Flying Fifteen World and Australian Championships postponed to March 2023

Flying Fifteens racing off Fremantle © Jonny Fullerton

Flying Fifteen International in conjunction with Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club announced today that the 2022 Flying Fifteen World and Australian Championships would be postponed to 9th to 23rd March 2023.

The event will remain in the same format as the proposed 2022 event but delayed by a year due to the uncertainty surrounding the global COVID 19 pandemic. The event will be sailed out of Fremantle Sailing Club ("FSC") with Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club ("RFBYC") being the Organising Authority. South of Perth Yacht Club ("SoPYC) is also supporting the regattas.

RFBYC Commodore, Robert Parker, said "As the Organising Authority, RFBYC remains committed to hosting this prestigious event and fully supports the postponement to March 2023. We will continue to work collaboratively with the Flying Fifteen Associations, FSC, members and volunteers from both RFBYC and SoPYC to bring this event to fruition. We look forward to welcoming regional, interstate and overseas competitors to enjoy the hospitality of the three Clubs. Every effort will be made to ensure this is a memorable experience for all involved and we are confident sailors will enjoy the superb sailing conditions off Fremantle and our Club's excellent facilities."

The World's Committee recommended that RFBYC requested a further postponement of the World Championship event from FFI, as there was no clear understanding as to how international visitors would be able to attend the event, due to the continued travel restrictions imposed by the Australian and State Governments at the present time, and the unknown global regulations regarding travel with the rollout of COVID vaccines.

RFBYC would like to thank Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) for agreeing to postpone the Worlds they were due to host in 2023 to the UK Summer of 2025.

RFBYC looks forward to welcoming competitors to Fremantle, and in particular, the many visitors expected from Overseas and the East Coast. The facilities at FSC are world class and that Fremantle is renowned throughout the World for its unique sailing conditions. The proposed course area at Owen Anchorage is a location that has been used for numerous World Championship events, including the Perth 2011 ISAF World Championships and a host of other National and International Sailing events.

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