Sixteen classic fifteens took part in five races over a blustery weekend which tested the fitness and durability of helmsmen and crews at the open meeting for classic Flying 15s at South Cerney SC.

Roger Finch and Jim Reid 2658, Middle Nene, started the way they meant to go on winning the first, third and fourth race battling it out with Peter Hogg/David Downs 759, Dovestone, Dave Flint/Dave Hemmingway 2663 Llangorse (they won the fifth race), and Bob Tate/Robin Fletcher 2606, Broxbourne, (they won the second race).

It was very much in the spirit of the event that David and Carole Duke (Grafham) sportingly borrowed a boat from the boat park and sorted it as much as possible the night before (a Wyche and Coppock complete with wasps nest and trapeze fittings) and finished a creditable fourth in the first race and were sixth overall. Mike Jones (Llangorse) ‘borrowed’ a crew, Dan Coates, a South Cerney junior Cadet sailor who had an ear to ear grin at the end.

It was not a weekend for light crews though and those that could throw more weight over the windward side clearly had an advantage.

Overall Results

1 2658, Roger Finch and Jim Reid Middle Nene

2 759, Peter Hogg and David Downs Dovestone

3 2663, Dave Flint and Dave Hemmingway Llangorse

4 2606, Bob Tait and Robin Fletcher Broxbourne

5 2562, George Rock-Evans and Martine McPherson Royal Torbay

6 2489, David and Carole Duke Grafham Water

7 2626, Richard Taylor and Rosie Wiltshire first South Cerney boat