The Flying Fifteen Inland Championship was held at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club on 4/5 June. 32 boats came from as far afield at Loch Earn in Scotland and Bala in Wales. Saturday saw moderate westerly winds with a few testing gusts thrown in. The OD started the race on time and the fleet got away cleanly first time. Mike Hart with Tim Hall (Port Dinorwic) lead at the windward mark and left the rest a considerable distance behind by the end of the first lap, but behind him places were changing all the time with Steve Goacher with Phil Evans (Windermere) making up most places. On the last beat, Mike was still in front, but Steve was gaining all the time. Good tactics up the last beat gave the race to Steve by about a foot.
The races were sailed back to back, but a few sailors need to come ashore – including Keith Thomas from Bass who was last seen leaving the jetty on a rescue boat with a full tool box including drill, and heading back out to his boat to make running repairs!
Unfortunately the rain came in for the second race, but that did not dampen the spirits of the competitors. Another clean start saw Steve first to the windward mark and then increase his lead on every leg to notch up another victory. Alan Bax with Paul Busby (Hayling Island) didn’t have a brilliant first beat, but steadily improved up to second.
The sailors came ashore to afternoon tea and cream cakes followed in the evening by a fantastic BBQ – for which the rain held off.
Sunday had light winds forecast, but there was definitely enough wind to sail and the OD took to the water early to make sure the course kept in the wind. Unfortunately the wind was a bit shifty leading to a postponement due to a 60 degree wind shift. The wind shifted back and a start was made, but this resulted in a general recall. The start line was moved into steadier wind up the beat and the fleet got away cleanly at the next time of asking.
At the windward mark, Steve was in the lead, with Neil Platt in second, Justin Waples with Ian Stowe (Grafham) in third and Dave & Sue Giles (Ullswater) in fourth. However there was a bit of a melee as the boats were heading off on a run through the still beating rest of the fleet – even the lead boat had trouble getting through the fleet! To avoid the beating boats, the first few boats round the mark reached off on starboard, but some of the later boats gybed immediately and went off on port, giving them water at the next gybe mark – including local veteran Mike Watson who made up about 8 places on this short leg. There were frantic shouts of water at the gybe mark, but most boats seemed to get through ok. Meanwhile, Steve was extending his lead at the front. There was a short second beat, but this seemed to sort out the fleet, some gaining several places. Steve remained in the lead, but several other boats were being caught by Neil Platt. Then there was almost a disaster for Steve as he headed for the wrong mark. Fortunately he realised in time and gybed back to it, but his lead was reduced to about 30yds. On the last beat, the leading boats took the port side of the beat, with the next few opting to chance it up the starboard side. In the end, however, the positions remained the same with Steve winning, Justin second, Mike Hart third and then a very close finish with Dave McKee & Chris Hewkin (Dovestone) beating David & Peter Kitchen (Tees & Hartlepool) by a second.
In the final race, Steve had opted for an early lunch. The fleet was too keen and the general recall flag was raised – followed not long after by the black flag. The fleet split up the beat, some by a long way. Flying Fifteen president Ian Preston overshot the mark prompting the comment ‘He could raise his spinnaker to get to the windward mark’ from one of the race committee!
Nigel Tullet with Sam Raynor (Windermere) were first to the windward mark followed very closely by Alan and local Paul Burnell with Joe Roberts and then Neil Platt and another local, Scott Beattie. In the middle of the fleet, the competition was still very tight prompting many shouts of starboard and boats ducking behind others. As the fleet went down the reach, the sun tried to come out and was glinting off the spinnakers. The boats in 5th and 6th went high on the reach and gained places. Nigel remained in the lead, although the next six places were changing frequently. Then, much to the astonishment of the spectators on the shore, Nigel made the same mistake Steve had done in the previous race – he headed for the wrong mark. This lost him his lead as he had overshot a leeward mark by about 100 yds. However, this did serve to compact the first seven boats again, making for some exciting sailing up the next beat.
Alan made the most of the opportunity and won the race, followed by Mike Hart and then Nigel.
          
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Final Results
Sailed: 4 Discards: 1
| Rank | Fleet | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Nett |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open | 3721 | Steve Goacher | Phil Evans | RWYC | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | DNC | 0.0 | |
| 2 | Open | Gekko Blaster | 3817 | Mike Hart | Tim Hall | Port Dinorwic | 3.0 | 10.0 | 5.7 | 3.0 | 11.7 |
| 3 | Open | 3786 | Alan Bax | Paul Busby | 11.7 | 3.0 | 15.0 | 0.0 | 14.7 | ||
| 4 | Open | New Order | 3770 | Neil Platt | Richard Rigg | Bolton and West Kirby | 8.0 | 5.7 | 11.7 | 10.0 | 23.7 |
| 5 | Open | Sweet Chariot | 3805 | David McKee | Chris Hewkin | Dovestone | 5.7 | 13.0 | 8.0 | 11.7 | 25.4 |
| 6 | Open | Sparks | 3716 | Justin Waples | Ian Stowe | Grafham Water | 14.0 | 17.0 | 3.0 | 14.0 | 31.0 |
| 7 | Open | Jocks Lover | 3673 | Scott Beattie | John Somerville | Bassenthwaite | 17.0 | 15.0 | 13.0 | 8.0 | 36.0 |
| 8 | Open | Kiffs | 3816 | Nigel Tullet | Sam Rayner | RWYC | 15.0 | 16.0 | 17.0 | 5.7 | 36.7 |
| 9 | Open | Silent Wings | 3727 | Andrew Palmer | Graham Wadeley | Grafham Water | 10.0 | 11.7 | 20.0 | 15.0 | 36.7 |
| 10 | Open | 3612 | David Giles | Sue Giles | Ullswater | 13.0 | 8.0 | 19.0 | DNF | 40.0 | |
| 11 | Open | Dingo | 3595 | Peter Kitchen | David Kitchen | Tees & Hartlepool | 16.0 | 19.0 | 10.0 | BFD | 45.0 |
| 12 | Open | Sucking FFeagulls | 3835 | Andy Goddard | Colin | Dovestone | 18.0 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 17.0 | 47.0 |
| 13 | Silver | Fighting Machine | 3293 | Tim Wills | Ian Preston | 22.0 | 20.0 | 18.0 | 19.0 | 57.0 | |
| 14 | Open | Eleni | 3737 | Simon Robinson | Dave Vasey | DRSC | DNF | 28.0 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 58.0 |
| 15 | Open | 3685 | Jeremy Arnold | John Allen | Notts County | 19.0 | 18.0 | 24.0 | 21.0 | 58.0 | |
| 16 | Open | Proactive | 3831 | Bobby Salmond | Robert Till | Loch Earn | 20.0 | 22.0 | 21.0 | 18.0 | 59.0 |
| 17 | Open | 3521 | Paul Burnell | Joe Roberts | Bassenthwaite | 23.0 | 29.0 | 27.0 | 13.0 | 63.0 | |
| 18 | Open | Firebolt | 3806 | Peter Hogg | David Downes | DSC | 21.0 | 21.0 | 30.0 | 23.0 | 65.0 |
| 19 | Silver | Mr Sponge | 3281 | Michael Watson | Duncan Firth | REYC | 24.0 | 33.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 68.0 |
| 20 | Open | Ffandangle | 3473 | Mike Moore | Steve Hunt | Bassenthwaite | 26.0 | 23.0 | 26.0 | 24.0 | 73.0 |
| 21 | Open | 3539 | John Eaton | Maggie Eaton | Bala | 25.0 | 32.0 | 33.0 | 20.0 | 77.0 | |
| 22 | Classic | Spring Sonata | 2620 | David Naylor | Norman Christie | Dovestone | 33.0 | 30.0 | 23.0 | 28.0 | 81.0 |
| 23 | Classic | Fettercairn | 617 | Graham Lamond | Scott Train | South Windermere | 27.0 | 34.0 | 28.0 | 26.0 | 81.0 |
| 24 | Open | Graffter | 3451 | Hugh Simpson | David Watkins | LESC | 31.0 | 26.0 | 37.0 | 25.0 | 82.0 |
| 25 | Silver | FFrisky | 3208 | Mark Gardner | Anne Gardner | Carsington | 29.0 | 27.0 | 32.0 | 27.0 | 83.0 |
| 26 | Classic | 1117 | Keith Jamieson | Maf Smith | Bassenthwaite | 32.0 | 24.0 | 31.0 | 30.0 | 85.0 | |
| 27 | Silver | Flatulent Fairy | 3182 | Steve Cragg | Pete Gough | Draycote | 28.0 | 31.0 | 29.0 | DNC | 88.0 |
| 28 | Open | Outsider | 3732 | Graham Wilkinson | Mike Pearce | Carsington | 36.0 | DNC | 25.0 | 31.0 | 92.0 |
| 29 | Silver | 3381 | Russ Clarke | David Wheeler | Dovestone | 30.0 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 29.0 | 94.0 | |
| 30 | Open | Unffinished Business | 3813 | Peter Slater | Ann Morrel | South Cerney | DNF | 25.0 | 36.0 | DNF | 100.0 |
| 31 | Open | Jim Jam | 3484 | Raymond Coates | David McCombe | Tees & Hartlepool | 34.0 | 37.0 | 34.0 | 33.0 | 101.0 |
| 32 | Classic | Fake Emerald | 2504 | Keith Thomas | Stephen Kirkpatrick | Bassenthwaite | 35.0 | 36.0 | 38.0 | 32.0 | 103.0 |
| Sailwave Scoring Software 1.57 www.sailwave.com |
| Position | Helm | Crew | Club |
| 3rd Classic | Keith Jamieson | Maf Smith | Bass |
| 2nd Classic | David Naylor | Norman Christie | Dovestone |
| 1st Classic | Graham Lamond | Scott Train | South Windermere |
| 3rd Silver | Mark Gardner | Anne Gardner | Carsington |
| 2nd Silver | Mike Watson | Duncan Firth | REYC |
| 1st Silver | Tim Wills | Ian Preston | /Bass |