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Western Australian State Flying Fifteen Championship at Geraldton Yacht Club

by Karen Dawes 13 Apr 2021 16:17 BST 2-4 April 2021

After a brief hiccup in 2020, the Western Australian State Flying Fifteen Championship returned to its traditional Easter time-slot and the fleet was summoned to appear at Geraldton Yacht Club for a fabulous social program interspersed with seven somewhat serious races on the sparkling waters of the aptly named, Champion Bay.

The City of Geraldton is just over 400kms north of Perth and has a long history with the Flying Fifteen class and, fortunately for the competitors, boasts a very large commercial fishing fleet with a number of club sponsors keen to promote their produce.

Twenty-four boats assembled for the first 2 races on Good Friday, most having driven from Perth although Wayne and Ela North came from the deep south of the state, Albany, which is a further five hours driving. Races 1 and 2 were sailed in a light south-easterly that flicked south just enough to frustrate race officers and competitors alike. Nick Jerwood and Brad Sheridan opened their defence of the title they won last year with 2 bullets (winning horns) with Greg Tonnison and Mike Dunbar second in both races.

Day 2, Saturday, and the light shifty south-easterly's continued to keep everyone on their toes with several starts broken off during the start sequence. Liberal use of the U flag kept the fleet behaving (mostly) and ensured all boats got off the water before dark so the sailors didn't get too cold and the beer too warm. Two more wins for Nick and Brad and one win for Greg and Mike. David Yu and Chris Nelson kept in the hunt with a range of seconds and thirds while Phillipa Packer and Dean McAullay did likewise and were a couple of points back. John Wilson and Matt Summers and Tim Walker and Alan (Plonky) Sharpe both put a blemish on their scorecards with a UFD in the second race of the day.

On Easter Sunday, the last 2 races were sailed in a moderate southerly which brought a smile to some of the heavier crews but Nick and Brad still won both heats with David and Chris second in the early race and Hamish Carnachan and Peter Mudford getting into some late form with a second in the final race.

Final results showed Nick and Brad winning the Championship for the third successive time in fairly convincing fashion having to drop a second. Greg and Mike toiled hard to finish second and David and Chris third only four points behind.

Geraldton Yacht Club, having had a few lean years, are now a club on the rebound with recent refurbishments to the clubhouse, a strong core of members and sponsors and a junior training program that will continue their growth. The social functions, fish barbecue and presentation dinner, were a fabulous team effort by caterers and club members alike.

Key people to thank for making a successful regatta are Regatta Chairman Mark Millman and Race Officer John Rooke who both took everything in their stride and made it happen.

Try a Fifteen here

More information at www.flying15.org

Overall Results:

PosSail NoBoat NameSkipper/CrewR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
13986IneffableNick Jerwood‑Brad Sheridon 1) 1) 1) 1)[ 2]( 2) 1) 1)6
24072The AnswerGreg Tonnison‑Mike Dunbar 2) 2) 3) 3) 1) 3)[ 5]( 5)14
33859Tuffan UpDavid Yu‑Chris Nelson 4) 3) 2) 4)[ 6]( 6) 2) 3)18
44063FireflyPhillipa Packer‑Dean McAullay 5) 5) 4) 2) 4)[ 9]( 9) 4)24
53822A‑SquaredAndrew Knowles‑Anne Knowles 6) 9)[ 11]( 11) 5) 5) 4) 6)35
63989FFast Lane 4John Wilson‑Matthew Summers 3) 4) 9)[ 25](UFD) 9) 5) 9)39
73987Follow UsTim Walker‑Alan Sharpe 8) 8) 5)[ 25](UFD) 7) 7) 8)43
83619SednaLiam Wilson‑Margot Matthews 7) 7) 7)10)14)11)[ 16]( 16)56
93855FFlashpointPeter Rooke‑Paul Dunbar12)[ 15]( 15) 6)12)13) 8) 7)58
104064Fly In The OintmentSandy Dunn‑Greg Howell10)11)10) 8)11)[ 20]( 20)10)60
113809NeffariousHamish Carnachan‑Peter Mudford11)FD)[ 25](DNF) 7)10) 6) 2)61
123858Second BreakffastKaren Dawes‑Russell Dawes 9)10) 8)11)[ 16]( 16)13)12)63
134075Final Fifteen Says She!John Hassen‑Tony Finch13) 6)[ 20]( 20)15) 8)10)19)71
143878OrcaClive Beeton‑Mark Jarred14)14)16)[ 25](UFD) 3)14)13)74
153983Nelsons Loose CannonPeter Groom‑John Muscio16)[ 17]( 17)12)14)12)16)11)81
163984FaffinCarl Pettersson‑Kristine Pettersson17)13)13) 9)15)17)[ 17]( 17)84
173800SaltheartMark Gooding‑Kim Gooding19)12)14)[ 25](UFD)21)15)14)95
183846Dare to DreamColin Smith‑Nigel Moffat15)16)21) 6)20)23)[ 25](UFD)101
193910Yes No MaybeJennifer Sims‑Adam Semple18)[ 25](UFD)15)16)19)18)15)101
203719Fast LaneJeff Vance‑Greg Vance20)[ 21]( 21)17)17)18)12)18)102
213738KerfuffleJohn Gummery‑ Peter Dymond21)18)19)13)[ 25](UFD)22)21)114
224010Mr FoxMark Millman‑Arron Parker22)19)18)[ 25](RET)17)19)20)115
233861Double NickelDavid Reid‑Mary‑Anne Reid23)20)23)18)[ 23]( 23)21)22)127
243545Frequent FlyerWayne North‑Ela North24)22)22)19)22)[ 24]( 24)23)132

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