We have received some sad news from Hayling Island Sailing Club to start the year; we have lost two long-serving members of the Flying Fifteen family.  Firstly Iris Long a former secretary of the association.  Iris and her husband were stalwarts of the class at Hayling in the 70's and 80's sailing their FF 503 Fidgit and were particularly good in light winds as remembered by our very own 'Stato' Mr Greg Wells.

Secondly, we were informed that Roger Palmer a former President of the UK Association and Commodore of Flying Fifteen International passed away at the end of January, as many of you will know Roger was also an international race officer, officiating at the Hayling Worlds.  Roger owned and raced several Fifteens, with his wife Barbara and often in his later years still the quickest around the harbour, reputedly known as the cunning fox.  There is a fuller account of Roger and Barbara's sailing in our 2020 edition of FF world, written by their good friend Sue Bannister.  This article can be read here.

We will post a fuller obituary in due course, we send all our best wishes to the families, Hayling Island Sailing Club, and Flying Fifteen fleet.