideal conditions. There were some awesome quick, tight reaches where the boats just took off and planed on the big waves, kicking up spray everywhere. The day's conditions were gusty and relatively stable, but gains were to be had with some of the shifts that came down the course.

In Race 1, started in 20 knots after an initial general recall, Pinnell and Darling got the jump on the fleet and never really looked back to take the win. Cadwallander and Sweet came in second. With the gusty and strengthening winds, the gybe mark proved to be ominous. There were some spectacular broaches, including one by Waples, which was caught brilliantly on camera.

Race 2 followed a similar pattern, with Pinnell and Darling taking a commanding lead. This time Osman and Murphy were the best of rest. They put in a superb race to take second in the increasingly challenging conditions, which were blowing at around 25 knots. Minor equipment failures hindered the efforts of some of the teams.

The competitors woke on Sunday morning with aching bodies and some sore heads, to the tail end of the 35+ knot overnight squalls. Whilst some teams made an early get away, the rest of the competitors waited to see if the conditions would ease. Adverse weather conditions had resulted in the cancellation of the ferries, and the decision was taken to cancel all racing as it was unclear when, and if, the conditions would sufficiently abate.

Overall winners with two victories were the imperious Pinnell and Darling (1,1), second were Cadwallander and Sweet (2,3) who posted a very consistent set of results, and third were Peters and Alvarado (4,4).

It was a sensational weekend's sailing and huge thanks must go the Race Officer and his team who set a great course in demanding conditions, and also to HISC for their fantastic hospitality as always.

It’s Pinnell then Bax (by Ian Cadwallader)

Despite a dreadful forecast, a very competitive fleet of 19 flying Fifteens assembled for HISC’s annual open meeting, for which the winner receives a famous old trophy called “The Bulwark”. Saturdays racing held in Hayling Bay in a building northerly breeze was dominated by Ian Pinnell and Mark Darling, sailing a boat borrowed from Gill Browning.

Race 1 started in 15 knots and Ian & Mark led the fleet round the first mark from the left hand side of the beat. Charles Apthorp & Jonathon Clark escaped from the chasing pack by sailing the run deep and closed down the leaders, eventually overtaking them at the start of the second beat. Ian & Mark worked hard to regain the lead by taking more of the shifts in the offshore breeze. But it was down to the pair of lawyer’s failure to read the sailing instructions and prematurely head for the downwind finish line on the penultimate lap, rather than sail the final triangle that let Ian & Mark into the lead again. Ian Cadwallader & Dave Sweet won the battle for second from a fast finishing Jeremy Davy and Ashley Painter.

Race 2 started in an increasing breeze with gusts just touching force 6 and a difficult short chop. Again, Ian Pinnell & Mark lead the fleet in from the left, this time from Anthony Osman & Andrew Murphy. Both these crews extended their lead from the chasing pack down the first run and were never headed. This just left the scrap for third place, where Ben McGrane sailing with his Dad, Terry just hadn’t eaten enough pies and were ground down, first by Cadwallader & Sweet and then Russell Peters & Matt Alvarado.

The competitors woke on Sunday morning with aching bodies and some sore heads, to the tail end of the 35+ knot overnight squalls. Whilst some teams made an early get away, the rest of the competitors waited to see if the conditions would ease. Adverse weather conditions had resulted in the cancellation of the ferries, and the decision was taken to cancel all racing as it was unclear when and if the conditions would sufficiently abate.

Overall winners with two victories were the imperious Pinnell and Darling who also won the Pinnell & Bax battle from his business partner Alan Bax, who sailing with James Grant finished 8th. It was a sensational weekend sailing and huge thanks must go to the Race Officer Mike McIntyre and his team who set a great course in demanding conditions, and also to HISC for their fantastic hospitality as always.

Overall Results: