Nick Majors new boat?

Almost, its 02 totally revamped! Bottom refinished in Ford 'Toxic' and deck grip re-done too. It looks like a new boat and is sure to be carrying lead after its winter weight reduction program.

Now for a name, what about 'Wasabi'? or maybe 'Toxic'? Whatever the name, Nick's boat should be very eye catching this season and yes it will have twin trapeze. 02 should be on the water at Mordi in a few weeks time.

The first Mordialloc Winter Series race was a beauty with fresh northerly wind and not too cold. Jim and Heath sailed twin wire on Magic Formula and were quite quick downwind after slow hoists due to a rigging error. Upwind needs work, boat wants to go high. Need to pull board up in those conditions and sail lower to keep boat on the plane. otherwise quite good for a first effort racing twin wire. Justin Zattelman sailed with Nicky Allen on Redback (also twin wire) and completed the course ok despite their very light combined crew weight (about 120kg). Justin said after that the boat felt very fast upwind, just need to cope better with the added boat handling challenges of sailing twin wire.

Twin Trapeze F15s

Justin Zattelman and Jim Scott have fitted their boats with an additional set of trapeze wires and long twin tiller extensions. Juz and Jim are not the first to do this. Lindsay Irwin has sailed his F15 two-wire with Penny on some occasions and Nick Major sailed his boat two-wire with Ross Setford at last years Flinders weekend. Jim and Heath had two-wire fitted on Mr Bond and sailed it as such a couple of times, and since it went to Brisbane, Kevin Cameron and Bevan Webber have sailed it mostly two-wire.

F15s sailed two-wire are faster in a straight line particularly up-wind in over 12-15 knots of wind but of course require a higher skill level and athleticism on the part of the skipper. The optimum combined crew weight for sailing two-wire is probably between 120kg-160kg as apposed to between 140kg-180kg for single wire.

What we all have found is that the boat will readily plane to windward when sailing two-wire and feels lighter and more lively downwind. In strong winds and big waves there is slightly more tendancy to nosedive downwind but it is still relatively safe compared to other skiff classes and can still be pushed very hard in these conditions.

On Magic Formula (pictured below) the new CST carbon mast was designed with two-wiring in mind and seems to support the extra load fine (with the main spreaders powered up a few turns). The alloy Goldspars also cope OK with the two-wire load.

Sailing F15s two-wire is certainly more exciting than single wire and allows smaller people to be competitive but it is more challenging to master. The current rules don't allow it at this stage but we may consider allowing two-wire sailing at some events this season as a trial.

Left: Jim Scott and Nick Major sailing Magic Formula two-wire in 12-15 knots of breeze with a combined crew weight of 140kg

Two-wire F15s would also be an ideal stepping stone for young sailors wanting to eventually sail the more technical (and more expensive) International 14 - infact, the two wire F15 is very much like the pre-hydrofoil I14 to sail, with the added benefeit of a one design hull.

Other developements in the pipeline are new higher aspect carbon foils with NACA foil sections (subject to class approval)

Jim, Justin and Nick are planning to sail their boats two-wire at the Mordialloc Winter Series.

Anyone wanting to have a go should give either of us a call:

Jim 0409 151121

Justin 0707 333478

Nick 0434 227380

2008 Formula Fifteen Presentation Night

This years presentation of States trophies and prizes will be at the 14'Skiff Presentation Night to be held at Black Rock Yacht Club on Sat 14th June 7.30pm. Cost is $40 ($20 for students) and includes beer wine and finger food. All F15 sailors invited. Contact Lindsay Irwin 0425 707915 for tickets.

2008 State Championships, Lake Bullen Merri

The 2008 States were again held at Lake Bullen Merri this time with good breeze for all but one race. The Lake once again proved challenging with the gusty shifty winds keeping sailors busy. This year's overall winner was Magic Formula 09 sailed by Jim Scott and Heath Maconachie. The Handicap title went to Alpha 02 sailed by Nick Major and Madeline.

2008 States Results

Brisbane Expedition, Winter 2007

The Formula Fifteen class has spread north!

Jim Scott, Nick Major and Stuart Johnson drove two boats up to Brisbane for a weekend sail at Royal Queensland YS. A number of local sailors went sailing on the 15s on beautiful Waterloo Bay in perfect skiff sailing conditions.

Mr Bond 007 is now living in Brisbane with new Qld F15 agent Kevin Cameron. Anyone who wants to try a 15 in Brisbane can contact Kevin 0417 770844

2007 Black Rock YC Icicle series

Six Formula Fifteens sailed in this years Icicle series with one race lost due to insuficient wind and one lost due to too much. The last race however was a doozie with a 25kt northerly and Greg Coutts/Rick DeJong showing how fast a 15 goes upwind in a breeze when you have 110kgs on the wire and 90-odd kgs hiking!

Of particular mention was 17y/old Nick Major's win in heat 2 sailing his very own Alpha. Well done Nick!

Final results were: 1st - Greg/Brodie Coutts Rocket Pig 04, 2,4,2,1, 9pts, 2nd - Lindsay Irwin Secret 06, 3,3,1,2, 9pts. 3rd - Jim Scott Mr Bond 007, 1,ocs,3,3, 13pts, 4th - Nick Major Alpha 02, 6,1,4,dnf, 17pts, 5th - Mark Daly Nitro 05, 4,2,dnc,dnc, 20pts, 6th Justin Zattelman Red Back 08, 5,dnc,dnc,4, 23pts.

note: the first heat of the above results was the Cock of the Rock race.

The 2007 Formula Fifteen State Championships were held at Lake Bullen Merri over the Easter weekend. Bullen Merri is a crater lake just south of Camperdown in Victoria's west with deep water and surrounding hills. The sailing conditions were very challenging with wind speed and direction varying to a large degree all over the lake. The challenge of predicting where to put your boat to make the best of the breeze proved too difficult for the less experienced sailors. Early series leaders Justin Zattelman and James Rudolph sailing the new Redback 08 fell foul of the winds in races 3 & 4 while Lindsay Irwin and Penny Irwin sailing Secret 06 won the last three heats giving them the title.

Handicap overall winner went to Greg & Brodie/Linley Coutts sailing Rocket Pig 04. Their results also included second over the line in two races.

2007 States Results

2006 Sauna Sail Regatta, Hazelwood Pondage Circuit Leg 4 Resail

Five F15s braved the cold this year to compete in the annual Sauna Sail. There were a variety of wind conditions over the weekend from drifters to 20 knots with the usual challenging shifts, lulls and gusts near the island.

Final Results:

1st Secret 06 (L.Irwin/K.Irwin-J.Lysic-S.Youl)

2nd Mr.Bond 07 (J.Scott/J.Lysic-B.Hewett)

3rd Rocket Rhino 04 (S.Schafer/Scotty)

4th Alpha 02 (N.Major/A.Kiel)

5th Nitro 05 (H.Maconachie/S.Youl)

Icicle Regatta, Black Rock Y.C.

The annual Icicle regatta concluded on Saturday May 27 with the final race in 3-6 knots shortened after only one lap. Micheal & Chris (BRYC sabre / OK sailors) sailing Secret lead at the start, the first and second marks before sailing into a hole on the last leg to finish second behind Mr Bond with Metro Kitchens third and Nitro fourth. Nitro was skippered by Heath Maconachie (normally crew on Mr Bond) sailing his first F15 race as skipper. Nitro actually rounded the windward mark in front of Metro Kitchens, not a bad effort for a rookie!

Lindsay Irwin was the overall winner of the regatta on yardstick sailing his 14'Skiff. The first F15 was Mr Bond (Jim Scott/Heath Maconachie and others) which placed 4th overall. The Icicle was well attended this year with over 100 different boats sailing over the six weeks.

Lake Boga Easter Regatta 2006 (F15 Circuit Leg 6)

This year's Boga was a blast with strong winds on Friday and Saturday, the traditional Sunday drifter and a nice 12 knots on Monday to finish off. Everyone found the mud with their masts at some stage but overall capsize honors went to Nitro sailed by 125 sailor Sam Sutton and crewed by Carl Cubitt. Nitro finished the last race after being up in third spot for a while. Nick and Simon sailing Alpha struggled a bit in the windy races (they weigh only 123kg between them) but they did manage to finish heat 2 in 15-20 knots of wind, a very good effort! Up at the front of the field, Mr Bond and Secret had a great battle and even gave the 14s and and Guy "Bethwaite's'' 49er a run for their money at times.

The final heat of 12 knots really displayed the one design nature of the Formula Fifteen class with performance being dictated by sailing ability (both boatspeed and tactics) Positions changed throughout the race including at the pointy end where Lindsay & Kim Irwin in Secret held an early lead, later relinquishing it to Jim & Heath sailing Mr Bond.

Final Results: 1st Mr Bond 07 (J.Scott/H.Maconachie), 2nd Secret 06 (L.Irwin/K.Irwin), 3rd Metro Kitchens 01 (J.Zattelman/ J.Rudolph), 4th Alpha 02 (N.Major/S.Youl), 5th Nitro 05 (S.Sutton/K.Cubbit)