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Flying 15 Open 2026 at Royal Windermere Yacht Club

by Keith Jamieson 7 May 10:02 BST 25-26 April 2026
Royal Windermere Yacht Club 2026 Flying Fifteen Open © Jane Legge

Nineteen boats signed up for the Flying 15 Open Meeting on the 25th & 26th and, despite force 1 forecasts, eighteen turned up on a bright and sunny day.

RWYC Commodore welcomed everybody and awarded a special prize for the longest journey to Graham and Alasdair Sharp who had made their annual trip from Plockton in the Highlands to compete.

Royal Windermere Yacht Club 2026 Flying Fifteen Open - photo © Jane Legge
Royal Windermere Yacht Club 2026 Flying Fifteen Open - photo © Jane Legge

Race Officer Adam Cowley called a one-hour postponement and after a wind check led the fleet to the Southern Lake an hour later for a start just South of the Ferry. The breeze then joined in and three Windward - Leward races were completed with line honours being shared between Tony Woods, Steve Goacher & Nigel Tullet on the helms. Tony Woods and Andrew Davey in Frankie the Rhino that Tony had only finished fitting out that morning, led overnight.

Most people then retired to the restaurant for delicious homemade Steak and Ale Pie or Chicken Curry.

Royal Windermere Yacht Club 2026 Flying Fifteen Open - photo © Jane Legge
Royal Windermere Yacht Club 2026 Flying Fifteen Open - photo © Jane Legge

Sunday dawned not quite so sunny but still with no wind, after a postponement a breeze from the South with a tad of east set in and the fleet headed to the North Lake. Once again Adam Cowley the Race Officer pulled the Rabbit out the Hat and managed to run two races, having to finish them at the windward mark due to wind failing.

Ian Ackerokd with Innes Armstrong win the Royal Windermere Yacht Club 2026 Flying Fifteen Open - photo © Zoe Broughton
Ian Ackerokd with Innes Armstrong win the Royal Windermere Yacht Club 2026 Flying Fifteen Open - photo © Zoe Broughton
The safety boat crews all returned with aching muscles from the number of times they had to move marks with the wind backing further east for the second race, a big thanks to them all.

Ian Ackerokd with Innes Armstrong sailed a blinder on day two taking a first and second that put them into an overall winning position for the meeting, with Steve Goacher and Tim Harper in second and Nigel and Jean Tullet in 3rd.

Everybody retired to the club for a very civilised Tea and Home-Made Scone with Jam and Cream (Cornish Convention) before the long drive home for some. All in all a very successful weekend.

Overall Results:

PosBoat NameSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1stImpulsion4118Ian AckroydInnes ArmstrongRWYC5‑1432111
2nd Gbr4021Steve GoacherTim HarperRWYC21‑76312
3rdNiffty4031Nigel TullettJean TullettRWYC‑9614415
4thFrankie The Rhino4102Tony WoodsAndrew DaveyRWYC1358‑1217
5th 3865Robin DawsonMike CowanBassenthwaite Sailing Club62‑133617
6thFFsically Active4110Phil SnewinRos SnewinRoyal Windermere Yacht Club449‑11219
7thSNAffU4094Neil CurrieRory YardleyBassenthwaite872‑12522
8thFlight of the Heron4123David HeronMichele KayRWYC3‑985723
9thDefying Gravity4130Adrian TattersallJohn MathiePYC1212‑141833
10thWonder Years4103Julian ClarkeNick HampsonRWYC751110‑1533
11thGilmac485Graham SharpAlasdair SharpPlockton Small Boat Sailing Club‑1411471335
12thLeap of Faith4029Andrew SmithPeter SmithRWYC15869‑1638
13thZip it3733Michael HarrisSarah HarrisB&F101012‑151143
14thNimbusGBR 3286Jordan AspinJason BennSir John Fisher SC13‑151514951
15thFettercairn617Graham LamondCameran SharpRipon Sailing Club‑161316131052
16thTotal EclipseGBR3664Keith ByersLisa WoodsRWYC111610(DNC)DNC56
17thFast ForwardFF4146Tim O'BrienLynne SweeneyRWYC(DNC)DNCDNC161468
18thKaos Too3106Mark MeadowsJ BrassTeesdale Sailing Club171717(DNC)RET70

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