Flying Fifteen European Championship 2026 in Palma - Overall

Andy Tunnicliffe and Ricki Riggs claim the title on the final day

At the early morning briefing PRO Ines Cabrer announced a forecast similar to the previous day, a small window of opportunity for racing anytime after 1300 hrs with the likely chance of one final race.

The fleet left the Club de Mar marina before noon to sail out to the start area in Palma bay. However when they got there it was still too light to set a good course for racing. For about an hour we waited in the warm sunshine for a fickle sea-breeze to stabilise. Finally around 1345 hrs a gentle 7 - 10 knots fluttered in from the South. The breeze was oscillating but was enough to sail one last race before cut off time on the final day.

Two boats were effectively contesting the European title after only 4 races were sailed but completing a fifth race allowed 1 discard and thus lots of places could change as many competitors carried a double digit score.

Flying Fifteen Europeans in Palma Day 4 - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

A slightly shorter windward / leeward two lap race was set and racing got under way with a soft 8 - 10 knot Southerly breeze. The start under U flag was clean and the fleet spit upwind. Chris Waples and Simon Weatherall (GBR) led the fleet round the windward marks and the majority of the fleet sailed on starboard tack well down the first downwind leg. It looked like a row of soldiers from the committee boat.

However, when they started gybing to set up for the gate rounding the leaders converged again at the leeward gate. A cluster of boats rounded including Chris Waples and Simon Weatherall (GBR), Bernardo and Marcus Arndt (BRA), Victor Perez Campos and Mark Branagh (ESP) and two Irish boats, John Lavery and Billy Russell and Peter and Juliette Kennedy proving that their 4th place yesterday was no flash in the pan!

Flying Fifteen Europeans in Palma Day 4 - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

Upwind again for the last time, there appeared to be quite a lot of covering but some of the overall leaders were buried in the pack and suddenly the calculators came out on the committee boat to check the scores as they stood.

Victor Perez Campos and Mark Branagh representing CMSAP in Spain, pulled out a big lead choosing the shifts well to round the windward mark and spreader with a good lead of ten boat lengths or more.

Flying Fifteen Europeans in Palma Day 4 - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

Following them was a much more condensed pack including Chris Waples and Simon Weatherall (GBR), the Brasilians, Bernado and Marcus Arndt who sail their Flying 15 on the island of Mallorca, the two Irish boats and the bright blue spinnaker of Andy Jameson & Greg Wells (GBR) from HISC who looked to be gaining places fast.

Again the calculators came out as there was no sign of Andy Tunnicliffe & Ricki Riggs (GBR) from Bassenthwaite SC who led Andy Jameson and Greg Wells by only 2 points at the beginning of the day. Jameson and Wells needed to finish 4th or better to win on countback.

Flying Fifteen Europeans in Palma Day 4 - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

Then another twist when the Brasilian's lying in third, were judged to have committed a foul (rule 42) so had to do turns less than 200 meters from the finish. This meant a spinnaker drop, turns and re-hoist which lost them several places.

Meanwhile Jameson and Wells aimed for the inside gate mark and rounded in second place just ahead of John Lavery and Billy Russell (IRL). Victor Perez Campos and Mark Branagh (ESP) sailed on to win comfortably and in doing so claimed an excellent third place overall in the regatta.

Another excellent performance in the light winds for the Irish boats, John Lavery and Billy Russell and Peter and Juliette Kennedy taking fourth and fifth consecutively.

Flying Fifteen Europeans in Palma Day 4 - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

With the maths done this appeared to show Andy Jameson & Greg Wells as European Champions by two points on countback. However on coming ashore it became evident that there was a protest hearing to be heard for an incident at the top of the course involving Andy Tunnicliffe / Ricki Riggs and Andy Jameson / Greg Wells. Sadly for the latter the decision went against them and this handed the European title to Andy Tunnicliffe and Ricki Riggs of Great Britain.

1st overall Andy Tunnicliffe and Ricki Riggs (GBR) - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

Andy Jameson and Greg Wells were able to discard the last race result and still salvage second place overall care of consistent scores earlier in the regatta.

2nd overall Andy Jameson and Greg Wells (GBR) - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

Flying Fifteen Europeans in Palma Prize Giving - 3rd overall Victor Perez and Mark Branagh (ESP) - photo © Chris Ritter / CDM

Despite only 5 of the 8 races being completed the feeling amongst the fleet was that the championship was excellently organised by Club de Mar in Palma and the all female race management of Ines Cabrer and her team had done a superb professional job with good courses and excellent communication. The scene at the Club de Mar was one of a relaxed atmosphere with fine hospitality and a very welcoming team. The Club de Mar can be very proud of their efforts to lay on a top class regatta.

Overall Results: