Flying Fifteen Open at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham

A downwind leg during the 2016 Royal Corinthian YC Open © Roger Mant

A small but perfectly formed fleet gathered for the flying fifteen RCYC Burnham open meeting.

With 20-28 knots of wind on the first day, three river courses were set sailing progressively up river, before the last race that began with two short beats, followed by some exhilarating downwind sailing. Tim O'Brien of Grafham Water showed good form in the second race to win, and Meryn Waite of Datchet kept on the pace with a 2nd and a 3rd. Local sailor Justin Waples, crewed by his wife Amanda, had to work hard to keep in front for the other two races.

After suitable liquid refreshments from the back of the 'wine van' at the Marina after sailing, the tired fleet all went to the RCYC for a delicious supper.

Sunday dawned with Justin's brother Chris back in the fleet and raring to go. The previous day he had learnt the hard way which hole of the boom is intended for the gooseneck, but an amazingly loyal brother meant that a quick trip to Northampton for a replacement allowed him to be back racing for the Sunday's three windward/leewards across tide in a shifty 10 knots.

Sparks and Bubbles Take Two during the Royal Corinthian YC Open - photo © Roger Mant

Positions changed constantly every race, although Chris was showing good form, winning the first two before being edged out by his brother on the 3rd. Keith Jamieson showed his true Windemere sailing colours in the last race to climb to 3rd in the ever shifting breeze.

The prize giving was followed by a sumptuous High Tea, as someone commented, the RCYC do things properly. A huge thank you to Edwin Buckley and his race team and for prize sponsors Allen Bros for providing the Allen Bros sun visors as spot prizes. The youngest competitor, Christie Peel, (sailing with Justin on the Sunday) was awarded one for flying a spinnaker for the first time so well; she was very grateful, having lost hers on the water the weekend before.

To sum up, five ff Class Captains enjoyed river sailing at its best, the full range of wind, waves and flat water, interesting river courses on the Saturday, no shortage of river craft skills to help those not so quick over the whole, and of course the hospitality off the water. Here's hoping and wanting more boats for next year.

Overall Results: