Flying Fifteen Open at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham

Close racing on the Crouch at Burnham FF3727 leads eventual winners FF3681 Pip and Alice Hudson © Margaret Hudson

A small but highly competitive fleet of Flying Fifteens attended the annual charity regatta at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Burnham for a weekend of racing on the river Crouch. All the entry fees from this regatta were donated to the Farleigh Hospice.

The fifteens led by BIFFA class president Justin Waples, started with the Dragons and there was much speculation as to which class would take line honours. The first race started against the ebb tide with a beat up river into a force 2-3 Westerly. As is often the case, the choice of which side of the river was to prove decisive. Pip Hudson crewed by daughter Alice, FF3681, opted for the North bank and had a commanding lead over the other fifteens at the upper turning mark just behind the leading Dragon. At the leeward mark the Dragon stood out into the stronger stream whilst the Hudsons tacked immediately. At the next windward mark the fifteen was just behind the Dragon and a long run with the tide ensued. In the gusts, the fifteens were slightly faster than the Dragon and the Hudsons pulled slightly ahead only to be overtaken when the wind dropped and the Dragon applied it's large wind shadow. In a nailbiting dive across to the finish the fifteen just squeezed in front to win. Behind, a close battle amongst the remaining fifteens was won by FF3727 Andrew Palmer and Graham Wadely from FF3716 helmed by Justin with his wife Amanda.

Race two started with the flood and an increased force 4 breeze. FF3716 led off the start. Due to their ability to tack faster and stay in the strongest stream, all the fifteens were soon ahead of the Dragons on the hard beat to Cliff Reach. However, one shift is all it takes and the Hudsons again held a good lead at the windward mark choosing the South bank for the long run against the tide. Meanwhile the remaining fifteens opted for the North bank which aided by a shift of wind direction to the south was to prove the right option. At the next windward the Waples led by some 40m with FF3681 and FF3727 close together. A long run against the tide back to the finish ensued and a very tight fight for second place. At the finish FF3716 led with FF3681 just getting ahead of FF3727. All the fifteens finished within approximately 100m of each other after 85 mins racing and all comfortably ahead of the first Dragon.

With racing abandoned on Sunday due to lack of wind this left FF3681 as the winners of a very close contest. Many thanks to the Corinthian for for enabling a Flying Fifteen event and also to Burnham Yacht Harbour for supporting the charity by providing launching facilities. Next year we look forward to returning with a bigger fleet to again enjoy the challenges of river racing on the Crouch.

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