- Written by FFIWA_webmaster
- Published: 31 Dec 2018
The 57th Australian Flying Fifteen Championships got underway today with two heats sailed in winds which progressively built during the afternoon from 10 up to 20 knots. After two races WA sailors hold six of the top ten positions.
Race 1
Race 1 saw three boats disqualified for early starts, including yesterday's Invitation Race winner - Leavo and Baddy in Glamour Buoys.
Philippa Packer and Dean MacAullay in their brand new boat Firefly led at the first mark - a stunning effort given that this was their first race in a brand new boat. However they were unable to maintain the pace, and the race was won by Craig and Ian Rainey from Gippsland Lakes in Where the Bloody Hell Are You. Then followed a trio of West Aussie boats in quick succession, with only 4 seconds covering all three places. Nick and Enfys Jerwood were second across the line, with David Yu and Chris Nelson in Tuffan Up just edging out Philippa Packer and Dean MacAullay for third place.
Amongst the other West Aussies further back in the fleet, Karen and Russell Dawes finished an excellent 6th in Second Breakfast, proving that their excellent prior form at National Championships does translate from the Silver Fleet to the Open Fleet. John Wilson, Peter Rooke and John Hassen finished in 8th, 9th and 10th respectively, meaning that 7 out of the top 10 boats were from WA. Simon Lucas recovered from his grounding yesterday to finish 13th, only just ahead of Stephen Pidgeon in 14th, who in turn won the battle of the Geraldton boats from Peter Groom in 16th. Jen Simms split the pair, finishing 15th. Other WA results included Jeff Vance in 18th, Carl and Kristine Petterson in 19th and Greg and Leanne Howell in 22nd.
Full results from Race One can be found here.
Race 2
In slightly stronger winds, once again three boats were a little too keen to get started resulting in OCS disqualifications. This included a couple of WA boats - She Who Must Be Obeyed (John Hassen) and Fflashpoint (Peter Rooke).
The race win was taken by David Tabb in Ark, well and truly making amends for his OCS in Race 1. The ever-consistent Nick Jerwood was second once again, with the podium rounded out by Stephen Fries from Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne in third place.
The Glamour Buoys, Leavo and Baddy, sailed a more conservative race this time, finishing in 5th, and leading a brace of other WA boats - Firefly (Phillipa Packer), Tuffan Up (David Yu), Fast Lane 3 (John Wilson) and Second Breakfast (Karen Dawes) in 6th to 9th respectively.
Further back in the fleet, Nelson's Loose Cannon (Peter Groom) won the battle of the non-metro WA boats finishing 12th, just ahead of Simon Lucas (Fforeigner) from Albany in 13th. 15th through to 18th places were filled by WA boats Yes No Maybe (Jen Simms), Faffin (Carl Petterson), Enuff Rope (Greg Howell), and 16 (Stephen Pidgeon) respectively. Last of the WA boats to finish was Fast Lane (Jeff Vance) in 22nd.
Full results from Race Two can be found here.
Overall Standings
After two races, the series is being led by Nick and Enfys Jerwood in Ineffable following two second placings in the first two heats. Surprize by Giver (Stephen Fries) from Sandringham Yacht Club is in second place and Tuffan Up (David Yu) and Firefly (Phillipa Packer) have equal points in third and fourth respectively. A couple of boats with OCS's in the first couple of races will come into the reckoning for the leading places at the sharp end of the regatta, barring any further indiscretions or misfortunes - Glamour Buoys (Leavo and Baddy) and Ark (David Tabb and Dave Bennett).
The overall results for the regatta can be found here.
Sailors can now recuperate on the rest day on New Years Day, although a few may be indulging in some "hair of the dog" on a trip to the Barossa Valley arranged by the race organisers.
An additional update on Day 1 can be read on the FFIA website at https://www.flying15.org.au/3244-2/.
Posted in 57th National Championship 2019 - Adelaide, Latest news