Flying Fifteen
|
Class symbol | |
|
A Flying Fifteen sailing on the Eau d'Heure lakes in Belgium | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Uffa Fox |
| Year | 1947 |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 2 |
| Hull | |
| Hull weight | 677 lb (307 kg) |
| LOA | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Beam | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Sails | |
| Spinnaker area | 150 sq ft (14 m2) |
| Upwind Sail Area | 150 sq ft (14 m2) |
| Misc | |
| D-PN | 90.0[1] |
| RYA PN | 1022[2] |
_(cropped).jpg)
The Flying Fifteen is a 20-foot two person keelboat and was designed by Uffa Fox in 1947.
History
The Flying Fifteen was quickly popular and the most famous Flying Fifteen is Coweslip presented to the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Elizabeth as a wedding present. Uffa Fox and Prince Philip frequently sailed together at Cowes.
The Flying Fifteen has been modernised over the years with Uffa Fox agreeing to changes towards the end of his life to improve the design specification and sail plan. By this time, the class had established itself in a number of countries and when John Calvert-Jones travelled from Australia and won the UK championships, the stimulus was provided for the move to seek international status. Under the guidance of Tom Ratcliffe, an International Federation of Flying Fifteen Associations was formed by nine countries from four continents. The first world championships were held in Perth, Australia in 1979 and subsequently have alternated between the Northern and Southern hemispheres biennially. The first European Championship took place in Spain in May 2004.
The 2005 World Championships took place at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club in Auckland, New Zealand during March 2005, and were won by Nick and Janet Jerwood sailing AUS 3743. There was also a separate division for Silver and Classic Flying Fifteens which was won by Sandra Williams/Richard Fletcher in NZL 3165 and John Midolo/Rosemary Midolo in AUS 2672 respectively. The 2006 European Championships took place at Hayling Island Sailing Club in Great Britain in July 2006. The 2007 World Championships was at the Reial Club Nàutic de Port de Pollença in Spain during June 2007.
As of April 2008 The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Melbourne Australia was planned to host the 2009 event.
Racing
The International Federation is firmly committed to the one-design ideal and is actively promoting tighter tolerances and improved measuring techniques. The Flying Fifteen is now much more tightly toleranced than in the past and it is now not unusual for boats up to or even over five years old to be fully competitive.
Racing takes place both at sea and on inland waters, particularly large reservoirs and lakes to which the Flying Fifteen is well suited. Although national and world championships are an important feature of the class programme, every effort is made to encourage racing at all levels. Club sailing is the backbone of fleets throughout the world and close racing is enjoyed by men and women, both as helm and crew, with all ranges of ability and age.
Racing results
World Championships
2015 France (Crozon-Morgat, Brittany) Graham Vials & Chris Turner (GBR4004)
2013 Hong Kong Graham Vials & Chris Turner (GBR4004)
2011 United Kingdom (Hayling Island SC) Graham Vials & Chris Turner (GBR3972)
2009 Australia (Victoria) G. Alderson & D. McAullay (AUS3833)
2007 Spain
Mike Hart & Tim Hall (3817) Open
Vincent & Patrick Harris (2964) Silver
Simon Dangerfield & David Hemingway (2663) Classic
2005 New Zealand
Nick & Janet Jerwood (AUS3743) Open
Sandra Williams & Richard Fletcher (NZL3165) Silver
John & Rosemary Midolo (AUS2672) Classic
(Sailed under the burgee of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club - New Zealand)
2003 Ireland
Barry & Sue Parkin (GBR3630) Open
Brian Campbell-Bottoms & Allan Harley (GBR3175) Silver
Simon Dangerfield & John Washington (GBR798) Classic
(Sailed under the burgee of National Yacht Club - Ireland)
2001 South Africa
Charles Apthorp & Andy Weatherspoon (GBR3591) Open
Peter Morgenrood & Jeremy Kriek (RSA2766) Classic
(Sailed under the burgee of the Royal Natal Yacht Club - South Africa)
| Year | Nation | Crew (boat) | Burgee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | United Kingdom | Steve Goacher & Phil Evans (Two Lunches 3621) | Sailed under the burgee of the Esperance Bay Yacht Club, Australia |
| 1997 | United Kingdom | Steve Goacher & Phil Evans (3521) | Sailed under the burgee of the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club - British Isles) |
| 1995 | United Kingdom | Steve Goacher & Phil Evans (3521) | Sailed under the burgee of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club - Hong Kong) |
| 1994 | New Zealand | Roger Craddock & Steve Cunnold (Whiffler 3371) | (Sailed under the burgee of the Timaru Yacht and Power Boat Club - New Zealand) |
| 1992 | United Kingdom | Rupert Mander & Gareth Edwards (Funny Face 3292) | (Sailed under the burgee of National Yacht Club - Ireland) |
| 1990 | United Kingdom | Alan Bax & Alan Lockhart (Willie Wonka 3234) | (Sailed under the burgee of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron - Australia) |
| 1988 | United Kingdom | Nigel Buckley & Tim Hancock (Deejay 3182) | (Sailed under the burgee of the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club - British Isles) |
| 1986 | Australia | Glen Coulton & Grant Schultz (Instant Replay 2975) | Sailed under the burgee of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club - Hong Kong) |
| 1984 | Australia | Graeme Lillingston & Mike McKenzie (Gripple Nipper 2682) | Sailed under the burgee of the Kinsale Yacht Club - Ireland) |
| 1982 | Australia | Peter Gale & Mark Rimmington (Zero G 2386) | Sailed under the burgee of the Napier Sailing Club - New Zealand) |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Barry Finlayson & Ian Norrie (Segundo 1) | Sailed under the burgee of the Hayling Island Sailing Club - British Isles) |
| 1979 | Australia | John Cassidy & Don Russell (Free 'N' Easy 2246) | Sailed under the burgee of the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club - Australia) |
Some results are incomplete i.e. 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990.
RYA Clubs with large Flying Fifteen fleets
- Bewl Valley Sailing Club, Lamberhurst, Kent
- Grafham Water Sailing Club, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
- Dinard yacht club, Dinard, Brittany, France
- Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club, Somerset
Notes and references
- ↑ "Keelboat Classes". US Sailing. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ↑ "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.