A shorter report this month – only one regatta was possible due to Covid. We did plan a practice on the 16th, and some boats even got on the water. However, the gusts of 30+ knots – some of them seemingly vertical! – laid boats on their sides, and we had to return to base.
23 January – Trofeo Galeria Maior 1 – Pollença
The winter is now named to Trofeo Galeria Maior in recognition of the sponsors. Three regattas are planned for the series, this first one, followed by those on 13 February and 13 March.
For this first weekend, it was breezy, and a single race was to be sailed. The course would take us from the start in the centre of the bay up to Llenaire, across towards Bonaire, then back to the start, followed by a sausage to Llenaire and back before a final beat to finish at Llenaire.
Ten boats were on the water, with the promise of tough competition. A closely contested start saw bunching at the committee end, with ffinally starting in clear air mid line. They stayed left, which proved to be a mistake, as the shifts on the right side favoured those who tacked across early.
At the top mark, Flying High, Puffin and Martini arrived in a bunch, with Wight Flyer and ffinally close behind. The run was deep, and most chose to try for a single leg. Two thirds of the way down, a big shift and easing winds forced them to gybe and do this in three or more leg. fuego fatuo had gone for the higher course and gained hugely from this shift.
Following a problem at the bottom mark Flying High headed for home. Meanwhile ffinally also had issues, wrapping the spinnaker, and allowing Dragonfly to slip through whilst they were sorting it all out. This also brought fuego into the mix, and a battle for fourth place was on. All three stayed right up towards Avançada, with ffinally slowly overhauling Dragonfly. Comig to the top mark, fuego also pulled through into fifth.
Up ahead Puffin and Martini were going fast and looking unstoppable. Wight Flyer was midway between these two and the next group, who were catching up fast. Coming to the windward mark, ffinally were close but didn’t cross tacks, and remained fourth at the start of the final run.
The downwind leg saw ffinally extend and close on Wight Flyer, but unable to pass. Up the final leg, Puffin stayed ahead of Martini, to finish first and second. After a tough battle, Wight Flyer crossed third, with ffinally next ahead of fuego and Dragonfly.
| 1 | GBR 3724 | Puffin | James Waugh / Ben | 1 |
| 2 | GBR 3382 | Martini | Rafa Benitez / Pilar Casares | 2 |
| 3 | ESP 3728 | Wight Flyer | Stephen Parry / Philip Parry | 3 |
By the time you read this, we’ll have sailed regatta 2 in the series, and the Balearic Championships on 19-21 February. After that next is the final Trofeo Galeria Maior on 13 March. Then we have the Mallorca Championships on 17-18 April, before Palma Vela in early May. Although any of these may change in this new Covid era, let’s hope we can continue to sail into 2021!
If you’re interested in a trial sail, just follow the link: http://tiny.cc/TrialaFlying15, we’d love to see you! Or come see us, we’re at: ///categorically.allergies.abdomens – really!
Our 2021 calendar is posted on our website http://flyingfifteen.mallorcaservice.de
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By Stephen Babbage
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