Please select your home edition
Edition
GJW Direct 2024 Dinghy
Product Feature
RYA Optimist Coach Handbook
RYA Optimist Coach Handbook

Australian Flying Fifteen Championships at Davey's Bay Yacht Club - Day 1

by Sue Thompson 31 Dec 2012 10:42 GMT 29 December 2012 - 4 January 2013

If yesterday's conditions were perfect then today's could be described as magic!

Racing started early at 11am with a 7-10kt SW breeze which fluctuated in pressure and direction enough to keep the fleet on their toes, or tearing their hair out depending where you were. But it was the wind pressure that made the difference as the fleet split, some heading straight for the shore, while others played the shifts out to sea.

In the first race it was local pair Mark Daly and Chris Schwarz who rounded first with Sue Thompson and Cameron Taylor in Ark close behind. With three windward returns to complete Mark and Chris crept back to mid fleet while WA combination Chris Paterson and Rupert Leslie in (aptly named) "Storyteller" quickly worked their magic downwind and lead for the rest of the race. However, when there was no victorious hooter for Storyteller, it was Sue and Cam who took out the race as the WA pair were OCS.

Gippsland Lake brothers Craig and Ian Rainy did battle with Queenslanders Ashley Smith and Adam Kingston in the final stretch to the finish to complete the top 3. Yesterday's clear winners, Adam Hawkins and Ben Jones, were not as comfortable in the lighter conditions but managed to work their way through to finish 5th just behind OK Dinghy Class stalwart Peter Milne and crew Phil Dubbin. There were plenty of stories of gaining 10 places just to lose them again, but it was Grand Master Bill Shand who made sure he moved up the fleet at the right time and finished 10th.

The second race started with a few more knots but it only lasted for the first lap. A gutsy port start for the Queensland pair of Smith and Kingston saw them at the first mark with Sue and Cam and the battle continued for the whole race. Dale Collings and Glenn Sheen in Aussie Falcon had a better race as did our international visitor David Tabb sailing with Davey's Bay YC Commodore Scott Lidgett.

A couple of port and starboard incidents, touched marks and busy gate rounding's kept the mid fleet amused while the Rainy brothers skilfully worked their way through the downwind pack to the finish narrowly beating Sue and Cam who had to settle for 3rd. Aussie Falcon hung on to 4th but it was current champion Matt Owen who looked the most relieved when he crossed in 5th place after being in double digits in the morning.

Full results are available on the Davey's Bay Yacht Club website.

Two races are scheduled for New Year's Day.

Related Articles

Poole Regatta to Host IRC Europeans in 2026
4 days of competitive racing in a spectacular environment The enviable track record Poole has built for hosting unmissable regattas continues in 2026 with the inclusion of the prestigious IRC European Championship as an integral element of racing, alongside multiple class starts. Posted on 1 Apr
Keelboat Endeavour 2025
Sonata class win Robin Judah Trophy in Burnham Joe Cross, Russell Wheeler, Matt Hitt and Tim Lees, representing the Sonata class, won the 2025 edition of the Keelboat Endeavour, hosted by Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd of March. Posted on 25 Mar
Ovington Inland Championships at Grafham
110 sailors spread across 83 boats and 6 classes attended It was great to see over 110 sailors spread across 83 boats and six classes for the Ovington Inland championship. This regatta has become a season opener for our classes over the years and whilst the sun was out, the temperatures stayed down. Posted on 20 Mar
No more excuses
2025 is all about the club sailors, the weekend warriors, the open meeting stalwarts I was wondering if things were going to slow down in sailing after the huge events of 2024, namely the Olympics, America's Cup and Vendée Globe but, if anything, they've speeded up. Posted on 17 Mar
Flying Fifteen Spanish Championship 2025
The fleet welcomes four new crews to the fleet bringing a new strong challenge The Flying 15 Spanish (Balearic) Nationals were held alongside the Snipe and 420 Nationals in Pollenca Bay on the island of Mallorca. Posted on 16 Mar
Volvo Ladies Helm 2025 at RHKYC
Female skippers aboard the 47 boats across seven classe On the International Women's Day on Saturday 8 March, the Club hosted the annual Volvo Ladies Helm Day on Saturday with female skippers aboard the 47 boats across seven classes joining forces to celebrate and recognise women's achievements worldwide. Posted on 10 Mar
Flying Fifteen Worlds Entry Opens
August's event at the WPNSA includes the UK Nationals and an International Championship "PRO-SET® Epoxy Propels Ovington Boats" in a 2025 Celebration of Flying Fifteens. For the first time since 2011 the Flying Fifteen World Championship will be held in the UK at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy from 10th - 21st August 2025. Posted on 2 Mar
A Big Year Ahead for Hyde Sails
We speak to Ben McGrane at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show Mark Jardine spoke with Hyde Sails' Ben McGrane during the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2025 about their focuses in the year ahead, including the upcoming Flying Fifteen World Championship at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy in August. Posted on 27 Feb
Geographe Bay Race Week day 2
The wind gods are cooperating (for the time being) With the cobwebs well and truly blown out from a bout of racing on Sunday afternoon, the mini-regatta sailors were on the water bright and early on Monday morning - braving a 9 am start. Posted on 19 Feb
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Preview
The relaunch of an iconic regatta with a new format Having canvassed the opinion of those involved in the overall running of an event that has seen soaring popularity since inception in 2008, the Chairman and Organising Committee of Cowes Classics Regatta are delighted to unveil a new format. Posted on 13 Feb