Flying Fifteen Open at Aldeburgh Yacht Club

Flying Fifteen Open Meeting © Steve Liddell

13 boats entered Aldeburgh's annual open meeting, including 4 visitors.

The open is one of three key events hosted every year, alongside our Spring Regatta and August Regatta, all of which welcome travellers for racing on this beautiful stretch of river.

Steve Dewberry (race officer) set Saturday's course about 2 miles to the south of the club on a perfect windward/leeward track with a falling tide. As ever in these waters, the key was to read the strength of the tide, find the eddy and the wind pressure zones. The wind speed was 10-12 knots for most of the afternoon with gusts offering some useful shifts.

The first beat was tight but Justin and Amanda Waples - who have been bringing their Fifteen to the Alde for more than 30 years - were quick to use the local knowledge that they have acquired, choosing the east bank to pull ahead of the home boats who chose the west. From there on, it was their race, with Duncan Matthew and John Chalker second and Stephen Fullford and Archie McEwan third.

The second race was won by Waples/Waples again, with Chris and Emma Spark making second and Will Fennell and Andrew James third. Several racers found themselves in a hole where Waples/Waples had found wind in the first race.

The final race of the day saw Waples/Waples first, then Matthew/Chalker (who had the speed advantage upwind) and then John Hanson and Helen Selden in third.

The club laid on various entertainments in the evening. The fleet arrived on the Sunday to find a strong onshore westerly put paid to launching and no races were sailed.

Overall Results: (top three)

1. Waples/Waples (4033)
2. Matthew/Chalker (3844)
3. Spark/Spark (3764)

Fifteens at Aldeburgh are seeing a resurgence with various new formats being tried in order to give racers more time on the water and bringing the standard up across the fleet. Numbers at the open would have been higher without injuries to some of the home fleet and damage incurred in recent weeks to some boats on the water. Some entrants may have held back due to the mixed forecast which included thunder.

The open will be held in 2026 when we will welcome visitors again.

Full results here