Salcombe Gin Flying Fifteen Southern Championship at Parkstone Yacht Club

Twenty boats joined 13 from the local fleet at Parkstone Yacht Club for the Salcombe Gin Flying Fifteen Southern Championships over the weekend of 18 - 19 June 2022.

As the fleet headed out into Poole Bay on Saturday morning there was a shifty Northerly breeze. With averages of around 10 knots Race Officer Andrew Hartley set a windward leeward course for the first race of the day. By they time the fleet started they were racing in an average of 16 - 19 knots with gusts of 27 knots. There was a large shift up the first beat and those who went right lost out to those who headed straight for the beach. Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett in 3760 won the first race with Ian Pinnell and Ian Cadwallader on 4096 in second and the new partnership of Shane MacCarthy and Nigel King in 4085 were third.

Ian Pinnell and Ian Cadwallader finish 2nd overall in the Flying Fifteen Southerns at Parkstone - photo © Digital Sailing

With the wind consistently averaging the high teens the race team set a triangle sausage course for the second race. Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett remained consistent with another win and were followed by Charles and Charlie Apthorp in 3957 in second and Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado in 4002 in third.

Richard Lovering and Matt Alverado during the Flying Fifteen Southerns at Parkstone - photo © Digital Sailing

Race 3 saw a new race winner with Ian Pinnell and Ian Cadwallader taking line honours, with Charles and Charlie Apthorp in second and Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado in third.

The fleet returned to shore in gusts of 30 + knots to a beer on the slipway with plenty of smiles and comments of spectacular conditions and awesome reaches out on the racecourse. Thanks to our very generous sponsors, Salcombe Gin, Digital Sailing, Hyde Sails, Pinnell and Bax, Goacher Sails, North Sails and Ovington Boats a daily prize-giving was held whilst the competitors enjoyed a curry in the Clubhouse.

Flying Fifteen Southerns at Parkstone - photo © Digital Sailing

Sunday morning saw a delay as the fleet waited for enough water to launch before heading back to the bay in a shifty North Easterly. The race officer set a triangle sausage course for the first race of the day. Andrew Jameson and James Grant on 4060 took line honours followed by home boat of Richard Whitworth and Ben Scroggie in second and Chris Waples and Simon Hunt in 4061 in third.

Going into the last race of the weekend the Championship was between Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett and Ian Pinnell and Ian Cadwallader. Jeremy and Martin took line honours for the third time during the weekend giving them the overall Championship. Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado took second resulting in them finishing 3rd overall and Ian Pinnell and Ian Cadwallander's 3rd meant they finished 2nd overall. A huge thanks to last minute sponsor Sarah Hornby Art for donating a painting of a flying fifteen for the Championship winner.

Jeremy Davy and Martyn Huett win the Flying Fifteen Southerns at Parkstone - photo © Digital Sailing

The fleet returned to the club for afternoon tea and the overall prize-giving. A huge thanks to last minute sponsor Sarah Hornby Art for donating a painting of a Flying Fifteen for the Championship winner.

A great weekend of spectacular sailing conditions and an opportunity to catch up with fellow flying fifteen sailors.

Overall Results:

Jeremy Davy and Martyn Huett win the Flying Fifteen Southerns at Parkstone - photo © Sarah Hornby