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Ideal conditions for Flying Fifteens contest

Des BeeckAlbany Advertiser
Flying Fifteens with Crazy, right, the winner, FForeever Young in the centre third and Frequent Flyer on the left in second place.
Camera IconFlying Fifteens with Crazy, right, the winner, FForeever Young in the centre third and Frequent Flyer on the left in second place. Credit: Des Beeck

Three Flying Fifteens competed in a harbour course race in ideal conditions instead of the usual howling easterlies last Saturday.

It was warm and balmy with a southerly that never reached 12 knots.

As is his habit, Simon Lucas was away like the wind with FForever Young.

All three yachts began the flying start with spinnakers hoisted in a great display of speed.

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Aileen Lucas in Crazy revels in these conditions but trailed FForever Young throughout and was only seconds off the leader.

Wayne North put in a great effort to stay with the other two and his mid-week practice paid off.

It was single file to the finish line, with FForever Young crossing first but relegated to third place on corrected time.

Lucas did enough on handicap to snatch the win by just 29sec.

North, in his best sail since joining the fleet, was second with Frequent Flyer.

Viper skipper Duncan Ray has his moments with Alice.
Camera IconViper skipper Duncan Ray has his moments with Alice. Credit: Des Beeck

Division 1 conducted their match race between arch rivals Harold Keay in Shagabull and Murray Deere in Wild One.

And a match race it was, with the two yachts almost locked together for much of the journey around their harbour course.

After a sluggish start, Keay hit the front and stayed there right to the finish, with Deere breathing down his neck.

Keay went on to deliver the goods by a narrow second and recorded the fastest time. More division 1 yachts are getting ready to join in very soon.

Division 2 sailed a harbour course, and Stephen Lee in Flasheart showed no mercy to Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland.

The further the race went, the further Lee opened the gap after a promising start by Brown, who matched Lee to the first mark.

After that, Brown gradually dropped well back as Lee pushed Flasheart to an easy victory and fastest time.

Three Vipers duelled over a short harbour course, with Michael Cameron skippering Chinese Moccasin to a comfortable win in an impressive display.

Duncan Ray skippering Alice finished second after having his best sail of the season. Third place went to Geoff Oliver skippering Fang on the day.

Two skippers from Princess Royal Sailing Club featured in the results of the Rumble in the Reach conducted by East Fremantle Yacht Club earlier in the month.

Cameron won on handicap with Bite Me, and Oliver was third on handicap.

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