One point in it

Matt Humphries stole the show at the RS700 Open at Hunstanton

As the visitors joined the locals for the RS700 2008 Hunstanton open meeting conditions looked distinctly breezy with the many kite and windsurfers putting on a spectacular show. The breeze conveniently moderated for the start of race one but was still enough to flat wire around the whole course. The fleet was pretty close at the first windward mark but the usual suspects soon started pulling away. Pete Purkiss showed good speed both upwind and down to take a convincing win with Jon Heissig, Matt Humphreys ( Rooster Sailing) and Andy Holland scrapping for the runners up spot and finishing in that order.

Race two provided a bit more wind to play with although it varied across the course. The same three boats pulled away into the lead with Jon Heissig making the most of a huge gust to pull out a big lead on the first run. However, this lead was cut down on the next run when Jon had a tangle whilst dropping his kite, allowing Matt to catch up. Jon fixed the problem and held on to take the win by a couple of boat lengths. Matt Humphreys finished second with race one winner Pete Purkiss taking third.

Race three saw Stuart Riches leading off the line at the pin end but unable to maintain the lead. Ian Nolan was just pipped to the windward mark by Matt Humphreys who took the lead down the run. It was looking like the honours were going to be shared evenly between the front three until Matt mis-judged a wave and capsized whilst gibing. This gave Jon Heissig the lead, which he was never in danger of losing. With one lap left it was a slightly annoyed Matt who came storming back up the fleet. Pete Purkiss nosedived whilst hoisting the kite allowing Matt through into third chasing down Steve Marshall on the final run. At the gybe they were neck and neck but it was Matt who made the best of the waves to pull ahead and take second place behind Jon, Steve Marshall finished third.

Saturday night saw the Hunstanton Sailing Club beach party with over 120 people and a live band which was probably why there were a few tired faces on Sunday morning. The weather was perfect for 700 sailing ranging between force three and six with Sunshine, a few squally showers and some very nice waves.

In race four it was Pete Purkiss who reached the windward mark first but he was passed downwind by Matt Humphreys. The race at the front was then a battle between Matt and Jon. With only two points between them in the overall standings every position was vital. Jon was never far away and kept the pressure on but Matt held on to take the win and reduce the deficit to one point overall. Meanwhile Dave Gorringe sailed a storming race to take third showing that when upright he can go very fast in the breezy conditions. Ian Nolan also put Saturday's results behind him taking a well deserved fourth.

In race five Matt Humphreys won the favoured pin end and led the fleet out to the left. This proved to be the way to go and he reached the windward mark first followed closely by Jon Heissig. The event of this race was the second run where a squall hit and conditions became decidedly ‘fruity’ with 700s barrelling downwind surfing and leaping over the swell. There was carnage halfway down the run where several capsized including Jon Heissig who had a technical issue with his tiller extension. Ian Nolan, now in second, decided discretion was the better part of valour and dropped his kite rather than risk two short gybes into the leeward mark and Pete Purkiss blasted through the upturned boats to take third. These places remained the same for the final lap.

Race six began with Matt and Jon now on equal points. Stuart Riches went for a Port tack flier at the pin end which was going beautifully until he dropped the mainsheet and gracefully capsized to windward in front of the fleet. Pete Purkiss led at the windward mark followed by Jon Heissig, Ian Nolan and Steve Marshall. There was plenty of surfing downwind and at the leeward mark Pete had a reasonable lead. Jon Heissig and Ian Nolan rounded the mark side by side and Matt Humphreys came storming in from the port lay line to round one boat length behind so the fight for the overall win was definitely on. Pete Purkiss led up the final beat as the wind died to force two, Matt and Jon were a few boat lengths behind neck and neck. All three had to put in double tack to get round the mark. Pete however mis-judged a wave and went into irons which meant the following pair had to take avoiding action. Matt managed to get the inside line around the mark and then extended down the run to take the win and the event. Jon finished second with Pete coming in third.

Overall it was Matt Humphreys ( Rooster Sailing) who won by one point from Jon Heissig with Pete Purkiss taking the final spot on the podium. Pete Shaw from Carsington took the honours in the silver fleet on only his second ever sea event.

Thanks to Hunstanton SC for a very well run event and to Fat Face for supplying the prizes. The circuit moves on in two weeks time to the venue of the very successful 2006 Nationals Eastbourne. See you there!

Results:

Pos	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Tot	Net
1	Matt Humphreys	-3	2	2	1	1	1	10	7
2	Jon Heissig	2	1	1	2	-9	2	17	8
3	Pete Purkiss	1	3	-6	5	3	3	21	15
4	Steve Marshall	-8	4	3	6	5	5	31	23
5	Ian Nolan	7	8	-10	4	2	4	35	25
6	Andy Holland	4	5	5	9	8	(12 DNF)	43	31
7	Peter Shaw	5	6	4	-10	10	6	41	31
8	David Gorringe	(12 DNF)	7	7	3	4	12 DNS	45	33
9	Stuart Riches	-9	9	8	8	7	7	48	39
10	Richard Allen	6	(12 DNF)	9	7	6	12 DNF	52	40
11	Matt Jackson	10	(12 DNF)	12 DNS	11	11	12 DNS	68	56