2020 is proving an exciting year, the fleet is growing fast, and we have a lot of new faces. Racing is going to be exciting – in May alone we have both Palma Vela and the European Championships in France at the Ecole Navale, where there will be 20 classes on the water, the flying fifteens racing at Crozon-Morgat.

We’re being asked a lot about how newcomers can get their hands on a boat. Whilst we always suggest coming up and joining us as crew to see whether flying fifteen suits you – it will! – there are some boats available. Prices range from a couple of hundred euros to less than seven thousand. This isn’t an advert, but to give you a feel of what’s out there, in order of price:

• 1988 Amos: an old boat to get started in – sailable, bit of a project
• 1997 Coryn, bags: well set up, fast with two good racing suits – including the new style jib, and a few extra sails, roadworthy trailer & cover
• 1992 Ovington 9, chute: fast boat – I’ve jumped into it and won first time! – good sails plus a spare set. Needs tidying up and TLC. Race ready and tuned, trailer & cover. Includes a day’s race instruction from the owner
• 1998 Ovington 9 smoothy, chute: recently replaced mast, main and jib, 3 spinnakers, roadworthy trailer & cover
• 1997 another Ovington 9 smoothy, chute: one of the best set up boats in the fleet, new mast, 4 mains, 3 genoas, 1 jib, 4 spinnakers (new suit for 2019 Worlds) needs a little gelcoat work, roadworthy trailer & cover

So, there’s something for everyone! If you’d like to know more send an email to ffspain@babbages.eu

15 February – Casual Regatta

We hadn’t been sailing for a bit, so Francisco in ffugue, Carlos in Swampfire and Michael in Dragonfly had a sail around Pollença bay. Not really a race, just great sailing – so no results!

29 February – Palma Vela practice 1

We decided on a couple more practice races before Palma Vela, and five boats turned up for the first Saturday. We set short upwind-downwind courses, with a gate at the bottom.

John and Jakob dominated in fuego fatuo, with 3 straight firsts. Steve Parry and Mark Hart (Wight Flyer) had 2-3-2, and Michael Beecken and Karin Baatz (Dragonfly) 3-2-3.

Coming up

This month we have a final Palma Vela training on the 4^th and the last Liguilla de Invierno on 18^th April. Then its Palma Vela, Europeans before coming back to Pollença for the Mallorcans at the beginning of June.

Our 2020 calendar is posted on our website http://flyingfifteen.mallorcaservice.de
Visit us on Facebook @f15spain.

By Stephen Babbage