After GTI Polaris Regatta back in September 2008 Flying Fifteen owner Maf Smith casually commented that he would not be doing the forthcoming Holy Loch frostbite series. When asked why not he remarked that he would be towing his Classic FF 'Feel Flows' down to Kendal where he would whip the keel off and stuff it all into a container bound for Australia.

Turns out that had sneaked in a couple of qualifying events during the summer. This proved to be a good idea as he and helmsman Andy Mckee (from Dovestone SC) were able to fly out to Melbourne after Christmas in time to stick it all back together and set about a spot of yacht racing.

The Australian National Flying Fifteen Championship was the first event and they won this in some style. For the Nationals the older Classic and slightly newer Silver boats race boat to boat with the much faster Opens. The full fleet was 100 or so boats including 25 Classics/Silvers. Feel Flows came in 43rd overall. Not only did they win the Classic section but also beat all the Silvers over the water and a significant number of Opens. So much so that they actually qualified to race in the Open fleet at the forthcoming Worlds.

They wisely stuck to the Classic section for the worlds where they raced on a separate course. Such was the speed of Feel Flows that questions were raised as to whether this boat really was a Classic. In the first race they nearly sank and in others suffered gear failures which only just got sorted for the following races. Nevertheless they completed all 7 races with four 1sts and 2nds with the sinker discarded. The 2nd and 3rd boats each had 13 points. .

The first event of 2009 on the Holy Loch calendar is our annual Flying Fifteen weekend on 18th/19th April. Feel Flows is now in a container somewhere on the high seas hopefully heading for the Clyde. Well done those boys. We are looking forward to some coaching!

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