Flying Fifteen Open at Parkstone Yacht Club

Fifteen Flying Fifteens fought furiously for fame at Parkstone Yacht Club's Open Meeting over the weekend of 24 / 25 April 2004.

An early taste of summer was provided by a strong high pressure system that brought beautiful sunshine, but little wind. However, after a slight delay to allow the wind to settle Race Officer, John Lacey was able to make the most of the slight sea breeze on Day 1 by laying an Olympic course in Poole Bay. From the start the battle was between Simon Kneller sailing with Dave Lucas, and his Grafham Water Sailing Club mate Brett Dingwall sailing with his son Ben. Both boats soon pulled clear of the fleet while behind them Parkstone's Phil Owen fought it out with Ian Cadwallader and David Sweet from Chew Valley. On the downwind leg Cadwallader luffed Owen out to the port side while Charles Apthorpe sailing with David Rickard from Hayling Island Sailing Club took a flyer on the starboard side of the run and pulled through into third place behind Simon Kneller who crossed the line ahead of Brett and Ben Dingwall.

The wind moved more southerly for Race 2 and Johnathan & Gillian Hill from Bewl Valley Sailing Club starting from the starboard end of the line were soon ahead of the fleet closely pursued by Simon Kneller & Dave Lucas. On the second windward leg Kneller & Lucas split tacks with Johathon & Gillian and by the windward mark had gained the lead. Behind the Hills Parkstone's Bob Hoare crewed by Nick Cornish skillfully sailed through a group of boats running downwind and being luffed to windward by Ian Cadwallader & Dave Sweet from Chew Valley. Bob & Nick came in third behind Johnathon & Gillian Hill in second place from race winner Simon Kneller. Brett & Ben Dingwall finished forth marginally ahead of Phil Owen from Parkstone with Ian Cadwallader next.

The wind was starting to fade for Race 3. Charles Apthorpe & David Rickard starting from the port end were quick off the line and looked good up the first beat. From the same end both Simon Kneller and the Hills were soon crossing tacks while Brett & Ben Dingwall seemed to have lost it by going wide from the port end. At the windward mark Charles Apthorpe rounded just ahead of Simon Kneller with Phil Owen crewed by Peter McKenna third. Place changed on the reach with the Hills moving into third place and Brett Dingwall recovering from his poor start to pull through the fleet. On the final run the wind faded and with the fleet spread right across the course. Simon Kneller got the best of it to cross the line in first place. Behind him Charles Apthorpe got second place with the Hills in third and Brett & Ben Dingwall in forth place inches ahead of Phil Owen on the finishing line.

For Day 2 the Race Officer wisely shifted racing into Poole Harbour as wind conditions in the Bay looked bleak. The first race was rapidly abandoned after a reasonable southerly force 2 shifted to the south east as the start gun fired. The restart was also postponed, seconds before the start gun, as the wind veered another 20 degrees. However the wind then settled in the east and the fleet enjoyed two suburb, flat water, tactical races. First at the first mark in Race 4 was Mike Kilbee crewed by Tony Cox, just ahead of Barry Rolfe & Matt Southam, both boats from the host club Parkstone. Also in the fray were the Hills, Ian Cadwallader and the Dingwalls. The overnight leader Simon Kneller was someway down the fleet as he was a premature starter at the outer distance mark. Brett & Ben Dingwall needed all their skills to take the finishing gun form Ian Cadwallader & Dave Sweet while Johnathon & Gillian Hill made it into third place; forth was Mike Kilbee & Tony Cox, with Barry Rolfe & Matt Southam in fifth place.

There were still places to compete for at the start of the final race. Charles Apthorpe led the fleet to the first mark and showed a determination to keep there as he fought off the challenge from the local boats of Phil Owen and Mike Kilbee. On the second beat the fleet split into two groups. Simon Kneller and the Hills chose the port side and lost the wind. Apthorpe & Rickard covered the port side group, but quickly switched to the starboard side as they saw the wind fill in. At the finish Charles Apthorpe crossed first from Phil Owen & Peter McKenna in second who was followed by Parkstone club mate Mike Kilbee & Tony Cox. Brett & Ben Dingwall finished forth and Ian Cadwallader fifth.

Overall the Parkstone Yacht Club Flying Fifteen Open Meeting was won on tie break by Simon Kneller & Dave Lucas, with Brett & Ben Dingwall in second place. Charles Apthorpe & David Rickard were one point adrift and came in third. The first boat in the Silver Fleet was Graham & Sue Latham from Parkstone Yacht Club while the first local boat was Phil Owen & Peter McKenna.

Overall Results: