The UK Flying Fifteen fleet, along with several boats from Ireland and one from Australia, gathered at Tees & Hartlepool Yacht Club for their 2026 National Championship. It's been over thirty years since a F15 championship has been held at the club and we have immensely enjoyed the welcome we've received both from the club itself and its own resurgent F15 Flying Fifteen fleet. 

It's also noticeable how many crews at the event are taking part in their first Flying Fifteen Nationals, and it's also good to see the range of boats competing, everything from the sixty-year-old Flying Fifteen of Mick Scholes (sail number UK419), right up to the brand-new first-time-on-the-water boat of Ian Cadwallader (sail number GBR4152).

Report for Days One & Two

Coinciding with (yet another!) UK heatwave, the event so far has been blessed with warm (but cooler than “down south”) and sunny weather but also light winds, and indeed the first day was lost entirely as the minimum 5mph windspeed required by the championship regulations failed to materialize during the tide window available – however the Race Officer's sensible decision to raise the abandonment flag early was praised by the competitors who were then released to spend the rest of the day exploring the area with their families.

Day two began with a much better wind but with a fluctuating sea haze that reduced visibility across the race area and led to the fleet being held ashore until it cleared. Fortunately, the slipway was opened after a delay of only around an hour and two good races were then held. Unusually for the Flying Fifteen championships the general recall flag remained stowed all day, the line and course being square and the fleet behaving itself.

The first race saw the boats that went left on the first beat come out narrowly ahead at the first mark, that of Ian Cadwallader & Steve Graham leading around the windward mark, then gybing around the spreader and setting-off down the run chased closely by Jeremy Davy & Martin Huett. These two crews maintained these positions for the rest of the race, followed home in third place by the Irish boat of John Lavery & Alan Green of National YC.
By the time the second race started the consensus amongst the top crews was that the turning tide would favour the right-hand side of the first beat and a great deal of tacking and stern-ducking was evident after the start as crews fought their way out to that side of the course. Much of this would turn out to have been in vain, however, as once again the left side seemed to pay - although a significant wind shift as the fleet approached the first mark also caused some re-shuffling of the order.

The majority of the fleet this time chose a bear-away spinnaker hoist and an inshore route down the run, with opinions differing after the race about the importance and effect of the tide. This time Lavery & Green led the fleet home, followed by another Irish boat – that of Emma Pierce and Ian Smyth, with the consistent Cadwallader & Graham, in third.

After two races Lavery & Green lead overall, but with the possibility of four races on Saturday and a further two on Sunday there was everything still to play for.

Day Three 

The Saturday dawned with slightly cooler weather, a light but consistent wind and – mercifully – no sign of the visibility-reducing haze that had delayed proceedings previously.

The ambition was to catch-up on the event programme by sailing four races on day three and thanks to the efficient work of the club's shore-gang, the fleet launched quickly and assembled in the race area in plenty of time for the first warning signal which fired on the dot of 10:55hrs. Ironically the fleet's keenness to get things going did then result in two general recalls, following which the race officer raised the black flag which had the desired effect of curbing the sailors' impetuousness for the rest of the day.

The first beat of the first race saw a big split take place with a sizeable chunk of the fleet taking a long route on port tack out into the bay whilst the rest worked their way up the shore side of the course. Coming back together at the top mark saw some new names at the front, most notably the boats of Mike Preston & Mike Harris from Blackpool & Fleetwood YC and that of Steve Goacher & Tim Harper from Royal Windermere YC who eventually finished the race in that order, followed home by Bill Chard & Josh Preater from Chew Valley SC.

This theme continued into the next race too, with Charles & Charlie Apthorp establishing a big lead early in the race which they held to the end, demonstrating the depth of quality in the fleet with each race so far having had a different winner. Tony Woods & Keith Jamieson of Royal Windermere YC delighted themselves with a second place in that race, followed by Ian Cadwallader & Steve Graham in third, whose consistency took them into the overall lead of the event with a nine-point buffer over Goacher & Harper in second place.

Unfortunately, the day, which had started so promisingly, was curtailed at this point by a wind that was becoming increasingly erratic in direction and frequently dropping below the mandated 5mph minimum After a lengthy wait for conditions to improve the fleet headed home, which meant entering the final day of the event with only four races completed. Happily though the forecast for the final day looked much more favourable.

Day Four

Competitors woke to clear, sunny skies on the final morning — though some may have wished for a little more sleep after an evening of live music at Tees & Hartlepool YC and a late night screening of the England–Norway World Cup match.

After several days of light and occasionally capricious breezes, the forecast promised a more purposeful wind. It was noticeable that the shorty wetsuits and T shirts that had been de rigueur earlier in the week had given way to long johns and, for some, full drysuits. With a short delay ashore to allow the tide to settle, the fleet headed out into a race area transformed by a fresh north easterly rolling a moderate swell in from the North Sea.
The race team once again delivered an efficient start sequence, and the fleet once again responded with a general recall — prompting the use of the black flag for the remainder of the day. Once underway, Race 1 quickly revealed a clear pattern: almost all the leading contenders committed to the right hand side of the beat, where they found both pressure and a favourable angle, opening a substantial margin over those who had gone left. The fleet stretched out more than on previous days, reflecting both the conditions and the tactical clarity of the front runners.

Downwind, the course rewarded those who committed early to a long starboard gybe, with just enough swell to allow occasional surfing or soaking. It was a leg that showcased crew skill, and at the front it was the regatta leaders — Ian Cadwallader & Steve Graham — who executed it best, taking the win ahead of Andy & Michelle Tunnicliffe, with the Irish pairing of Niall O’Brien & Dermot Flaherty in third.

The final race of the championship was sailed in conditions very similar to the previous one, but with a fleet now fully tuned into the racecourse and pushing hard for every point. The result was exceptionally close, high quality racing in which even small tactical decisions carried real consequences — whether fighting the tide at the windward mark or judging the final reach to the finish, which was just tight enough to make spinnaker handling a genuine question.

In a race that demanded composure, precision and teamwork, Jeremy Davy & Martin Huett mastered the challenge to take a well earned win, followed by Steve Goacher & Tim Harper, who bounced back strongly after a difficult first race. Andy & Michelle Tunnicliffe continued their impressive upward trajectory, securing third and cementing their rise up the overall leaderboard.

Overall Results

At the head of the final standings — and crowned 2026 Flying Fifteen National Champions — were Ian Cadwallader & Steve Graham of Chew Valley SC, finishing with a ten point margin. Their achievement was all the more remarkable given that their boat was fresh out of the build shed and had never touched the water before this event.

In second place was 4-time World Champion Steve Goacher & Tim Harper of Royal Windermere YC. With decades of top level Flying Fifteen experience between them, their return to the front of the fleet after a short break was warmly welcomed. They were racing in a notably strong field, with former champions and long standing campaigners — a depth of talent that made consistency hard won. Against such competition, their steady performance across the week secured a thoroughly deserved second place overall.

Finishing third overall were Andy & Michelle Tunnicliffe of Bassenthwaite SC. Andy is now establishing himself in the class, but this was Michelle’s first major Flying Fifteen regatta — a milestone performance securing the Family Prize and the Dimple Trophy for Michelle as the top female competitor in the fleet.

Acknowledgement of Sponsors

The Flying Fifteen class extends its sincere thanks to our title sponsor Haven Knox Johnston, whose support as the class insurer continues to strengthen and sustain our championship programme. We also warmly acknowledge Ovington Boats for their long standing commitment to high quality boatbuilding within the class, and Impact Marine for their valued technical and event support. Their combined contribution plays a significant role in enabling a vibrant, competitive and welcoming national championship.

Closing Thanks

Finally, our heartfelt thanks go to Tees & Hartlepool Yacht Club for hosting the event with such professionalism and warmth. The club’s volunteers worked tirelessly to make competitors feel welcome and to ensure the racing ran smoothly throughout the week. The Flying Fifteen fleet thoroughly enjoyed its time in Hartlepool and will certainly be back for more of their hospitality — and we strongly recommend THYC to any class seeking a tidal championship venue in the North East. 

Report: Jeremy Arnold

Photos: Phillip Hope

 

Final Results

Rank	Fleet	SailNo	HelmName	CrewName	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Total	Nett
1st	Red	4152	Ian Cadwallader	Steve Graham	Chew Valley Lake SC	1.0	3.0	5.0	3.0	1.0	(6.0)	19.0	13.0
2nd	Red	4021	Steve Goacher	Tim Harper	Royal Windermere YC	10.0	5.0	2.0	4.0	(16.0)	2.0	39.0	23.0
3rd	Red	4124	Andy Tunnicliffe	Michelle Tunnicliffe	Bassenthwaite SC	6.0	9.0	4.0	(19.0)	2.0	3.0	43.0	24.0
4th	Red	3760	Jeremy Davy	Martin Huett	Draycote Water SC	2.0	(13.0)	6.0	12.0	5.0	1.0	39.0	26.0
5th	Red	4071	John Lavery	Alan Green	National YC	3.0	1.0	11.0	10.0	(14.0)	7.0	46.0	32.0
6th	Red	4092	Niall O'Brien	Dermot Flaherty	FFC	4.0	4.0	(20.0)	11.0	3.0	15.0	57.0	37.0
7th	Red	4143	Charles Apthorp	Charlie Apthorp	Hayling Island SC	5.0	12.0	(13.0)	1.0	10.0	12.0	53.0	40.0
8th	Green	4109	David Chandler	Charles Chandler	Ullswater SC	(23.0)	6.0	8.0	9.0	6.0	14.0	66.0	43.0
9th	Green	3892	Emma Pierce	Ian Smyth	Strangford Lough YC	18.0	2.0	(19.0)	8.0	9.0	9.0	65.0	46.0
10th	Red	4142	Philippa Packer	Dean McAullay	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	14.0	8.0	9.0	13.0	(23.0)	5.0	72.0	49.0
11th	Blue	4069	Bill Chard	Josh Preater	Chew Valley Lake SC	7.0	(23.0)	3.0	7.0	15.0	23.0	78.0	55.0
12th	Blue	4033	Justin Waples	Jackie McKellar	RCYC	11.0	17.0	17.0	5.0	7.0	(31.0 RET)	88.0	57.0
13th	Blue	3733	Mike Preston	Mike Harris	Blackpool & Fleetwood YC	8.0	(31.0 DSQ)	1.0	14.0	19.0	18.0	91.0	60.0
14th	Blue	4130	Adrian Tattersall	John Mathie	Parkstone YC	16.0	7.0	(24.0)	6.0	22.0	10.0	85.0	61.0
15th	Blue	4151	Tony Woods	Keith Jamieson	RWYC	(24.0)	22.0	23.0	2.0	4.0	13.0	88.0	64.0
16th	Blue	4030	Alastair Stevenson	Simon Hunt	Hayling Island SC	12.0	11.0	18.0	(20.0)	13.0	11.0	85.0	65.0
17th	Blue	4123	David Heron	Michele Kay	Royal Windermere YC	15.0	15.0	15.0	(18.0)	18.0	4.0	85.0	67.0
18th	Red	4141	Chris Waples	Simon Weatherill	HISC / RCYC	17.0	18.0	(21.0)	16.0	8.0	8.0	88.0	67.0
19th	Blue	3849	Ewan Birkin-Walls	Stan Birkin-Walls	Grafham Water SC	9.0	16.0	14.0	(22.0)	12.0	21.0	94.0	72.0
20th	Green	3865	Robin Dawson	Mike Cowan	Bassenthwaite SC	19.0	21.0	7.0	15.0	17.0	(25.0)	104.0	79.0
21st	Green	4091	Jeremy Arnold	Richard Hope	Draycote Water SC / RYA	20.0	10.0	12.0	17.0	20.0	(22.0)	101.0	79.0
22nd	Blue	4113	Simon Kneller	Ashley Painter	Grafham Water SC	21.0	20.0	22.0	(24.0)	11.0	16.0	114.0	90.0
23rd	Blue	4103	Julian Clarke	John Walters	Royal Windermere YC	22.0	19.0	16.0	21.0	(26.0)	20.0	124.0	98.0
24th	Blue	4148	Simon Patterson	Simon Thompson	Draycote Water SC	13.0	24.0	(27.0)	23.0	21.0	19.0	127.0	100.0
25th	Green	3944	Wayne Fletcher	Jess Roberts	Scaling Dam SC / Bassenthwaite SC	(26.0)	14.0	25.0	25.0	25.0	17.0	132.0	106.0
26th	Green	4060	Tim Allen	Iain McNeill	Dovestones SC	(27.0)	25.0	10.0	27.0	27.0	26.0	142.0	115.0
27th	Green	3751	Peter Warne	Graham Wilson	Northampton SC	25.0	26.0	26.0	(28.0)	24.0	24.0	153.0	125.0
28th	Green	3829	Ian Shaw	Perry Shaw	Notts County SC	(29.0)	27.0	29.0	26.0	28.0	27.0	166.0	137.0
29th	Green	3634	Nick Richardson	Graeme Boagey	Tees & Hartlepool YC	28.0	28.0	28.0	(29.0)	29.0	28.0	170.0	141.0
30th	Green	419	Mick Scholes	Jordan Cunningham	Dovestone SC	(30.0)	29.0	30.0	30.0	30.0	29.0	178.0	148.0