Super Sunday

The RS300 and Vareo fleets enjoyed breezy weather at their Fat Face Circuit event in Burghfield

An excellent forecast, summer weather (at last!) and great winds encouraged a bumper turnout for the Fat Face sponsored RS300 and RS Vareo open meeting at Burghfield SC on 10 June.

RS300

A firm force four welcomed the RS300 fleet for race one. Matt Sargeant made the best of a good start and lead for the first couple of laps. Sargeant seemed to have the race wrapped up until an incident with Cook forced a 720. Bolland then made the best of a private gust and moved into the lead. Bolland and Cook finished in that order with Sargeant in third and fourth was Chris Hart.

There was a course adjustment for race two. This time it was Cook who got away cleanly. Bolland pulled through to second place and took the lead at half distance. Bolland extended his lead and Cook was secure in second place until the penultimate windward mark. Sargeant managed to pull through to second in the last half lap. Hart showed his consistency with another fourth.

Bolland sat out the last race to watch the England match. Sargeant had a comfortable lead at the first mark which he held to the finish. The race for second place was close though with Cook and Hart in close combat for much of the race, Cook shading it at the finish. Fourth place went to Barry Steel rounding off an excellent meeting and showing many a younger sailor the way round in trying conditions.

An excellent and exhausting meeting which was enjoyed by all with a refreshing number of new faces making an appearance. The race officer set interesting and challenging courses and the beachmaster ensured all got in safely. Thanks to all who helped and to Fat Face for the sponsorship.

RS Vareo

Chris Larr gave a masterful display of how to deal with the conditions, as the current Inland Champion took all three races by a considerable distance. The other interest was in the overall Fat Face Circuit as the current top three Tim Greenwood, Jamie Morgan and Jim Hood were all looking to improve their chances, knowing that Larr would not be doing enough events to take the Series

Larr took the lead immediately in race one, followed by the pack. With plenty of swimmers the order changed often then on the last run Greenwood made his move, passing Tinkler and Butler as Morgan sailed into a hole in the wind to snatch second place behind Larr with Butler in third.

Race two and with a bit of reluctance with the England World Cup match about to start the competitors returned to a building breeze. Larr again made his customery great start with Greenwood in hot pursuit until a snapped gooseneck ended his participation. Morgan and Mark Williams tussled for the minor places as Larr disappeared into the distance, with Morgan snatching second.

A number of competitors did not take to the water for race three due to fatigue, boat damage or football watching. Larr again had a race with himself, Williams kept upright and Dave Machin took the opportunity for a deserved third place. This gave Williams second overall, with Morgan third. A lot of very tired sailors got in to see the welcome England result.

Results:

RS300

Pos	Helm	R1	R2	R3	Tot
1	Steve Bolland	1	1	(13 DNF)	2
2	Matt Sargent	-3	2	1	3
3	Steve Cook	2	-3	2	4
4	Chris Hart	-4	4	3	7
5	Barry Steel	5	-6	4	9
6	Tim Keen	6	5	(13 DNF)	11
7	Mark Russell	-7	7	5	12
8	John Hibberd	8	8	(13 DNF)	16
9	Graham Cooper	9	(13 DNF)	13 DNF	22
10	Mark Ball	(13 DNF)	13 DNF	13 DNF	26
10	Cliff Shaw	(13 DNF)	13 DNF	13 DNF	26
10	Graeme Tumber	(13 DNF)	13 DNF	13 DNF	26

RS Vareo

Pos	Helm	R1	R2	R3	Tot
1	Chris Larr	-1	1	1	2
2	Mark Williams	-7	3	2	5
3	Jamie Morgan	-5	2	5	7
4	Scott Butler	3	-7	4	7
5	Nigel Tinkler	4	4	-6	8
6	Dave Machin	-9	9	3	12
7	Andrew Trigg	-8	5	7	12
8	Tim Greenwood	2	(14 DNF)	14 DNF	16
9	Eddie McDonald	-11	8	8	16
10	Mark Hayzelden	10	7	(14 DNF)	17
11	Gavin Clark	(14 DNF)	10	9	19
12	Jim Hood	6	(14 DNF)	14 DNF	20
13	Steve Trigg	(14 DNF)	14 DNF	14 DNF	28