2025 Flying Fifteen Australian National Championship at Davey's Bay Yacht Club, Victoria

2025 Flying Fifteen Australian Nationals at Davey's Bay YC © Jacob Liebenberg

A total of 31 Flying Fifteens turned out for the 2025 Australian National Championship held on the waters of Davey's Bay Yacht Club.

Day 1 (by Lewis Davies and John Radnell)

The host club really turned it on for the first day of racing, with one Invitation race and Heat 1 completed. South/South-Easterly breezes are some of the most challenging conditions to tackle here, and the competitors revelled in the opportunity to stretch their legs and barge the start boat and top mark a few times. Shifty, full of bullets and holes with pressure ranging from 10 to 20 knots, boats in the drink, boats in the drink to windward, what more could you ask for?

The Invitation race was a great example of how to deal with pressure, second place to sixth trading places every leg, every tack and gybe had to be perfectly executed, every shift taken and hole avoided. Start strong, keep a cool head and stay between the mark and the boat behind was the game plan.

Mike and Paul Dunbar from South of Perth YC hunted their compatriots Nick Jerwood and Brad Sheridan to no avail, but had the speed and composure to get good separation from the rest of the fleet. After racing the brothers said, "Fantastic venue, wonderful volunteers, and today was all about boat speed and wind shifts."

Nick and Brad did a textbook job of controlling the fleet in both races, showing us the way around the track. Lucky for us he took us through the finish line the right way in Heat One, with a mix up and overlay in the pack behind us jumbling up the order right at the death.

The forecast for day 2 looked better for Craig and Ian Rainey, who poached a third place in the finish line mix up, with lighter conditions suiting the brothers from Gippsland Lakes. That is assuming Ian makes is out of hospital after copping a rogue spinnaker pole to the face!

2025 Flying Fifteen Australian Nationals at Davey's Bay YC - photo © Jacob Liebenberg

Day 2 (by Sally Radnell)

It was a spectacular day at the Flying 15 Australian Nationals. A steady 10-15 knots of breeze out of the West provided perfect racing conditions, delivering thrilling competition and impressive performances across the fleet.

Highlights of the day included drama and determination as Ian Rainey was sidelined after a spinnaker pole mishap required a visit to the plastic surgeon for a ripped lip. Stepping in as a substitute, Sam Ede made an impressive debut, finishing fourth over the line in his first Flying Fifteen race, an outstanding achievement that turned heads in the fleet.

WA dominance continued with the formidable duo of Nick Jerwood and Brad Sheridan showing no signs of letting up, securing three more wins to maintain their commanding position. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing, as John Radnell and Lewis Davies pushed them hard throughout the day, keeping the Western Australian pair on their toes.

2025 Flying Fifteen Australian Nationals at Davey's Bay YC - photo © Jacob Liebenberg

The leaderboard after day 2 showed the current top 10 reflecting a strong showing from the host club, with four DBYC boats holding their ground in the competition. They were joined by four teams from WA, one from Gippsland, and one from Queensland, making for a tightly contested field.

Overcoming Challenges:

Dave Streader and Glenn Kerkhof dealt with a broken mainsheet but managed to stay consistent on their home waters, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.

Family Rivalries:

Jeni and Peter Danks are in a battle to fend off their younger counterparts, Sam and David Danks. At the close of racing for the day, both teams sit on equal points, setting the stage for an exciting family showdown as the regatta progresses.

Day 3 - "When Neptune Took a Siesta: 2025 Nationals Heat Up (Without the Wind)"

The day gave us a masterclass in how to throw a proper Australian summer party, minus the one ingredient sailors actually needed: wind!

Starting with a brisk 12 degree morning that had everyone doing their best penguin impressions, the day quickly transformed into a scene that would make a desert lizard feel right at home.

The morning symphony began as usual, the melodious snapping of sails, and the clicking of wrenches as sailors began to repair their boats from the previous day.

The afternoon transformed into an impromptu beach party, with competitors standing waist-deep in the water, sharing tales of "that time when there was actually wind" while using their boats as rather expensive sun umbrellas. Our heroic Race Officer Glenys deserves a special mention for her valiant attempts to negotiate with the wind gods - even trying to bargain them down to a modest 5 knots.

Special thanks to our stoic race committee and volunteers who demonstrated remarkable commitment to their posts in the sweltering 35 degree heat. They stood ready to spring into action at the slightest whisper of a breezel Now that's what we call optimism!

Final score: Sun 1, Wind 0, Sailors' Spirits: Undefeated!

Day 4 (by Mike Schwarz)

Still no wind. Almost a repeat of day 3.

Day 5

After a whole weekend with no racing, three races were held on a dark and stormy day at DBYC, races 5 - 7 and the completion of the regatta. Entirely different from the two previous becalmed days of 35 degrees.

What promised to be 20 knots from the SW ended up as a lottery between 5 and 15 knots from 190 degrees, significant waves at times and mostly persistent rain.

The gloomy conditions did not deter Nick Jerwood and Brad Sheridan (SoPYC) from completing a clean sweep with three more bullets. They had the measure of all other competitors regardless of the conditions.

Nick Jerwood and Brad Sheridan win the 2025 Flying Fifteen Australian Nationals at Davey's Bay YC - photo © Jacob Liebenberg

Competition for the minor placings was much closer with both Michael and Paul Dunbar (SoPYC) and Sue Thompson and Cameron Taylor (DBYC) snaring 2nd place finishes on the final day of racing on their way to respective 2nd and 3rd place overall.

At the end of the session all sailors, race committee and rescue boats agreed that despite the wet and freezing conditions in the final day that the real winner was friendship.

Thank you to DBYC for putting on a great regatta.

Overall Results: