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Flying Fifteen Southern Championship at Datchet Water Sailing Club

by Michael Clapp 12 Apr 2019 13:07 BST 6-7 April 2019
Andy McKee and Richard Jones with DWSC Commodore Mike Beckett after winning the Flying Fifteen Southern Championship © Michael Clapp

Incorporating Southern Travellers' Event 2 and Mercedes Trophy

Twenty visitors from as far afield as Cumbria, Poole and Ireland, joined a nine-strong local fleet at Datchet Water Sailing Club to compete for the Southern Championship in the first Flying Fifteen open meeting of the year over the weekend of 6th & 7th April.

The weather on Saturday was overcast, but with an ideal wind of Force 3 to 4 from the East, allowing for a long beat up the full length of the reservoir and a Q course to be set. Racing was close throughout the fleet with many place changes and gains to be made by sailing either side of the beat. Andy Mckee and Richard Jones showed consistency at the front of the fleet ending the day with a six point lead over Jeremy Davy an Martin Huett.

Sunday brought lighter conditions, but with more than predicted by some forecasts. The PRO switched to a standard Windward/Leeward course for the final three races. Unfortunately the fleet was very eager to start next to the committee boat so a series of general recalls were necessary for the first race. Eventually the fleet was calmed down by allowing the smaller Wayfarer fleet to demonstrate how it could be done. The wind was very shifty so even more place changing was the order of the day.

Nathan Batchelor and Richard Rigg managed to take their brand new boat to victory in the first race while Datchet veterans Charles Apthorp and Allan Green won the second. David Mckee and Mal Hartland took the final bullet. This left the two first boats equal on points but Andy Mckee and Richard Jones securing the Southern Trophy by virtue of having most firsts.

At the prize-giving thanks were expressed to Ian Bullock and his race team for their excellent work, especially in the testing conditions on Sunday morning. Thanks also went to the shore team at Datchet Water Sailing Club.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st4005Andy McKeeRichard JonesDovestone SC131‑122411
2nd3760Jeremy DavyMartin HuettDraycote Water SC21‑823311
3rd4065David McKeeMal HartlandDovestone SC‑82275117
4th3957Charles ApthorpAllan GreenDWSC365‑101520
5th4059Hamish McKayAnrew LawsonDWSC6433‑131026
6th4033Justin WaplesJackie McKellarWalkdringfield YC5‑11788230
7th4070Nathan BatchelorRichard RiggRoyal Windermere12‑131014633
8th4055Ian CadwalladerSteve GrahamChew Valley Lake SC107‑1256836
9th3899Andy BonesJosh PraterCVLSC131044‑14738
10th4060Ian PinnellJez WhiteHISC78‑2197940
11th3889Pip HudsonMick MusgraveBroxbourne SC(DNC)9914121761
12th3875Brett DingwallGrason EcotAldenham SC171511‑19101265
13th4024Simon KnellerDave LucasGWSC451515(DNC)DNC68
14th3902Richard HopeMike StensonDraycote Water SC1512‑1913151570
15th2260John HansonMichaela SheadDWSC18.5‑19141191870.5
16th4052David TabbChewey SherrellParkstone141461820(DNF)72
17th3954Barry HayesHelen SeldenDWSC9161820‑211174
18th4027Mike ClappPeter MorrisDWSC112117‑23161378
19th3563Alastair StevensonJeremy ValentineDWSC201816‑22112287
20th4056Andy GoddardTom GoddardDovestone SC18.5171316(UFD)2387.5
21st3904Mervyn WrightGeorge CaspallDWSC1620‑2217171989
22nd4011Richard JonesHoward ShawyerDWSC2125(DNC)6221690
23rd3514Graham DarvillMyke BowersDWSC‑27232021181496
24th3583Mike WilczynskiJean WilczynskiRORC2324‑25251921112
25th4041Simon CooperAlastair CooperBewl S Assoc262223(DNC)2320114
26th4042Tim O'BrienKeith JamiesonRWSC24262424(DNC)24122
27th4069Bill ChardAmy ChardChew Valley Lake SC22(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC138
28th3341Mike FirthPhilip TinsleyDWSC25(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC141

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