Braving the forecast

The RS400 and 700 Fat Face Racing Circuit at Queen Mary took place in chilly conditions

25 RS400s and 15 RS700s braved the forecast for snow and freezing temperatures to attend their Fat Face circuit event at Queen Mary SC on 5-6 April. Although bracingly cold, the wind was a pretty decent force three too four, shifting regularly. On Sunday, sailors were left questioning their sanity as they headed for the start area having cleared three inches of snow from the boat covers.

RS400:

Off the start in the first race, Richard Gray and Nathan Pinch nailed the first major shift to take the lead around the first mark and then gybed off to build a considerable advantage that they would never lose. Behind them, Sam Parker and Jane Bailey had a race-long battle with Paul Hilliar anf Stu Jagger, with Parker and Bailey eventually losing out to take third.

Chris Gowers and June Riley got rewarded for a risky first beat in race two with a large lead that the fleet would never challenge. Behind them, James Downer and Jon Price took second in the constantly shifting conditions from Paul Allen and Jude Pryde.

Race three, in a force five, saw Hilliar and Jagger leading the fleet around the course, pushed all the way by Gray and Pinch, with fellow strong wind specialists Gowers and Riley never far behind in third.

In Sunday’s snow, Hilliar and Jagger snuck into the lead at the first mark, chased hard by Parker and Bailey and Gray and Pinch. Parker and Bailey showed some great pace to keep the pressure on the leaders all the way around but ultimately came over the finish line just a boat length behind Hilliar and Jagger.

Michael Sims and Elliot Banks led up the first beat of race five, only to be passed by Allen and Pryde and Hilliar and Jagger. These leading two had a titanic battle throughout the race, with Allen and Pryde taking the winners gun. After a massive pile-up at the port end in the final race, Carl Akesson and Eric Larsson built a lead, chased by Gowers and Riley. At the mark, a Cowboy rounding by Allen and Pryde left them spinning and Hilliar and Jagger took the lead, from the chasing Gowers and Riley and Stuart Hudson and Ian Sanderson.

RS700

Andy Holland made the best start and led the fleet up the first beat and on, until one of the many windshifts allowed Matt Humphreys, James Ross and Rob Chaplin through on the run. Holland was able to recover a lot of the loss when he found himself the right side of the shift on the final run. However, first race to Humphreys.

Race two started with a lighter breeze, Humphreys led out from the start, until a gust allowed Rob Chaplin and Pete Sanders to drive through threatening to overtake the leading bunch. Humphreys and Jon Heissig spotted the danger and were just able to hold onto their leading positions.

Race three, too place in a much stronger breeze and Heissig took line honours with Sanders second. The highlight of the race was easily Rob Chaplin’s nosedive just before the finishing line.

The first snow-sailing ‘rebel’ went for the wetsuit on Sunday which of course meant that everyone followed suit.

Race four was pretty processional with Humphreys winning convincingly. Race five saw Holland and Marshall bang the left hand corner to lead at the windward mark followed by Ian Nolan who had banged right! Humphreys was the first to spot the spreader mark and he again took the lead and the race as a result.

The final race saw the fleet effectively split into a number of two boat match races with Humphreys and Heissig enjoy a tussle for the lead, Holland and Mike Dencher fighting it out for third and Steve Marshall and Ian Nolan having a right royal scrap for the minor places.

In the Silver fleet Richard Marsden from Hayling put in some creditable performances on Saturday, but couldn’t match Tony Denchers results.

Results:

RS400

1-Paul Hilliar and Stu Jagger - Bristol Corinthian SC
2-Chris Gowers and June Riley - N/A
3-Richard Gray and Nathan Pinch - QueenMary SC
4-Paul Allen and Jude Pryde - Leigh and Lowton SC
5-Stuart Hudson and Ian Sanderson - Weston SC
6-Michael Sims and Elliot Banks - Carsington SC
7-Sam Parker and Jane Bailey - Weston SC
8-James Downer and Jon Price - Royal Victoria YC
9-Carl Akesson and Eric Larsson - QueenMary SC
10-Pete Bennett and Alicia Bennett - Datchet Water SC

RS700

1-Matt Humphreys - Weston
2-John Helssig - GYG SC
3-Andy Holland - Hunstanton
4-Mike Dencher - Chew Valley SC
5-Steve Marshal - Sully
6-Ian Nolan - Hunstanton
7-Peter Sanders - QueenMary SC
8-Rob Chaplin - QueenMary SC
9-Tony Dencher - Netley SC
10-Richard Marsden - Hayling Island SC