Flying Fifteen Open at Royal Windermere Yacht Club

David Brockbank and Janet Lefton during the 2009 Flying 15 open at Windermere © Richard Thompson

Lake Windermere was the setting for the annual Royal Windermere Yacht Club Open Meeting. The event attracted seven visiting boats from as far as Loch Earn Head SC, Sunderland, Ripon and Nottingham along with ten RWYC boats. All enjoyed the competition of the 2007 World Champion, Mike Hart and his crew Richard Rigg in Art Gekko but not without them having a “wake-up” call in the first two races.

On Saturday, sailing in the south lake with a variable force 2-3 breeze, local sailors John Atkinson and Elizabeth Moreton in Funny Enuff left Hart and Rigg a little anxious when the first race gave them a clear win, with much cheering from the home team. In the second race, Atkinson and Moreton paid penalties so Hart and Rigg still snoozing from the night before finally woke up and stepped it up a gear with a win.

In race 2 Nigel and Gavin Tullett demonstrated their skills in Kiffs (RWYC) with a second place and third overall. David (Daisy)Brockbank and Janet Lefton in Five (RWYC enjoyed a third place with fourth place overall , Mr. B now in touch with his feminine side by having a very large white daisy put on his very pink spinnaker (NB this could happen to any past Commodore of BIFFA so beware).

In race 3, Atkinson and Moreton returned to give the champion another strong challenge but on the final spinnaker run Hart came, apparently from nowhere, for another win. The race did not go without needing a gel-filling session later to Kiffs and Funny Enuff.

Two races on Sunday were sailed in the scenic north lake in a force 3-4 gusting 5 brisk breeze and Hart and Rigg won both.. Bobby Salmond and Robert Till in Vim (Loch Earn Head SC) showed their skills with two third places with the most travelled boat prize going to them. Between races competitors lunched: Frank Kelly and Brian Garvey in factor Fifteen (RWYC) tied up to a mooring, dropped their mainsail and had a picnic. They did not hear the warning signal or the five minute gun and if it were not for the fact that there was a general recall would have missed the start of race 3 altogether.

The Classic prize went to Graham Lamond and Scott Train in Fettercairn (Ripon SC) being a well deserved 8th overall. The Franklin Eldridge trophy was collected by David Brockbank on behalf of team winners RWYC.

RWYC expertly organised the weekend with their on and off the water team and are to be complemented for their friendly hosting and excellent cuisine. The event was generously sponsored by Pattison Builders and Goacher Sails.

Overall Results: