Flying Fifteen Irish Championships at Killyleagh Yacht Club

Sponsored by Down District Council

This year’s International Flying Fifteen Championship was heralded by fair winds and glorious sunshine. It was hosted by Killyleagh Yacht Club on the scenic Strangford Lough in County Down and attracted twenty eight entries, all top Flying Fifteen sailors, from all over Ireland.

After an hour’s postponement, the competition kicked off on Friday 30th July with just one race in the afternoon. The experienced Officer of the Day, Graham Chambers decided the winds were right for the Olympic triangular course and after a general recall which pulled them all into shape, Gerry Reilly and Peter Quail, local yachtsmen from Strangford Sailing Club came home victorious in 3824 “Over the Moon”.

The next day, Saturday 31st July brought glorious sunshine but unfortunately no wind. After delicious bacon butties served by Commodore Andy McCleery’s wife, Vilma and her trusty team, all the sailors patiently waited for the wind which eventually arrived at 1.30pm. Three races were squeezed in back to back with very little time for lunch in between, the second and third races being shortened courses.

The victors of Race 2 were Darren Martin and Simon Murray from Strangford Lough Yacht Club in 3621 “Buckfast” whilst Bryan Willis and John McPeake of Carrickfergus Sailing Club won Race 3 in 3759 “Re-ffined Gold.. As Killyleagh Yacht Club was staging the event, it was lovely to see a member of the host club, Andrew Killops crewing for Andrew Martin of SLYC claim honours in Race 4 in 3641 “Ffin Eegit”.

There was much dining and dancing that night so Sunday 1st August saw many bleary eyed sailors setting off for races 5 and 6. The wind was perfect, the sun was shining and it took twenty four cartridges to get the first race of the day underway because everyone was so anxious to get over the line! There were general recalls, black flags and disqualifications all over the place but Morgan Sheehy and Jan Van der Puil from Kinsale Yacht Club came through victorious sailing 3803.

The sailors were much better behaved in the final Race 6 and after a bit of deliberation, Darren Martin and Simon Murray from SLYC once again clinched first place.

It was all possible due to the generous sponshorship of Down District Council and Killyleagh Yacht Club looks forward to hosting other major events in the future.

Overall Results: