Eighteen Flying Fifteens assembled at Loch Tummel Sailing Club on 13–14 September for the 2025 Scottish Championship, sailed as part of the club’s Autumn Regatta. The event ran alongside several junior classes competing on their Scottish circuit, making for a lively weekend both on and off the water.
One week the class might be racing at a major venue like Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the next at the stunning setting of Loch Tummel – very different, but both offering top-quality competition thanks to committed volunteers.
Saturday: Shifty Challenges
Saturday dawned with glassy conditions, though a light southerly was forecast. By the time the fleet launched, the breeze had filled in but remained shifty and patchy.
Race 1 went to 3802
Mike Preston & Karl Sloane (Blackpool & Fleetwood YC) after overhauling early leaders 3733
Mike & Sara Harris. Passing opportunities were limited as the breeze shifted to skew the course.
In Race 2 the breeze steadied, though “snakes and ladders” remained across the course. Local pairing 3633
Craig Hepplewhite & John Annan (Loch Lomond SC) took the win ahead of clubmates 4001
Euan Dunn & Duncan Hepplewhite, with 4147
Tony Woods & crew in third.
Race 3 brought another tight contest, with short first beats making clear air starts crucial. Hepplewhite & Annan again secured victory, with Dunn & Hepplewhite second and Preston & Sloane third. Overnight leaders were 3633, followed by 4001. 3332
Tim Allen & Ian McNeill (Dovestone SC) led the Silver Fleet with consistent 5–6–4 scores, while 485
Graham & Cameron Sharp (Plockton) topped the Classics.
A convivial curry night laid on by club volunteers rounded off the day.
Sunday: Decider in Freshening Breeze
Sunday began calm, the postponement flag limp on the clubhouse, before an easterly breeze built enough to get racing underway. Would the trophy remain in Scotland of go south of the boarder?
Race 4 saw Preston & Sloane bounce back strongly, taking the win despite a penalty turn on the first beat. Woods & crew secured second, with 4130
Adrian Tattersall & John Mathie (furthest travelled with Adrian coming up from Pembrokeshire) third. Overnight leaders Hepplewhite & Annan slipped to eighth, while Dunn & Hepplewhite posted a seventh.
It all came down to the final race. With the title hanging in the balance, Preston & Sloane delivered under pressure, winning both the race and the championship. Hepplewhite & Annan finished second on the water and overall, while Dunn & Hepplewhite were demoted to DSQ after a protest, handing third overall to Allen & McNeill, who also claimed the Silver Fleet prize. The Classic trophy went to the Sharps from Plockton.
GBR3802, the eventual winner leading the fleet to the leeward mark
Results Summary
- Scottish Champions 2025: 3802 Mike Preston & Karl Sloane (Blackpool & Fleetwood YC)
- 2nd Overall: 3633 Craig Hepplewhite & John Annan (Loch Lomond SC)
- 3rd Overall: 4001 Euan Dunn & Duncan Hepplewhite (Loch Lomond SC)
- Silver Fleet Winner: 3332 Tim Allen & Ian McNeill (Dovestone SC)
- Classic Winner: 485 Graham & Cameron Sharp (Plockton)
The weekend combined competitive, good-natured racing with warm hospitality in a stunning Highland setting. As Mike noted afterwards, the event was a testament to the club’s organisation, volunteers.
Overall
Sailed: 5, Discards: 1, To count: 4, Entries: 18, Scoring system: Appendix A
| Rank |
Sailno |
HelmName |
CrewName |
Club |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
R5 |
|
Total |
Nett |
| 1st |
3802 |
Mike Preston |
Karl Sloane |
B&FYC |
1.0 |
(5.0) |
3.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
11.0 |
6.0 |
| 2nd |
3693 |
Craig Hepplewhite |
John Annan |
Loch Lomond Sailing Club |
4.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
(8.0) |
2.0 |
|
16.0 |
8.0 |
| 3rd |
4001 |
Euan Dunn |
Duncan Hepplewhite |
Loch Lomond |
3.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
7.0 |
(19.0 DSQ) |
|
33.0 |
14.0 |
| 4th |
4147 |
Tony Woods |
Keith Jamieson |
Royal Windermere YC |
(13.0) |
3.0 |
5.0 |
2.0 |
7.0 |
|
30.0 |
17.0 |
| 5th |
4130 |
Adrian Tattersall |
John Mathie |
Parkstone and Fishguard YC |
(12.0) |
8.0 |
6.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
|
32.0 |
20.0 |
| 6th |
3332 |
Tim Allen |
Iain McNeill |
Dovestone |
5.0 |
6.0 |
4.0 |
(13.0) |
5.0 |
|
33.0 |
20.0 |
| 7th |
3733 |
Michael harris |
Sarah harris |
Blackpool and Fleetwood |
2.0 |
9.0 |
(10.0) |
5.0 |
8.0 |
|
34.0 |
24.0 |
| 8th |
3917 |
Jon Abbatt |
Chris Mulholland |
Ullswater Yacht Club |
9.0 |
4.0 |
(19.0 DNF) |
11.0 |
6.0 |
|
49.0 |
30.0 |
| 9th |
3362 |
Scott Train |
Anne Stewart |
Solway Yacht Club |
7.0 |
11.0 |
8.0 |
(12.0) |
4.0 |
|
42.0 |
30.0 |
| 10th |
3451 |
Karen Robertson |
Angus Roberts |
Loch Earn SC / Dalgety Bay SC |
6.0 |
(13.0) |
7.0 |
10.0 |
9.0 |
|
45.0 |
32.0 |
| 11th |
485 |
Graham Sharp |
Cameron Sharp |
Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club |
8.0 |
(12.0) |
12.0 |
6.0 |
11.0 |
|
49.0 |
37.0 |
| 12th |
3398 |
Kenny Leask |
Ross Leask |
Lerwick Boating Club |
11.0 |
7.0 |
(13.0) |
9.0 |
10.0 |
|
50.0 |
37.0 |
| 13th |
3428 |
Graham Lamond |
Rachel Lamond |
Ripon SC |
(19.0 NSC) |
14.0 |
11.0 |
4.0 |
12.0 |
|
60.0 |
41.0 |
| 14th |
2803 |
Glen Fullarton |
Craig Mccracken |
Cardwell bay sailing club |
10.0 |
(16.0) |
14.0 |
15.0 |
13.0 |
|
68.0 |
52.0 |
| 15th |
3716 |
Douglas Hamilton |
David Wallace |
Loch Tummel SC |
14.0 |
10.0 |
(19.0 DNF) |
14.0 |
14.0 |
|
71.0 |
52.0 |
| 16th |
3236 |
Ian Lees |
David Hill |
Dovestone |
16.0 |
15.0 |
9.0 |
16.0 |
(17.0) |
|
73.0 |
56.0 |
| 17th |
2878 |
Hugh Simpson |
Iain Lowther |
Loch Earn |
15.0 |
17.0 |
15.0 |
(18.0) |
15.0 |
|
80.0 |
62.0 |
| 18th |
3237 |
Neill Tannahill |
Declan Armstrong |
Loch Lomond Sailing Club |
17.0 |
(19.0 DNF) |
19.0 DNF |
17.0 |
16.0 |
|
88.0 |
69.0 |