Goacher the resounding champion

A final report from the Flygin Fifteen Nationals

23 boats including 4 Silver fleet and 5 Classics entered this year’s Nationals, the numbers down on previous years mainly because of the proximity of the Worlds in Dun Laoghaire in August. Nevertheless the fleet had an excellent week both on and off the water helped by first class race management under Race Officer David Rayment who, possessing an uncanny instinct for the wind, made the most of the mainly lightish conditions.

Apart from Thursday when the wind freshened to a steady 20 knots, the week consisted of NE to SE F2 –3. Although there were a couple of postponements, every day the sea breeze filled in and all race days were completed.

The racing was dominated by Steve Goacher and Phil Evans 3721 who secured an unprecedented third consecutive title with seven firsts in the nine race Championship.



There was more competition in the rest of the fleet with second place still in contention on the final race with only 0.7 pts between Simon Kneller/David Lucas 3699 and Alan Bax/Andrew Weatherspoon 3786. With a light 6 knot wind from the north west for the first time in the week, Alan Bax rounded the windward mark first determined not to surrender his lead despite a strong challenge from Steve Goacher. These two ex World Champions extended their lead and match raced each other from the second mark. With Kneller only managing fifth place Bax/Weatherspoon secured second overall, Kneller and Bax proving to be the only two to beat Goacher all week.

There was even closer competition lower down with only 14 points separating the next seven boats going into the final race.

Brian McKee/Ian Smyth 3792 from Northern Ireland, who had started the week slowly, had a close race with Mike Kilbee/Tony Cox 3625 but held on in a dying breeze to take fourth on the day and fourth overall.



Martin Payne and John Heyes 3778 had a consistent week including two fourths and finished fifth overall – very creditable for John Heyes’ first time in a Fifteen.

In the Silver Fleet racing with the Open boats Bill Butcher/Martin Scobie 2797 won the overall battle of the home boats finishing 14th overall.

In the separate Classics event David Hill IRL 671 retained his title, this year crewed by Maf Smith. Like Goacher/Evans they dominated their event winning all eight races and on occasions finishing ahead of the tail of the Open Fleet despite a five minute discrepancy in the start time.

With the help of both the Royal Torbay YC and a number of sponsors it proved a highly successful and enjoyable week.

Next year’s Nationals are at Abersoch which will be a qualifying event for the 2005 Worlds in Auckland, New Zealand