Flying Fifteens - coming and coming events

Decisions made at recent Worlds in Ireland

At the recent World Championships held in Dun Laoghaire, Eire, it was agreed by the Council of Flying 15 International that the first Flying Fifteen European Championship will be held in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca, in May 2004, and that France will host the 2007 Worlds at a venue yet to be decided. This will be the first FF Worlds to be held in Continental Europe.

Despite the introduction of new classes the Fifteen is as popular as ever. In recent years strong fleets have been developing in Eire, France Belgium and Spain, some 50 years after Uffa Fox first tried to introduce the Class to France by sailing a Fifteen across the Channel! A new European Championship will give further impetus to the development of the Class in Europe.

The Flying 15 is a well established international class with some 1200 boats worldwide. Apart from the U.K which has over forty recognised fleets there is a growing representation worldwide in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, USA and South Africa. How many other classes are still growing 56 years after they were first designed?

The next World Championships will be held in Auckland, New Zealand in March 2005.

The 2003 Flying Fifteen Worlds, hosted by NYC in Dun Laoghaire, were won by the husband and wife team of Barry and Sue Parkin in a 5 year old boat - the first time a ladies name has been on the trophy.