Flying Fifteen Review of the Year
by Alastair Stevenson 22 Dec 16:57 GMT
GBR 4002 and GBR 4144 battle for the lead in Race 2 on day 1 of the 2025 Flying Fifteen Worlds at the WPNSA © Mark Jardine
A look back at the year's championships, and a preview of 2026 events
The 2025 UK Flying Fifteen season will be remembered for exceptionally close racing across variable conditions at all five major events. Overall, 104 boats contested at least one 2025 championship event, including a robust National Championship fleet of 65 boats. While turnout at the four regional championships was naturally lower than last year's World Championship qualification series, participation remained strong for the post-Covid era with sailors appreciating the close tactical racing that the Flying Fifteen offers.
Many congratulations are due to this year's event winners. Ben McGrane, racing the evergreen 4002, secured two major titles: the Inland Championship at Draycote Water, sailing with Scott Dawson, and the National Championships in Weymouth, sailing with Russ Clark, in the lead up to the Worlds.
Elsewhere, former World Champion Steve Goacher took the Northern Championship at Windermere in 4021 with long-time crew Tim Harper. Class legend Greg Wells mastered trying conditions at Hayling Island to win the Southern Championship with David Tulloch in 4112. Finally, the Scottish Championship was awarded to Mike Preston, who scored three bullets with Karl Sloane in 3802 at Loch Tummel.
With three Championship wins over the past two years, statistically Ben McGrane sits atop the UK Flying Fifteen helm rankings. This ranking does not consider the World Championship, which was won by UKFFA sailor Graham Vials racing with Chris Turner.
It is a testament to the build quality of the modern Flying Fifteen that the Scottish Championship was won by a 22-year-old boat, while the National-winning hull was launched back in 2012. And on the subject of older boats the Classic & Silver Championships, now held separately from the Gold fleet events, continues to thrive. This year the event was sailed at Dovestone SC and saw Andrew McKee & Emily Kippen win the Classic division with Tim Allen & Iain McNeill taking victory in the Silvers.
Finally, special mention goes to the season's "frequent fliers": Adrian Tattersall and John Mathie (4130) who contested all five events, followed by Gary Stuart and John Wayling (3903) as well as David McKee and Mal Hartland (4065) who each competed in four.
2026 promises another exciting season of championship racing, culminating in the Europeans in Mallorca:
- Inland Championship - Grafham Water Sailing Club (18-19 April)
- Southern Championships - Royal Torbay Yacht Club (16-17 May)
- Scottish Championships - Loch Earn (tbc)
- National Championships - Tees & Hartlepool Yacht Club (9-12 July)
- Northern Championships - Ullswater Yacht Club (5-6 September)
- European Championships - Club De Mar, Mallorca (6-11 October)