Flying Fifteen National Championship at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy - Day 3
by Christina Moncur 24 Sep 2023 12:19 BST
21-24 September 2023
Goacher Sails Race Day
Day three dawned sunny with little breeze but with the promise of 7-12 knots from the south-west by midday. The class first enjoyed bacon sandwiches as they held their AGM and a dolphin was playing near the marina wall as added entertainment, before heading out into the bay.
On arrival at the race area the fleet was greeted with a shifty breeze and the first start under a P flag was a general recall. The 1st substitute was replaced swiftly with an AP as the wind at the windward mark had dropped to 3 knots. It wasn't long before the wind had picked up to more than 5 knots and the fleet got away under the black flag with two boats identified as over.
The fleet split up the first beat hard to both sides and it was Matt Mee and Chris Robinson in 4029 who made it to the first mark first. There was less of a split up the second beat and 4029 managed to hold their lead to the finish although the Irish boat of Shane MacCarthy and Richard Rigg were a very close second, with Greg Wells and David Tulloch on 4112 in third.
The wind remained shifty for the second race and, Justin Waples and Jackie McKeller in 4033 had a great start at the committee boat and just one boat was identified as over in the U Flag start. It was Ian Cadwallader and Si Forbes in 4055 who arrived at the first mark first. They held this lead to the gate but it was 4033 who made it to the second windward mark first closely followed by 4055. They had a good battle downwind and it was 4055 who made it over the finish line first closely followed by 4033. Dave and Harry Lucas in 4017 finished third.
The third race saw one general recall before the class got away under black flag with one boat identified as over. It was Ben McGrane and Russ Clark in 4002 who took the lead to the first mark, a lead that they never lost returning to winning form. Andy McKee and Richard Jones in 4005 finishing second followed by Charles and Charlie Apthorp in 4004 finishing third after a very disappointing second race of the day.
It was a day where boats not only got their best results of the week but also their worst results of the week.
The fleet returned to shore in time for the England rugby match with pasties and beer provided. The final coaching briefing was delayed until all competitors were enjoying their BBQ. The daily prize-giving was held with one lucky boat winning a voucher for a new Goacher Jib.
It looks like a completely different day on Sunday with quite a lot of wind forecast.
Full results so far can be found here/