FFI-V 29^th Feb 2024 News Bulletin

• 2023-24 FFI-Vic States Wrap Up
• Calendar dates AUS champs and next Worlds
                   plus 2024-2025 FFI-V Season
• FFI-V AGM – save the date 8:00pm Wednesday 17^th April 2024
• Dates confirmed for 2025 AUS Champs at DBYC
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Calendar dates –  FFI-Australia, East Coast & next Worlds:

2024-25 Ossie McCutcheon Trophy, Davey’s Bay YC, 16^th & 17^th Nov 2024

2024-25 Victorian State Champs, Davey’s Bay YC, 23^rd & 24^th Nov 2024

61^st AUS Champs, Davey’s Bay YC, VIC, from 1^st Jan. to 6^th Jan 2025

24^th FFI-World Champ’s, Weymouth UK, Aug 2025

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2023-24 FFI-Vic States Wrap-up:

The 60^th Flying Fifteen State Championships were run by Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) over the weekend of the 17^th/18^th February on the waters of Lake Victoria, Gippsland. 10 boats greeted the starter with entrants making the journey from as far away as Canberra, Lake Macquarie, Adelaide and David Tabb from the UK.

The boat park was buzzing as the breeze picked up, conditions for the championship were light at best and we were lucky enough to complete all 6 races. Saturday afternoon was very much lake sailing in a slight building breeze around 7-8 knots, with the usual shifts and holes but the local Rainey brothers, Ian and Craig sailing “Where The Bloody Hell Are You” (WTBHAY) pulled through with 2 x bullets and a 4^th being 6 points after 3 races. However, David Tabb and David Bennett in “Ark” had an equal second in race 1 followed by a 2^nd then a bullet in the third race putting them on 5.5 points and the overnight leaders. Coming in 3^rd overnight with progressively improving placings of 6^th, 3^rd, then 2^nd was Sue Thompson and Cam Taylor on 11 points sailing in “Freshwater”.

The Saturday night social was well attended and sailors dined at the Old Pub. The beer was cold, the food was good and tales from the day flowed on into the night.

Dawn broke on Sunday with a light breeze and a scheduled start of 10.30am. The boats hit the water and after a brief postponement racing was on. Dale Collings and Andrew Mason in “Aussie Falcon” had a glamour of a race to finish 1^st, as did Lewis and Shane Davies with their best race in 2^nd followed closely by “Ark” extending their lead by one point ahead of “WTBHAY”.

Race 5 would see this lead change with the Rainey’s taking another bullet followed by Chris Villa and Mark Holmes in “Up Ship Creek” then Sue and yours truly in 3^rd.

Race 6 saw Dale and Andrew dominate the fleet with another bullet followed by the Rainey’s in a dead heat for 2^nd with Sue and Cam. The second dead heat this regatta.

 Craig and Ian Rainey sailing “Where the bloody hell are you?” became Open Champions with 9.5 points (11^th time for Craig and 8^th time as crew for Ian), followed by David Tabb and David Bennett in “ARK” on 12.5 points and Sue Thompson and Cameron Taylor in “Freshwater” on 16.5 points. To view/download the full Open results click here or go to our FFI-V website page for 2023-2024 Results

The Silver Trophy was awarded to Father and son team of Lewis and Shane Davies sailing “Ffidelity” and repeating their achievement done in the same boat back in 2012.

The Classic Trophy was awarded to Bruce Johnson and Geraldine Lewin sailing “April Dancer” from Apollo Bay. Being the third time for this pair.

The Entire Teams Trophy (the best 3 boats from a club) was retained by Davey’s Bay YC on 13 points ahead of GLYC on 16 points. Another close result.

To view/download the 2023-2024 FFI-V State Champs Awards list click here

Presentation was well supported with a couple of FFI-A life members, Bill Shand and Michael Clark receiving very nice bucket hats from the FFI-V President, Cameron Taylor. Another FFI-V life member from GLYC, Bob Beard also attended on the Saturday helping with crane launching

GLYC put on a great event and we thank the Race Officer John Spencer, volunteers and friends for their input.

Kind Regards

Cameron Taylor

FFI-V President

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The FFI-V Annual General Meeting will be held online with a Notice of AGM to be issued in March.  Save the Date => 8:00pm Wednesday 17^th April 2024
Please send your discussion items to FFI-V Secretary by 17^th March 2024

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FFI-A has confirmed the dates for the 2025 (& 61^st) Australian Championship’s to be run by Davey’s Bay Yacht Club as follows:

                                           Registration     – 1^st January 2025 

               Registration & Invitation Race    – 2^nd January,

  Championship racing, 2 races per day    – 3^rd to 6^th January inclusive

                                          Presentation     – Night of 6^th January

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From Dale Collings

On Behalf of FFI-V