29 May – Liga de Primavera, Pollensa
The last regatta of RCNPP Liga de Primavera was moved from Saturday to Sunday at very short notice, which decreased to three the number of boats able to participate. Triffid with Steve Parry and Teresa held the lead of flying fifteens from start to finish and had no problems with the strong winds with gusts well beyond 25 knots. Dragonfly tried to clean the kite below the boat and gave us a demonstration of extended acrobatics including backward sailing, to free the sheets from the keel. Dragonfly still took second because Swampfire decided to explore the submarine abilities of flying (diving) fifteens. In a strong gust the crew stayed well forward in the cockpit, which the boat took as the order to dive. The resultant sudden stop not only converted the cockpit into a whirlpool but also showed that crews can fly without a fifteen, landing well ahead in the water. Afterwards, they told us they had not really understood what had happened in these seconds, which is why after making their boats sailable again, they repeated the exercise. This time they asked for help to get the full boat back to the harbour. The passing yachts did not want to lose their position in the regatta, but a small motorboat brought them back.
12 June – Trofeo Formentor, Pollensa
Teo and Kily, the victors from 2015, returned to defend their trophy; sailing in Michael Clough’s Extrasensory Perception. Ffiel Good, Dragonfly, Spanish Fly and Triffid also turned out to contest the regatta. As fuego fatuo is still undergoing rejuvenation, Stephen crewed for Michael Beecken in Dragonfly.
The defenders had a storming start, and went on to win convincingly the first race – a windward leeward, with Ffiel Good next, and Spanish Fly third. As the wind wasn’t yet stable, the second race was also a windward leeward, ESP again taking first, Ffiel Good second, and Spanish Fly third – a good result as they had bent their spinnaker pole, and didn’t participate in the last two races.
The wind having settled down, we were rewarded with our favourite – a triangle! Scott and Andy took the better side of the beat, and were neck and neck with ESP at the top mark, closely followed by Dragonfly and Triffid. On the final beat, no places changed, and this remained the same at the finish.
The fourth and final race was again a windward leeward, started in declining winds. After a good beat, Dragonfly was second coming in to the top mark, but misjudged a tack to leeward of Ffiel Good and lost the place. Down the run, they were neck and neck with Triffid, who just pipped them at the line.
This left Ffiel Good and ESP both on 6 points (2 firsts and 2 seconds each), with Ffiel Good taking it on countback. Similar situation settled third place – Triffid and Dragonfly each having a third, 2 fourths and a fifth.
Yet again, good close racing between evenly matched boats. Thanks to Per Antoni and his team at RCNPP for running the regatta, we all enjoyed it!
Results:
ESP 3763 Ffiel Good Scott Walker / Andrew Harvey (6)
ESP 3432 Extrasensory Perception Teo & Kily (6)
GBR 3471 Triffid Steve Parry / Teresa Parry (16)
Coming up
We have a full calendar, if you’d like to join us, visit http://flyingfifteen.mallorcaservice.de, we have a club boat available (and some for sale!), and are always keen to bring new crews into the fleet. Or just turn up at the next event:
15-17 July Mallorca Championships RCNPP, Pollensa
24 July Scandi Cup RCNPP, Pollensa
13 August Michael Clough Trophy RCNPP, Pollensa
20-21 August Trofeo Cormoran RCNPP, Pollensa
28 August European Championships Medemblik, Holland
– 2 September
