19-21 February – Balearic Championships– Pollença

Our national championships took place earlier this year, in February rather than September. Six races were scheduled, to be sailed over the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Flying High returned to defend her title form last year, and – despite nobody being able to attend from overseas, we had a good turnout of twelve, including another two new local teams in Flying Uschi and Fiscardo. The fleet continues to expand, and more and more Spanish and Mallorcan sailors are discovering the thrills of flying fifteen sailing.

Friday – races 1 & 2

The first day lived up to the forecast with a light wind from just north of east, which continually threatened to disappear. Race 1 saw lively action at the start, with most of the fleet pushing for the line. ffinally got off well, halfway down the line, hidden behind a bulge towards the committee. But this was not to be, and the Race Officer correctly called a general recall.

The second start was just as busy, but with nobody OCS. The fleet split early, half going left for the shifts towards the harbour, and the rest right in anticipation of a shift that way. ffinally had chosen that side, along with Flying High, and they had a close fight to the top mark, ffinally arriving ahead. Martini had taken the other side and came in close behind.

The run saw the leaders extend and set off up the second beat with a hundred metre advantage. Second lap was a triangle, with the leaders pulling further away, although not yet planing. Up the third beat, ffinally took the wrong side, and came out behind the other two. A quick spinnaker hoist saw them pass Martini and set off after Flying High.

Slowly they reeled them in, and split gybes halfway down to go to the north side of the course. This proved to be the better side, and as they converged on the line, ffinally were a boat length ahead taking the first win, Flying High second, and Martini third.

Before Race 2 ffinally stayed off to the right and became absorbed in resetting their compass for the new wind. When they came back to the line, the heard a gun and initially thought it was the 4-minute, except that everybody looked neatly lined up – it was the start! Last at the start gave them all to play for, and they had clear air to immediately tack off to the right. This paid massively, and as they came into the top mark for the first time they had recovered to mid fleet.

Down the run they knocked off two more places, to see them back with Martini and Flying High. The wind had continued to shift right, so the committee moved the top mark to compensate, extending at the same time as the breeze had freshened. ffinally came on to the triangle in second but couldn’t catch Rafa and Pilar. Up the final beat Flying High took the better side, and arrived at the top in second, Martini still leading. ffinally set off in pursuit and closed to within a length but ran out of racetrack and had to settle for third.

So, day one ended with three boats all on 4 points, followed by Stormtrooper IV on 8, Wight Flyer on 11 and Speedy Gonzales with 12. All set for an exciting regatta.

Saturday – races 3 & 4

The forecast had been for more wind, and so it was a surprise to find only 8 knots, and from more northerly than the previous day at 070˚.

Race 3 started promptly and set off in a faltering breeze which was swinging strongly right. The leaders from Friday had a poor start and were struggling in mid fleet – and so were pleased when the race was abandoned halfway up the leg after the wind had moved 40˚ right.

After laying a new mark, the race was restarted – unsurprisingly most of the fleet tacked off right as soon as they could, expecting the wind to move that way. However, this was not to be, and the wind remained relatively stable. ffinally got to the top first, Flying High, Stormtrooper and Martini in hot pursuit. The wind dropped for a bit and the leaders saw the rest of the fleet coming down on the new wind, closing up rapidly. However, they stayed ahead and set off for the top again. Flying High called the beat best, and got there first, followed by ffinally and Stormtrooper.

ffinally were unable to catch up and started the final beat behind Flying High. Stormtrooper and Martini had a great fight on this leg, with the latter coming out ahead before the final downwind. Positions didn’t change on this leg, giving Flying High another 1, ffinally another 2 and Martini a 3.

The wind stayed right for race 4, with Speedy Gonzales getting a good start and sailing a strong beat. Flying High and ffinally were now sailing a match race, leaving the rest of the fleet to fight it out. Paco Terras, sailing Flying Uschi had a great battle with Speedy finishing only just behind them in fourth, whilst Martini had an inconsistent race and finished tenth.

Going into the final day, Flying High was on 6, ffinally 8, Martini 17, Stormtrooper 18 and Speedy 20. So, on Sunday the battles would be between two boats for the top slot and three for the remaining podium.

Sunday – races 5 & 6

The forecast was for 20+ knots, with gusts in the 30s, and a few boats decided not to come, thinking racing might be called off. In the end, we started in only 12 knots, from south of east.

Race 5 started in the strongest breeze of the day, with most of the boats depowering for the first beat. Nevertheless, the regatta leaders were all close at the top, and blasted off on the run – only to have the wind drop dramatically halfway down. This allowed the fleet to concertina, although the front group remained ahead.

Up the second beat, the wind strengthened again and carried on moving right, with the top mark moved the same way. Flying High rounded first, made a slow spinnaker hoist and shot off on the tight reach, with ffinally following a hundred metres behind. Meanwhile Martini had an incident with Stormtrooper, and had to take a penalty, which allowed David and Hamish into third place.

The second reach was just as fast, and the two leaders extended their advantage. Then the wind dropped a little for the final beat, and Stormtrooper and Martini closed up. Halfway up, Martini crossed behind ffinally, and on their next meeting tried for a lee bow tack. They executed this perfectly but were stunned as ffinally the just pointed up and sailed over the top, arriving at the mark clear ahead.

On the final run ffinally tried everything to catch Flying High but missed out on the stronger wind out to the right and had to settle for second. Stromtrooper came in third, just ahead of Martini and Wight Flyer.

The series was now firmly in Flying High’s hands but there being no discards, the final race was still to count.

The wind was already dropping as the last race was started and swinging even more to the right. Halfway up the beat, many were starting to question whether we’d finish before dark. ffinally got there first and started down the run with Flying High next. The wind went even further right, and the run became a reach. Once again, the Race Officer reacted quickly, moving the top mark a lot closer, and the wing down as well.

The triangle was a lot less frantic than in the previous race, but just as critical to the results, with the top two again extending on the rest of the fleet. As the wind faded further up the final beat, fuego fatuo closed in, and then passed ffinally before the mark. fuego stayed well out to the side, whilst ffinally went down the middle and gained ground. Coming to the finish, fuego gybed and came in at the pin end whilst ffinally headed for the middle. Both boats crossed at almost the same time, the committee awarding it to fuego by half a bow.

So overall, we had a great series, with a clear rivalry for first and a three-way fight for third. The racing was very close, both at the front and mid fleet where five or six boats were always finishing in a bunch and lots of positions decided right at the finish. In the final race, looking back after the finish, we saw all the other boats in line with spinnakers flying as they approached the line – a very spectacular and rewarding sight!

So Flying High successfully defended her title, with ffinally second, and Rafa and Pilar in Martini third for the second year.

1	ESP 3592	Flying High	Vincent Harris / Patrick Harris	8
2	UK 4014	ffinally	John Walker / Stephen Babbage	13

3

GBR 3382

Martini

Rafa Benitez / Pilar Casares

26

As well as the winners’ trophy, the top three also received a framed reproduction from the original Uffa Fox drawings, suitably titled for the 2021 Championships.

Congratulations to Joan and the team for a superbly organised event, they never put a foot wrong, and called the wind shifts and course changes perfectly. Thank you!

As many of you will know, Palma Vela has been postponed until 27 October, so the next big event is the Mallorca Championships on 17-18 April. Although any of these might 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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flying fifteen Mallorca
Stephen Babbage