Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Brothers

Flying Fifteen Balearic Championships at Real Club Nautic Port de Pollenca

by Jonny Fullerton 9 Oct 2013 16:37 BST 4-6 October 2013
Adrian Tattersall & Tim Smart (GBR) win the Flying Fifteen Balearic Championships held in Majorca © Jonny Fullerton

Close tactical racing provides Flying Fifteen fun in the Balearics

The Flying Fifteen Balearic Championship was held on the weekend of 4 - 6 October at the venue of the 2014 Flying Fifteen European Championships in Pollenca, on the island of Majorca.

Racing was organised by the Real Club Nautica Port de Pollenca in a stunning bay surrounded by the mountains at the north-eastern tip of the island of Majorca. Some late summer balmy weather and a mixture of shifty breezes provided for some tactical racing amoungst a small but competitive fleet.

Two races were scheduled but only one could be completed on Friday (day one) due to the muggy and slightly stormy conditions which kept the breeze down to 5-8 knots. A visiting team from the UK, Adrian Tattersall and Tim Smart, were using the regatta as an opportunity to learn from the tricky conditions in Pollenca. Using a chartered boat IRL 3753 they soon worked their way to the front of the fleet rounding just ahead of Majorcan sailors David Barber and stand in crew Sue Foreman sailing Fine Fettle. The two leaders fought to the end and the fading and shifting breeze made for a tight finish but it stayed this way with Spanish Class Secretary Michael Clough and Jonny Fullerton just snatching third by a nose on the finish line.

Saturday dawned with an earlier start in a much fresher 16 - 18 knot north-easterley with some disturbed chop. The new weather conditions made for more close tactical racing on windward/leeward courses.

After another clear start, race two also went the way of the visiting Brits, Adrian Tattersall and Tim Smart but again the action was close this time with the Harris brothers, Patrick and Vincent sailing Flying High, back in the mix after a slow first day. In the stronger breeze, the Harris brothers pushed the British pair very hard but couldn't quite break through, settling for second. David Barber with regular crew Hannah Barber took third with a very close battle for 4th - 8th proving to be a pattern for the weekend.

Race two of the day was again sailed in shifty and windy conditions with a breeze flicking around the headland of Formentura. This time Patrick and Vincent Harris from CN Cala Gamba did get the better of their tussle with the British pair with the ever consistent Barber family also representing CN Cala Gamba taking third.

Again some very packed mark roundings meant some close racing particularlay amoungst the local Flying Fifteen sailors, Scott Walker and Andrew Harvey, David Miles and Amigo del Alma and Michael Beecken and Stephen Parry.

Two more races were scheduled for the final day (Sunday) and the majority of the fleet were still digesting a rather large BBQ laid on by the Real Club Nautica Port de Pollenca in typical Spanish islander style.

The breeze was still quite fresh with a hint of thunderstorms but patchy and fading at times to 12 - 13 knots. The Race Committee had to wait a while for conditions to settle for another longish windward/leeward race course providing some more close racing.

The visiting Brits had to work hard and on the final run with a big shift they only just crossed the finish line infront of the Harris brothers with Stephen Babbage and John Walker from CN Cala Gamba finishing strongly to take third.

The final race would be the decider and the breeze was getting lighter. For the first time in the regatta there were three OCS at the committee boat end all pushing a bit too hard. David and Hannah Barber came out stongest up the first beat rounding clear ahead of a close pack containing Scott Walker and Andrew Harvey and the ever improving Stephen Babbage and John Walker.

The Barbers continued to extend to a big lead leaving a big scrap to the chasing pack but Adrian Tattersall and Tim Smart (GBR) had kept enough points in the bag crossing in 4th to claim the title. Stephen Babbage and John Walker took third and seal third on the overall podium.

The class now turns its attention to the Flying Fifteen World Championship in Hong Kong in November but Pollenca will look forward to welcoming all Flying Fifteen sailors back to the island of Majorca for the 2014 Europeans in September next year.

Overall Results: (top ten, 5 races)

1st IRL 3753, Adrian Tattersall/Tim Smart: 1,1,2,1,4, 9pts
2nd ESP 3728, David Barber/Hannah Barber: 2,3,3,4,1, 13pts
3rd ESP 3577, Stephen Babbage/John Walker: 5,4,5,3,3, 20pts
4th ESP 3592, Patrick Harris/Vincent Harris: 8,2,1,2,DNF, 25pts
5th ESP 3763, Scott Walker/Andrew Harvey: 4,6,9,7,2, 28pts
6th ESP 3804, Michael Clough/Jonny Fullerton: 3,8,6,6,5, 28pts
7th ESP 3610, David Miles/Amigo del Alma: 6,5,4,5,DSQ, 32pts
8th ESP 3600, Michael Beecken/Stephen Parry: 9,7,8,8,7, 39pts
9th ESP 3724, Stephen Hart/Seven Phillips: 10,9,7,9,6, 41pts

Related Articles

Entries open for Cowes Classics Regatta
NoR published - see you there at the end of May Cowes Classics Regatta, the flagship event of the Royal London Yacht Club in Cowes, in conjunction with the Royal Thames Yacht Club, is delighted to announce that entries have opened, and the Notice of Race has now been published. Posted on 24 Apr
Hyde's new B1 designs win F15 UK Inlands
A close fought battle in varied conditions as the fleet builds towards the World Championship A close fought battle with Hyde's One Design Sales Manager, Ben McGrane, winning crewed by Scott Dawson. Conditions were varied for the weekend with strong winds on Saturday and a more moderate Sunday. Another great result for the new B1 designs! Posted on 9 Apr
2025 P&B Flying Fifteen Inlands at Draycote Water
Sunglasses, woolly hats, cake and some sailing Draycote Water SC has been home to a keen fleet of Flying Fifteens for many years, several of whom are regular travellers on the open and championship circuit - but prior to last weekend the club hadn't hosted a Flying 15 event of its own for some time. Posted on 7 Apr
Cowes Classics free classic car and boat display
Entries now open for car owners for 1st June event Cowes Classics Regatta is delighted to announce the 5th annual Cowes Classics Day, a free community event on The Parade in Cowes, organised by the Royal London Yacht Club. Posted on 5 Apr
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