Flying Fifteen Open at Llangorse Sailing Club

Llangorse Flying Fifteen Race 4 shortly after the start © Peter David

Last weekend saw the 'Mid-Wales' Flying Fifteen Open Meeting at Llangorse SC. A healthy entry of twelve teams were drawn into the competition, including ten boats from the home club.

Saturday brought a fair breeze gusting up to ten knots at the start and into the first of the races. Three back-to-back races were run that took the fleet on courses across the main expanse of the 340 acres of lake.

Race One saw the fleet negotiating a dip in wind pressure around and beyond 'Creek' buoy, testing crew's light airs competence that resulted in a good number of place changes. David Morgan and Lorina Walden produced a competent display and took a well-deserved bullet. Nick and Claire Taylor managed to break away from the fleet, closely followed by Jonnie Craddock and Frankie Devereux, securing a second and third place, respectively.

The courses for the next two races were set across the more central area of the lake. Over the afternoon the pressure dropped off, presenting the fleet with challenging race conditions. Less troubled by the conditions David and Lorina secured a further two bullets. The Taylors and Woods brothers, Paul and Richard, each took second places, with Rob Dangerfield and Claire Ellis securing a brace of third places.

Sunday promised a more consistent wind and started well with a fair breeze and a little Welsh 'moisture'.

The fourth race, for the Simon Dangerfield Trophy, took a windward leeward course format at the East end of the lake. A reasonable breeze gave way to dropping pressure coupled with numerous wind shifts and at times 'biblical' portions of rain. The race leaders, David and Lorina, developed an impressive lead only to find it virtually eradicated by their becoming stalled and the fleet closing on a gentle spinnaker run. The final lap's rounding of the leeward mark resembled Piccadilly Circus with boats stacking up into a very congested space, a cacophony of calls for water ensued and a significant number of place changes took place. David and Lorina held on to their lead from the Card brothers, Peter and Richard, who had sneaking through into second place, with third place secured by Ben Williams and Jacquie Layton.

The final race's course added a leg to 'Church' buoy into the central area of the lake and again, the weather created testing conditions for the fleet. The consistent quality of David and Lorina's sailing showed through as they secured a clean sweep of five bullets, with the upper half of finishing places awarded across the same crews.

The overall result saw David and Lorina discarding a bullet and taking the Open classification laurels. The Taylors took second place, with Rob and Claire securing a third in their 'Silver' boat and with it that classification's trophy. Jonnie and Frankie came fourth overall and secured the 'Classic' classification trophy.

The Race Team of John Mason and Peter David managed a sterling job of laying manageable courses under difficult conditions. Keith Walden's marshalling of the Support Team was meticulous, and the House Team of Barbara and Tony Joss sustained all participants magnificently. Llangorse's splendid expanse of water and interesting wind patterns brought out some great inland racing competence from all participants. Not only was the turnout good but the level of competence on display made for great competition and excellent racing.

Overall Results:

* Best 'Silver' classification boat
† Best 'Classic' classification boat