News

News Bulletin - for December 2022

Published Sun 04 Dec 2022

FFI-V December 2022 Bulletin

State Championships 2022-2023 Wrap up
Calendar dates Internationally
New date for 2022-2023 Ossie McCutcheon Trophy event
Vale Alan Carson
Vale Ron Packer
New YouTube Video on FF Europeans with 71 boats
2023 Worlds & 59^th Australian Championships, Freemantle, WA.

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2022-2023 FFI-Victoria State Championships all done at Apollo Bay Sailing Club

What an amazing weekend we have just had at the 59^th Flying Fifteen State championships.

Congratulations to “The Flying Flamingo” 3890 DBYC, Lewis Davies and John Radnell, taking out the open championship on a last race countback after being locked on equal points with “Where The Bloody Hell Are You” 3880, Craig and Ian Rainey being awarded second place.

Where do I start… an amazing venue below the Otway’s, a rogue bull seal greeting you at the ramp, not once but twice (Crew 3988 left the water till the offender left the area with words like Forget This I’m not a sardine…)

The weekends festivities began at the Apollo Bay Brew House evening where after a lovely meal on the barrel tables some of the DBYC crew played a game called “Come on pink dog” which for those that made the effort returned a sizeable booty.

Saturday’s forecasted 12 -15 knots looked promising until the fleet reached the course when it all changed and a warm 20 knot Northerly (offshore) piped in, gusting at 31 to 34 knots for the next 2 hours (as recorded by the nearby Cape Otway weather station). This resulted in no less than seven boats heading to the harbour to rest up. Race one did happen with a few dramas. One boat ended up with the finishing boats bow sprit through their mainsail but hull still OK. Other boats finished with their crew’s knee deep in the water after capsizes and some sailors finished but did not sail the correct course to record a DNF. Only one race was sailed on Saturday which meant Sunday could be torturous…

The annual FFI-V Saturday Dinner did not disappoint with sailors enjoying some great banter, food, and a long awaited catch up at the Apollo Bay Hotel. The soccer on the TV calmed the crowd and everybody had an earlyish night.

Sunday proved that five seasons do exist in one day… Sun, rain, wind, nothing, cold, wetness, frustration, gales… do I need to go on? Nearby Cape Otway recorded Westerly (offshore) winds with averages from 11 to 18 knots but still gusting 25+ knots at various times of the day. Apollo Bay is a WILD place. We completed the additional 5 races to make up the full series.

Whilst “The Flying Flamingo” and “Where The Bloody Hell Are You” dominated the 1^st and 2^nd placings the battle for third was also very closely fought with only one point separating the next 3 boats. “Aussie Falcon” 3930 with Dale Collings and Andrew Mason rescued a 2^nd place in race one then remained consistent to take out 3^rd place overall. “FFomo” 3988 Sue Thompson and Cam Taylor (FFI-V President) with a 2^nd place in race 4 took out 4^th on a countback with “Ten Pound Note” 3611 Trevor Williams and Bently Conn.
With the first 3 placegetters ineligible for the Open Handicap this went to “FFomo” 3988 Sue Thompson and Cam Taylor.
Apollo Bay has the biggest active Classic fleet in Victoria (possibly Australia) and with 4 boats stepping up to enter these States it was the biggest Classic fleet since 2013 at GLYC.
The classic trophy went to “April Dancer” 1115 with Bruce Johnson and Geraldine Lewin showing the open fleet how to sail in Apollo Bay. With the Classic Handicap going to “Affrodite” 962 Tim Cobb and Chris Adams.

A great weekend was had by all, and Apollo Bay certainly did shine for this event.

Click here to view Full Awards List for Full results click here to access from FFI-V website
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Calendar dates - Internationally and FFI-Australia:

59^th AUS Championships, Perth, from 9^th to 16^th Mar 2023

2023 World Championships, Australia, Fremantle, Perth, 17^th to 25^th Mar 2023

24^th FFI-World Champ’s, Weymouth & Portland (WPNSA) UK, Jul–Aug 2025

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Racing for the Ossie McCutcheon Trophy has again been postponed to 29^th January 2023. Click here to download the NOTICE TO COMPETITORS that covers the original Postponement to 20^th November. A new Notice to Competitors for the postponement to 29^th January 2023 will issue over the next week and simply update the race day.

Late Entries will now be accepted up until 6:00pm on Friday 27^th January 2023 with the entry fee reduced to $50- (using the discount code “LateOssieMcC”). You will still need to make prior arrangements for Registration and Measurement checks.

Click here to go to the Ossie McCutcheon Trophy Event page to enter online.

Contact Dale Collings on 0415 595754 (email: dalecollings3930@gmail.com) for queries on specifics not covered in the Notice of Race or to query an entry.

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Vale: Alan Carson
Hi Fellow Fifteen’ers, last week we received the sad news that Alan Carson, a long-time campaigner in the Flying Fifteen Class, passed away following his battle with cancer. Alan was a Life Member, Past Commodore and Club Champion of Cairn Curran Sailing Club and a former President of FFIV. His contribution to, and support of, the class over many years was enormous. He will be sadly missed.
We understand there will be a celebration of Alan’s life at a date to be confirmed this side of Christmas at Cairn Curran Sailing Club. More details to follow.
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Vale: Ron Packer as posted to FFI-A website 3/12/2022

With sadness we inform members that Ron Packer, a Life Member of FFIA, has passed away after a long illness.

Ron’s sailing portfolio is vast and varied and includes involvement with Americas Cup and Admirals Cup campaigns, ocean racing on east and west coasts of Australia as well as the 1979 Parmelia Race from Plymouth to Fremantle. His involvement with the Flying Fifteen class began in the 1990’s and progressed to winning the Australian Championship in 2001 with long serving crew Peter Mudford. Many competitive results in World and Australian Championships followed in subsequent years.

Ron’s work behind the scenes is what set him apart having drafted constitutions for FFIA and FFIWA (twice), we are on a legally solid foundation purely as a result of his efforts.

A past Commodore of Royal Freshwater Bay YC, Ron also served on the boards of Yachting Western Australia and FFIA.

Our condolences to his wife, daughters, members of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and the wider sailing community.

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ffiv website now has a page to link to YouTube videos just on Flying Fifteens

Check out the first to be added: 3:36 min video of 2022 European Championships at Cowes with 71 boats.

Don’t forget our new Tuning and Racing guides ffiv webpage launched in our Sept. 2022 News Bulletin, which has links to the latest sailing skills Videos ON flying fifteens BY flying fifteen sailors

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The 2023 World Championships regatta including 59^th Australian Championships will be sailed on the protected open waters off Freemantle, Perth, Western Australia from 12^th to 25^th March 2023. (Registration & Measurement from 9^th March)