Flying 15 Team Racing (Sponsored by Harper and Hebson VW and Audi Carlisle)

One of the more unusual, but one of the best enjoyed, events of the northern sailing calendar is the annual Flying Fifteen team racing weekend generously sponsored by Harper and Hebson of Carlisle.

Teams of three boats combine all their scores in four races to find the winning team so allowing for a bit of tactics as well as serious sailing in this fun event.

A fleet of boats from around the country enjoyed some excellent courses set by Andy Smith and Herb Telford and, together with mainly warm southerly winds varying from a force 1 to a stiff force 5, gave every dog the chance to have its day.

Mastering all of these conditions, Neil Platt (Liverpool) forsook his GP 14 and very creditably won three of the four races sailing a new boat with a scratch crew, Bass S.C. member Andrew Nuttall {Whitehaven), who hadn’t sailed competitively for a few years whilst away at university.

Race two was won by Tyneside’s John Hardisty, chased by Cockermouth’s Neil Currie who has just returned to sailing after a year’s lay-off with back problems. Neil was sailing Paul Wright’s boat with Paul. Just how versatile the Flying fifteen is, was demonstrated with a wide range of helms and crews. It was great to see the wily old pensioner from Loch Earn, Ian Cameron, still up there with the top boats after a long beat up Bass in a force 5 making it look all so easy. At the other end of the age spectrum young Elizabeth Donkin, who has barely reached her teens, crewed for Graham Donkin in her second open meting. Well done Elizabeth!

Socially the event was also a big hit with a meal in the clubhouse on Saturday evening. Free lunches and teas were also provided on Sunday – thanks to Linda Beattie and her band of helpers.

So, if you sail a Flying Fifteen, make a note in your diary for next year. Get yourself to Bassenthwaite where there is free camping, caravanning and lots of socials to have an excellent weekend in the Lake District at this annual event with a great prize list on offer.

NB The wind change in the first race was NOT the reason why Neil Currie finished with only one boat behind him in the first race – he just sailed ****!