Results / RS Fat Face Circuit Event Burton SC - 08/04/2006

RS200 Fat Face Racing Circuit at Burton � Just your average weekend in the country- Not 38 RS200�s competed in the first ever RS Fat Face event at Burton SC in rural Derbyshire in what proved to be a hugely eventful weekend where racing was held in virtually all wind strengths and weather conditions possible. Burton SC proved to be very warm, friendly hosts who put a lot of effort into the weekend. Roger Tait again made the trip from Lerwick in the Shetlands but actually faced competition for long distance traveller with competitors travelling from Isle of Man and Holland. Race 1 started in relatively straightforward conditions with a blustery force 4. David Giles/Kita Carpenter enjoyed the conditions and scored a good victory from Mark Littlejohn/Emma Clark, Ian Pickard/Loopy Lucy and Patrick Altoft/Debbie Greenland. In between races something black and horrible brought lots of wind and hailstorm hence it was a much more erratic wind left for the start of race 2 which became something of a comedy of errors. First Pickard/Loopy capsized at the leeward gate having just over taken Littlejohn/Mad Emma. Then Jon Lewis/KT Nicholl could not count to five and went to the finish a lap early. Littlejohn�s Dutch finishing school had taught him to count so he quite happily took the race from Lewis/Nicholl, Trudie Danbury/Karen Baker and Nick Charles/Juliet Kingsworth. There was very much a sense of impending doom that gripped the fleet as they lined up for race 5; from the direction of Birmingham there was something very big, black and nasty heading straight for the Reservoir; perhaps it was Birmingham! There was no hiding place and sure enough as the fleet arrived at the first windward mark a huge hailstorm hit with wind rising to 35mph for over 5 minutes. The first four boats had gybed before the wind hit ad disappeared to the other end of the lake in massive balls of spray. Behind there was total mayhem. Then of course the final three laps were completed in sunshine and a force 3-4. The Bristol boys are used to erratic wind coming down Cheddar Gorge so Charles/Kingsworth won from Pickard/Loopy and Lewis/Nicholl. There were many broken bodies and lots of early beds in the evening which was a real shame as the club had laid on a great band; the die hard�s though did make sure the bar ran out of rum and gin. Sunday and it was a much more gentle day with a light breeze and a bit of sun; it was going to be the Bristol fleets day. The breeze would not settle and after much moving of marks starts were attempted. Of course the wind was not going to play ball and 30 seconds to go to the start of race 4 it went hard left and no one could get across the line on starboard. Georgie Hill/Roger Tait did not mind and leapt into a good lead. Danbury/Baker slowly eroded this lead and took first on the final run to win from Hill/Tait and Andi Riley/Julie Marsden. The wind firmed a for race 5 so crews were sitting out, Danbury/Baker obviously liked leading and had total control of the race by halfway. Steve Dunn/Noelle Vidal were equally convincing in second with Charles/Kingsworth pulling through to an important third with Giles/Carpenter fourth. Going into the final race there were four possible winners with each carrying a poor discard so it was really was everything to play for. Charles/ Kingsworth did everything they could to win taking an early lead they pulled out a huge gap on the fight for second. With first place in the race secured overall victory depended now where fellow club mates Danbury/Baker finished in the race. Sixth place left Doris power a point adrift enabling Charles/Kingsworth to score their first Fat Face circuit victory. The silver division was equally as close. Fiona and Stephen Hall claimed fourth in the final race to win the silver division in 8th overall by one point from Beaver SC�s Martin Penty and Jeremy Collins. Andi Riley/Julie Marsden scored three top ten results to be only just behind this pair in 10th overall and third silver division. Scaling Dams Wayne and Debs Fletcher not only won the biggest camper van competition but also were clear in the Bronze division in 22nd overall from local sailors Lol Hayward and Sarah Webb. Charles/Kingsworth are the early season form team to catch with a 2.1 score from the first two Fat Face events. Hill/Tait and Riley/Marsden are on equal points in the silver division whilst Bartley�s Jane Sutor and Kat Matthews-Lundin magnificently lead the Bronze. Pete Vincent.