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Definition:
A 'classic' Flying Fifteen is defined as a sail number below 2701, and certain non - Windebank boats above 2701

Flying Fifteens For Sale
There's a list of 15's for sale on the BIFFA web site.

Flying 15 Blog
A very good blog with lots of interesting and useful information:
flyingfifteen.wordpress.com/

Flying 15 - 2663

The beginning
Flying 15, sail number 2663 is a Classic Flying 15 that was owned and sailed (for some of it's career) by Mike Pearce (crew) and Jeremy Arnold (helm) and based at Notts County S.C. This web site has been published in response to the many questions we have been asked about the modifications made to the boat and also as a record of the great times we had sailing her in open meetings around the UK.

Built in 1983, 2663 - originally called 'Another Imp' and now renamed Reservoir D'Og - lived for many years at Hayling Island SC. During a week of sailing leading up to the Bulwark Trophy in 2000 we couldn't help noticing this sad and unsailed 15 outside the window of our bunk room. We were looking for a new boat to replace 2162 (our original 15 - a Shepherd) and enquires established that the boat we'd been looking at all week was for sale.

A couple of months later we towed her back to our then base at Ogston Reservoir in Derbyshire. Luckily we were able to use an old boat shed that was due to be demolished to make way for a shiny new building (courtesy of the National Lottery). We managed to get two months inside working space over January and February 2001. We stripped her out and rebuilt / refurbished her and have sailed her competitively since then.

During February and March 2003 we again brought her inside - this time into an empty industrial unit (oh luxury!)- where minor repairs and modifications were made prior to the 2003 season and the Classic Worlds in July in Ireland.

The end
After competing in the 2003 Classic Worlds we decided to sell 2663. She now lives at Llangorse and we were both pleased to see her sailed to 2nd place at the 2004 Classic Nationals held at Abersoch.

We competed in the 2003 UK Nationals in a borrowed Ovington (3599) our best result being a 2nd in one race behind Steve Goacher / Phil Evans.

Where are they now?

I (Mike) competed in the 2005 Nationals at Poole Harbour in modern Flying Fifteen 3732 'Outsider' helmed by Graham Wilkinson while Jeremy won the Classics that year helming Dave Brown's boat.

I sailed my Moody 419 yacht Gypsy Dancer (details) for four years in the USA and Caribbean, and also skippered and helmed Clive Green's 'Stratocruiser' a Baltic 38 in the 2007 and 2008 Dartmouth Regattas coming 12th / 32 in class in 08.

In the 2009 Dartmouth Regatta I competed as main sheet trimmer on 'Cracklin Rose', Brian Wilkinson's Corby 40 - a serious, lean mean racing machine. In between times I also raced Squibs. Ah! The joys of loose rigging!

I am now racing Fifteen's again at Chew Valley Lake SC, near Bristol. Having re-rigged and modernised FF 2870, I now helm Flying 15 3421 'Wild Affair' with my partner Sandie. I also competed in the 2006 Nationals at Weymouth crewed by Ken Reed, and crewed for Russell Abrahams in 3820 'Dragonfly' in the 2014 Nationals at Poole.

Mike Pearce,September 2014.