19th Flying Fifteen World Championships in Hong Kong - Preview
by RHKYC Media 14 Jun 2013 15:16 BST
26 October - 8 November 2013
This year's Flying Fifteen World Championships, to be hosted by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, is shaping up to be a fierce contest amongst a compact fleet, with 51 entries received by the entry deadline of June 1. Of these, only four boats have indicated that they do not expect to contest the Hong Kong Nationals, to be held the week before the Worlds.
Since 1979, the Worlds venue has alternated between northern and southern hemisphere hosts. Over the years, average entries have numbered around 70, peaking in 2011 with 113 boats at Hayling Island. The current entry list for the 19th edition features 17 entries each from Australia and Hong Kong, with 15 from Great Britain and two entries representing New Zealand.
When the boats take to the water in October, RHKYC will be hosting for the third time, previous events being held in 1986 and 1995. Amongst a healthy collection of local entries, Tom Sheppard (Tomffoolery) and Sam Chan (Noisy Forefather II) stand out as the only helms to have competed in all three 'home' rubbers.
They will be joined in Hong Kong by defending World Champions, Graham Vials and Chris Turner (GBR) and the Melbourne 2009 winners, Grant Alderson and Dean McAullay. Fellow Aussies Nick and Janet Jerwood, who triumphed with Spot The Difference in 2005, will be campaigning Ineffable while three-time World Champions ('95, '97 and '99) Steve Goacher and crew Phil Evans will be going for a fourth title and a second win in Hong Kong to add to their 1995 triumph. Renowned sailmaker Alan Bax (GBR) will also be competing, having won the Brisbane Worlds in 1990.
Organising Committee Chairman, Mr Joseph Nelson, was pleased with the quality of the entries received to date, saying: "Looking at the entries we now have for the racing, we know it's going to be very competitive with so many former champions coming. At 51 boats we still have room for more boats. With the event having been granted an open event status, we'll be accepting entries until the deadline, July 31st. It should be a great event!"
Late entries may be submitted up to and including 31 July 2013.
www.ffworlds.com