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The Flying Fifteen Open Lakeland Grand Prix and Northern Area Championship 2025 was hosted by the Royal Windermere Yacht Club (RWYC) across April 26 and 27.
Sailors from all over the UK and Ireland made the journey to south Cumbria to take part and test themselves on the famous lake.
The importance of the event for Windermere in a World Championship year for the class was stressed by RWYC Commodore David Heron.
He added: “It was a wonderful, highly competitive event and I have personally had some really positive feedback.
“It was a superb showcase for both the club and the fleet.”
Mr Heron also thanked all those who took part, helped to organise it and manned the safety boats.
READ MORE: Windermere sailing contest still going strong after 40 years | The Mail
Windermere’s north lake saw a ‘rainbow’ of many coloured spinnakers as 33 boats took to the water.
The crews, who brought their racing dinghies from Lymington on the south coast to Plockton in Scotland, battled variable winds and each other in five races on Saturday and Sunday.
The club outlined how there was a ‘real buzz’ around the site as participants and onlookers made the most of the event.
The overall winner was the RWYC’s own Steve Goacher and Tim Harper in 4021 The Whippet and the Whopper, challenged in second place by Dovestone SC’s Andy McKee and Rich Jones in 4005 Fiery Chariot.
The result was mirrored by the RYWC’s Anthony Woods and Andrew Davey in third place with 4102 Flirty Gerty from Number 30, and Dovestone SC’s David Mckee and Mal Hartland’s 4065 in fourth.
The RWYC was founded in 1860 to promote sailing on the lake, and it welcomes both juniors and adults.
The Flying Fifteen is one of four racing fleets seen at the club, along with the Windermere 17ft Yacht, the Dinghy class, and cruisers.
More information about the RWYC and their events can be found at the website here.
