Flying Fifteen International

Welcome to the Class

Flying Fifteen International brings together sailors, boat owners, and national associations around a single competitive one-design sports boat. This site holds the class rules, technical specifications, builder and sail-maker listings, tuning guides, and the boat register that documents construction dates and numbers built.

The 2015 World Championship, the class's 20th, was sailed at Centre Nautique Crozon Morgat in Brittany, France, in demanding winds and big waves. Graham Vials and Chris Turner (GBR 4004) took the title. The season also marked the passing of legendary boatbuilder Roy Windebank and the award of the Uffa Fox medal to FFI Commodore Greg Wells.

The Flying Fifteen is widely regarded as the original sports boat, a two-handed keelboat that has shaped competitive dinghy-to-yacht transition sailing for generations. Its design philosophy prizes balance between performance and accessibility, allowing crews to engage in meaningful racing while keeping handling responsive and rewarding. The boat's enduring appeal lies in its strict one-design ethos, which ensures that victories are decided by skill rather than by spending power or proprietary advantages.

At the international level, the class is coordinated through a network of national associations that align racing calendars, safety standards, and championship qualification pathways. This federation structure helps sailors move between regional fleets and world-level events with consistent rules and recognised results. Member associations support training programmes, youth development, and handicap racing for mixed-ability crews, broadening participation across age and experience groups.

Championship events remain the cornerstone of the class calendar, drawing competitors from established sailing nations and emerging fleets alike. World and continental championships typically rotate between host venues, exposing the boat to varied sea conditions and rewarding adaptable seamanship. Past regattas held in coastal locations with strong tidal flows and open ocean swells have become part of the class's heritage, celebrated for the technical and tactical challenges they present.

The class rules and technical specifications form a detailed reference framework for owners, builders, and race officials. They cover hull shape, rig dimensions, safety equipment, and weight distribution, all calibrated to preserve the boat's characteristic handling. Updates are published periodically to reflect measurement practice and material evolution, while maintaining the essential one-design integrity that defines the Flying Fifteen.

Builders and sail-makers listed through the class provide the approved supply chain for new constructions and replacement gear. This directory approach helps owners source compatible components, from hull mouldings to rig fittings and approved cloth specifications. Many builders also offer repair services and winter storage guidance, supporting fleets that race in cooler climates or seasonal programmes.

Tuning guides published within the class community share practical advice on rig set-up, sail trim, and weight positioning. Veteran campaigners often contribute notes on boat handling in heavy air, light-air techniques, and starting strategies suited to the Flying Fifteen's responsive hull form. These resources are valued by newer crews seeking to shorten the learning curve and by experienced sailors refining their setups for specific venues.

The boat register documents every Flying Fifteen by sail number, build year, and construction details, providing a verified record of hulls in active service. This archive supports class historians, insurance purposes, and event scrutineering, while also helping families and clubs trace the lineage of particular boats. It is regularly updated as new hulls are launched and older examples change ownership.

Across regions from established European fleets to growing groups in the Asia-Pacific, the class continues to attract sailors drawn to its combination of tradition and competitive intensity. Mixed crews, family teams, and female helm campaigns all feature prominently in modern fleets, reflecting a broader shift toward inclusive participation. The community spirit at regattas, combined with the technical depth of the boat, ensures the Flying Fifteen remains a relevant and vibrant racing class.

Officers & National Associations

FFI is guided by international officers and council members representing member nations. Greg Wells serves as Commodore (Hayling Island, Hants); Rupert Leslie as UK Secretary; Ray Sebo as Chief Measurer. Council representatives include Peter Rooke (Australia), Jeremy Davy (British Isles), Amaud Biet (France), Howard Williams (Hong Kong), Francis J. Burgess (Ireland), and Peter Dallimore (New Zealand). Michael Clark and Les Kearney serve as Secretary and President of FFIA respectively.

Full contact listings for officers, council members, and national associations are available via the links below.

• FFI Council Members
• National Associations & Fleets
• General Contact Information