Flying Fifteen Scottish Championship at Loch Lomond Sailing Club
by Peter McLaren 7 Oct 2014 15:36 BST
4-5 October 2014
Flying Fifteen Scottish Championships at Loch Lomond © Katie Hughes
An excellent fleet of 46 Flying Fifteens competed for The Scottish Championship at Loch Lomond SC over the weekend 4-5 October. The event was also the last Qualifier for the 2015 Worlds. Saturday saw westerly winds of F2-3, with occasional periods of north-westerlies which required much adjustment to the course between and during races. Some stronger winds were experienced under rain clouds which passed over during the afternoon. After the (inevitable) general recall for the first race, the fleet was well-behaved under the black flag restart, and David McKee/Andy Weatherspoon in GBR4005 led around, flowed by Cammy Dunn/Craig Hepplewhite (4001) and Simon Longstaff/John Denwood (3973). Race 2 saw David/Andy OCS along with 2 others, leaving Cammy/Craig to stretch out a big lead from Phil Snewin/Ros Coleman (4017) and Simon Robinson/Dom Murray (3737). With the wind still shifty some of the reaches were becoming tight under spinnakers and the difference between the top crews and those further back became more apparent. The third race saw a third winner in Hamish Mackay/Andrew Lawson (4016) from David/Andy and Andy Goddard/Maf Smith (4022).
An excellent meal and social evening was had by all in the club as competitors fortified themselves for the forecast stronger winds on Sunday. However the forecast has changed by Sunday morning and winds were southerly F2-4 which allowed a good long beat to the first mark. Yet another boat won race 4, Robert Hogben/Glyn Morgan (3953) from David/Andy and Terry Crumpton/John Mathie (3940). With the discard now in effect, David and Andy's consistency was marking them out a likely Championship winners. They proved this in the final race by working their way up through the leading pack to take the gun for their second race win from Terry/John and Graham Campbell/Graeme Galbraith (3641). The event also marked the last outing in his Flying Fifteen for Loch Lomond's Tom Wright. At the age of 86, former Scottish Champion Tom sailed in all five races finishing a very creditable 26th. We'll miss you Tom.
Overall Results:
1st: David McKee/Andy Weatherspoon, 4001 (Dovestone SC) 6pts
2nd: Cammy Dunn/Craig Hepplewhite, 4005 (Loch Lomond SC) 14pts
3rd: Phil Snewin/Ros Coleman, 4017 (Royal Windermere YC) 21pts
4th: Simon Longstaff/John Denwood, 3973 (Bassenthwaite SC) 25pts
5th: Graham Campbell/Graeme Galbraith, 3641 (Cardwell Bay SC) 27pts
6th: Crispin Read Wilson/Steve Brown, 3922 (Parkstone YC) 28pts
Silver Fleet Champion: Scott Train/Anne Steward, 3362 (Solway YC)
Classic Fleet Champion: Glen Fullarton/Craig McCrachen, 2803 (Cardwell Bay SC)
Photos from the event can be viewed at www.lochlomondsc.org/2014/10/06/flying-fifteen-scottish-champs-2014-photos