On the penultimate day of racing at the 2022 International Flying Fifteen European Championship the sun came back out but the wind dyed for a few hours then did a 180 degree flip about lunchtime. A two race day was delayed for a couple of hours waiting for the wind to settle and the tide to go slack.
The RO released the fleet from shore around 1300hrs but it was quite a slog to get across the tide to the starting area near Hill Head buoy. When the breeze did settle it allowed two back to back races to be sailed in a fairly stable 8 - 12 knot S/SW.
Less black flags today as the fleet gets used to mass starts, but a tactical course all the same. Seasoned F15 campaigners Andy Mckee and Richard Jones (Dovestone SC/Shotwick Lake SC) excelled in the light winds scoring bullets in both races. Terry Shutcher and Chris Hewkin (Burton/Shotley/Dubai Offshore SC) proved their win in the 75th Anniversary Race was no fluke, crossing in second in race 6 of the regatta, followed by Hamish Mackay and Andrew Lawson (RTYC/HISC) in 3rd.
Race 7 was sailed in similar light breezes with the now familiar blue kite of Mckee and Jones taking the gun from ex Finn sailing local hot shots Henry Bagnall and James Downer (Cowes Corinthian YC). Third was Ian Pinnell and Ian Cadwallader (HISC).
The results at the end of 7 races leaves Mckee and Jones on 25 points, Previous regatta leaders Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado (WYC/HISC) slipped to second overall on 32 points after counting two 8th places. Bagnall and Downer’s 12 & 2 moves them into third place on the overall table on 40 points.
All is still to play for however with one more race scheduled on the final day but once 8 races are completed a second drop comes into play so the European title is still very much in the air!
The final days racing forecast is for early showers clearing late morning and another light breeze to fill just in time to get the final race completed before the 1600hrs cut off.
See full results table
by Jonny Fullerton of Regatta Services on behalf of FFI
photos credit: John Green