Belgian Equinox Trophy for Flying Fifteens at Sports Nautiques de l'Eau d'Heure

Belgian Equinox Trophy for Flying Fifteens © Thomas De Pryck & Alain Destatte

The second weekend of October is the traditional date of the Belgian Flying Fifteen Class Championship. 2020 was to be a big celebration since it was the twentieth edition of the regatta!

Everything had been planned early: invitations to foreign fleets, search for sponsors, media coverage, coaching, mass participation in the European Championship in order to bring in as many foreign boats as possible etc.

Everything was going smoothly until the arrival of Covid-19, which brought its share of consequences: no more national regattas, European Championship cancelled, sponsors becoming cautious, members putting their season on hold and travel restrictions.

Given the impossibility of organising this great event in decent conditions, it was decided to postpone the 20th Belgian Championship to 2021, hoping for a year under a more favourable environment.

Exit the Belgian Championship, long live the Equinox Trophy!

And the least we can say is that the competitors enjoyed during the weekend a wide range of conditions with a windy Saturday (around 16 knots of gusty breeze) and a shifty light wind on Sunday. We must highlight the work done by the race committee to set a perfect course in these sometimes difficult conditions and with a waiting time between races reduced to a minimum. Eight races were run during these two days, each of them lasting 30 to 40 minutes.

Belgian Equinox Trophy for Flying Fifteens - photo © Thomas De Pryck & Alain Destatte

Throughout these races, although the level of the Belgian fleet is more and more homogeneous, different groups were formed within the fleet ensuring some great competition. This allowed everyone to have a very rewarding regatta.

During the prize-giving, each competitor was offered a delicious bottle of Belgian beer as well as various other prizes generously donated by our sponsors.

Additional special prizes were awarded to the winners (a beautiful carbon trophy) and to the youngest members of the Class (delightful chocolate creations).

Overall Results: (top three)

1st Ezékiel Desantoine and Aurélie Chantrenne
2nd Olivier Aroni and Philippe Palmaerts
3rd Michel Vincent and Kevin Vincent

Join us the 9th and 10th of October 2021 at SNEH Plate Taille Lake for the 20th Belgian Championship!

To Try a Fifteen please click here or on our advertisement and complete the simple form and we will arrange for a representative at the nearest fleet to your location, to contact to you to arrange a mutual time for you to have a trial sail.

Please peruse our website for more details about the class.