UK Global Flying Fifteen UK Nationals at Hayling Island SC - Day 2

Damage limitation on day 2 of the UK Global Flying Fifteen Nationals © VR Sport Media

Peter & Jo Allam on day 2 of the UK Global Flying Fifteen Nationals © VR Sport Media

It was a "Glamour Day in the Bay" as Hayling stepped it up - literally - on day two. Strong South Westerly breeze created some serious speed humps for the sailors to navigate, with the top crews catching some fast rides downwind; today was the day to see a Flying Fifteen on the plane!

The harsh conditions also took some casualties with a couple of broken rigs and a collision - damage limitations for some unfortunately.

A fantastic day for Jeremy Davey and Martin Huett with 2nd's in both races, Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado are still on top of the leader board with Ian Cadwallader and Dave Sweet and Greg Wells and Richard Rigg still in contention with joint third overall.

The Race Officer again set the race area off the Hayling Island coast, and we had the same windward leeward course. The fleet overcame its reluctance to challenge at the start seen on day 1 and two general recalls saw the fleet start at the 3rd attempt under a black flag.

Like on Thursday, in both of today's races the fleet split at the start, some taking the shore route and others getting out to sea quickly in the vain hope of lower waves. Again the top of the fleet could not agree as to which was the right way to go with leading boats of both packs arriving at the windward mark at the same time.

The downwind surfing exceeded Thursday's experience with huge lumps of water moving across the course and by the time of the second race causing enough carnage amongst the fleet for the Race Officer to abandon the planned third race. The fleet were happy to head home at this point.

Chris Waples and Andrew Jameson were particularly hard done by in the second race, having been first round the windward mark, they came to grief on the run when a wave caused them to broach, then invert. On righting their boat, the mast was no longer in one piece. They will be racing on Saturday though having borrowed a spare from a fellow sailor.

In Race one Jeremy Davy and Steve Goacher fought so hard on the run in to the finish that they opened the door for Charles Apthorp to steal a bullet whilst they were battling with each other.

In race two Steve made sure of his first win of the week overtaking Jeremy Davy on the last leg of the course which had been set tighter than previous races and required a spinnaker drop in the run in to the finish.

David Tabb & Chewey Sherrell on day 2 of the UK Global Flying Fifteen Nationals - photo © VR Sport Media

Despite being pipped twice to line honours the day's results favoured Jeremy as the leading pair overnight of Richard Lovering and Matt Alverado only got 3rd and 5th in the day's racing and their lead has narrowed to 4 points.

At this stage the potential winner of these championships looks like being one of the top 4 boats which are only separated by 8 points.

The forecast for Saturday is a repeat of Friday with +25knot winds and gusts. We all have eyes for Sunday which promises a "rest day" at 15 knots!

Results after Day 2: