Flying Fifteens in 2002

All the latest information and news on hulls, gear, sails and rig for the popular Flying Fifteen

Wood has not been forgotten and although not many are built now this example is a wood decked Ovington owned by Adrian Simpson, number 3296.



From early days fleets were established around the world, Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa being quick to take to the class.  These still exist and share the hosting of the World Championships along with the British Isles.  Later other fleets appeared in the Middle East, central and north America and parts of mainland Europe, the Philippines and Mallorca. A first this year has been a boat registered to Japan.

In recent years the French have established several fleets, buying up a lot of secondhand UK boats and creating classic/silver fleets. This interest has now led to the production of the first boat in Belgium based on a Mk VIII mould from Roy Windebank. Apparently the strong pound precludes the purchase of new UK boats, so this could herald a new era for the class in Europe.

Sails

Two sailmakers dominate the FF class. Steve Goacher is a three time World Champion in the class and has developed a range of sails because he feels that the class has two fairly distinct type of sailors. Many at championship level will be 25 stone plus, while there are a lot of lighter weight crews, particularly husband/wife combinations, in the class who have to be able to depower the rig easily.

Steve's sails reflect this, in genoas the G1 is suited to the heavier paring with a lot of shape locked into the sail providing sufficient drive in choppy water. The G1a modification is a more all-round sail that allows the lighter pair to hard sheet to flatten the sail and go high and then ease slightly to regain speed. The G3 is intended for flat water conditions for lighter crews.

To go with the genoas he has a range of mains, with luff curve to suit the mast being used and leech hardness suited to the crew weight - a heavier crew being able to hold a harder leech. With spinnakers the SL2 was developed for the Worlds in Australia (he won) and has been slightly modified since then. The SL1 is slightly smaller and particularly good in a blow on tight reaches where the luff can be more easily controlled by lighter crews to keep the sail from collapsing.

Steve concentrates on producing a rig that works through the gears, no point in having a one wind wonder, eradicating any flat spots in the range.

Main rival to Steve Goacher in the sail market and on the race course is Alan Bax at Pinnell and Bax, another top sailmaker competing in the FF. Alan has been sailing a Dingwall hull the last couple of seasons and P & B will be adding the Dingwall boat to their list alongside the Ovington hulls they sell.

On the sail front Alan has produced a more powerful main for the heavier weights, noting that crew weights have been rising. Similarly with the genoa, he has produced what is called the Sea Genoa, which is intended for the heavier crew sailing on the sea, not for a lake or harbour situation.

Mast and Rigs on page 3.....
Changes and Gear Guide tables on page 4....