Vareos at Northampton

Chris Larr wins last meet of the season reports Tom Smith

Despite the discouraging weather forecast eight Vareo sailors converged on Pitsford Reservoirfor the last Fat Face event of the season. The first race started in good winds but the wind died during the race and after some place changing at the front of the fleet Luke Fisher showed how important downwind speed and direction were to take the line from Nicholas Crickmore and Chris Larr.

Race 2 saw the greatest drama of the day with the top 4 boats rounding the wrong windward mark - only Carl Whitehead making good and not being required to retire after finishing. Local sailor Richard Willows won the race with Carl finishing second. A depleted fleet braved the conditions forRace 3, with Chris winning by a good margin and demonstrating that the boat really is much more controllable with the kite up - if you haveenough bottle in a Force 5 gusting 7 to put it up in the first place!

Sunday saw 3 more boats join the racing, and Richard again showed the benefit of local knowledge (e.g. there is no wind down the middle of Pitsford) to take Race 4.

Race 5 followed the familiar pattern, with Chris winning from Luke and Carl (with four 3rds, the most consistent sailor all weekend). There was all to play for in Race 6. If Chris finished 1st or second he would win overall – in fact he managed to overtake Carl on the last leg to take the winner’s slot from an unlucky Luke Fisher by a single point.

The Merit prize went to Hugh Wray-McCann - who finished every race and has shown great determination and improvement during the season.

Many thanks to Northampton Sailing Club, to the Race Officer, and to the much-needed rescue boats.

1	Chris Larr	3	RAF	1	2	1	2	9
2	Luke Fisher	1	RAF	2	4	2	1	10
3	Carl Whitehead	4	2	3	3	3	3	14
4	Richard Willows	5	1	DNS	1	5	6	18
5	Nicholas Crickmore	2	RAF	5	10	4	5	26
6	Paul Craft	6	4	4	6	10	9	29
7	Tom Smith	7	3	DNS	11	7	7	35
8	Hugh Wray-Mccann	8	5	6	8	9	8	35
9	Robin Saunders	DNS	DNS	DNS	7	6	4	41
10	Competitor 11	DNC	DNC	DNC	5	11	10	50
11	Dave Machin	DNS	DNS	DNS	9	8	DNF	53