Flying Fifteen National Classic and Silver Championships 2025 at Dovestone Sailing Club

Flying Fifteen National Classic and Silver Championships 2025 at Dovestone Sailing Club © Samantha Allen & Mark Rahn

Flying Fifteen National Classic and Silver Championships 2025 at Dovestone Sailing Club © Samantha Allen & Mark Rahn

Flying Fifteen National Classic and Silver Championships 2025 at Dovestone Sailing Club © Samantha Allen & Mark Rahn

Classic and Silver division Flying Fifteens enjoyed a weekend of close racing and camaraderie in the glorious surroundings of this Peak District location. The weather forecast for the weekend was not too encouraging with force 4 gusting winds on both days and steady rain projected. In the event, for once the weather gods were more generous. Saturday dawned with a lightish and fickle westerly and dry conditions.

Visitors were welcomed from several clubs, with 5 boats from Scotland including Kenny and Paul Leask who had travelled from Shetland/Germany and boats from the North and Midlands of England.

The combined fleet sailed 3 back-to-back races after an early lunch. In the first race 2 boats were over at the start but returned and restarted. The first 3 boats to round the windward mark were 759 Andrew Mckee and his sister Emily Kippen (Dovestone SC), followed by 627 Bobby Salmond/Ben Thackray (Royal Northern YC) and 3332 Tim Allen and Iain McNeill (Dovestone SC). 3398 Kenny and Paul Leask (Lerwick Boating Club) made large gains after restarting to finish first Silver followed by 3286 Jordan Aspin and Jason Benn (Sir John Fisher SC). In the Classic fleet 759 Andrew/Emily maintained their early lead to the finish, followed by 627 Bobby/Ben and 2125 Gavin Cassidy/Anne Webb (Dovestone SC).

After a quick turnaround PRO Mal Hartland started the second race. 2681 Alice Morris/Kelly Unsworth (Dovestone SC) lead followed by 759, 2646 Jeremy Arnold/Richard Hope (Draycote Water SC) and 627. There was much changing of position throughout the fleet as the wind faded from time to time before returning towards the end concertinaing the fleet. This time the fleet winners were 2646 in the Classics and 3398 in the Silver fleet.

The third race started in overcast conditions with a slightly increased wind strength. After a general recall the second attempt was under a black flag. Unfortunately, one boat was caught out by this. On the second running leg the wind weakened, and the fleet compacted at the second mark. 5 boats pulled away but much of the fleet were left struggling for wind for a while. In the front group the usual front of fleet boats 3332, 2646 and 759 were joined by 3236 Ian Lees/Dave Hill (Dovestone SC) and 1872 John Hughes/John Macdonald (Dovestone SC). It was all still to play for as the conditions produced some "snakes and ladders" sailing that at times again compacted the fleet. When the curtain came down, there had been several changes. In the classics the race was won by 759 followed by 485 Graham Sharp/Ralph Smith (Plockton SC) and 2125. In the Silver fleet the results were 3332 followed by 3398 and 3236.

Flying Fifteen National Classic and Silver Championships 2025 at Dovestone Sailing Club - photo © Samantha Allen & Mark Rahn

The sailors enjoyed an atmospheric evening at the club with an excellent meal and live entertainment. This was an opportunity to get to know and reacquaint sailors from other clubs and talk about future plans and boats to be saved.

On Sunday after breakfast rolls sailing resumed with a little more wind which reverted to a fickler breeze during the race. 3362 Scott and Finlay Train (Solway YC) were in the mix at the windward mark with 759 and 627. In this race a group of boats had a mix up about the rounding of mark 2, this resulted in several re-roundings, one boat getting it wrong and one of the visitors (no names mentioned), sliding out of the boat and safely assisted back into the boat by crew Ben. The rain came in towards the end of the race. The silver boats 3332, 3363 and 3398 finished strongly. 759 again lead the Classics home followed by 2125 and 485.

Flying Fifteen National Classic and Silver Championships 2025 at Dovestone Sailing Club - photo © Samantha Allen & Mark Rahn

The final race ended with steady rain and the wind continued to be lightish and fickle. In the combined fleet the classics were to the fore. The Classics finished 759, 627 and 2646 in their overall series positions. In the Silver fleet the series outcome was in the balance between 3332 and 3398. Whilst 3332 lead the outcome was not certain until the line was crossed.

In the Classic fleet 759 Andrew and Emily with 4 wins and a discarded 2nd were deserving winners. The following 4 boats had only 2 points separating them, showing how close the competition had been.

In the silver fleet it had been more of a two-boat race eventually won by 3332 Tim and Iain.

Flying Fifteen National Classic and Silver Championships 2025 at Dovestone Sailing Club - photo © Samantha Allen & Mark Rahn

After an excellent lunch the prize-giving took place, with the prizes themselves generously sponsored by Impact Marine, to whom we are very grateful. The Commodore Iain particularly thanked the visitors for their support. The Prize winners were as follows:

Classic
1st 759 Andrew McKee & Emily Kippen (Dovestone SC) Championship Trophy, Royal Torbay half Hull, Coweslip Trophy half hull, Ladies Classic Bowl
2nd 627 Bobby Salmond & Ben Thackray (Royal Northern YC)
3rd 2646 Jeremy Arnold & Richard Hope (Draycote Water SC)

Silver
1st 3332 Tim Allen & Iain McNeill (Dovestone SC) Championship Trophy
2nd 3398 Kenny & Paul Leask (Lerwick Boating Club)
3rd 3286 Jordan Aspin & Jason Benn (Sir John Fisher SC)

Overall Results: