Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Aldeburgh SC - 07/06/2003
The sailors who made the effort to travel to an unusual venue were
rewarded by a fantastic weekend of RS400 Fat Face circuit racing held at
Aldeburgh Yacht Club. Aldeburgh is situated on the picturesque Suffolk
coastline and offers excellent sea sailing off the beach.
Local RS400 sailor, Matt Fairless made a great sacrifice by not sailing
to assist able Race Officer, George Johnson to ensure that
everything ran smoothly on the racetrack. The racing followed windward
and leeward course format.
37 boats consisting of 25 visiting and 12 local crews took to the sea for
race one. The conditions were perfect, glorious sun and a solid force
three to four south/south westerly against tide, producing short beats
and roller coaster downwind legs on big waves. The Race Officer took the
opportunity of setting a mile long beat, which proved to be test for all
sailors.
It was a cautious fleet that lined up for the start race one to avoid
being swept over the line by the tide. It soon became clear that the
superstar pairing of Roger Gilbert/Andrew Bonsey sailing Fat Face were on
the pace showing superior speed both upwind and downwind to win the race.
Laser legend, Mark Littlejohn sailing with son Sam, pushed hard and
managed a second place. Phil Jackson/Gerard Barron finished third.
The wind had built to a force 4 at the start of race two. After a general
recall the Race Officer put the black flag into play and the fleet got
off on the second start. Jason Pyke/Barney Rubble nailed the starboard
end of the line and after a tactical first beat rounded the first mark
ahead of Chris Jennings/Ed Nicklin and Gilbert/Bonsey. After a tussle
downwind, Jennings/Nicklin got past Pyke/Rubble, whilst Giblets/Bonsey
sailed high and fast to lead at the leeward mark. The order of the front
three remained unchanged to the finished.
In race three Gilbert/Bonsey continued their dominance followed by
Jennings/Nicklin and Jackson/Baron. Consistency was the order of the day
for the team racing ace Stuart Hudson/Adam Heely and the Proctor Mast
team of Robin Kenyon/Toby Lewis who both finished fourth and fifth
respectively in the first three races. It was a tired and but very happy
fleet that returned ashore to sample the local Adnams beer in the
friendly atmosphere of the yacht club bar.
On Sunday the first start was scheduled for 10.30 hours but the breeze
failed to appear. A postponement was posted and with mixed weather
forecasts the chance of racing seemed remote. However, at around 12.30 a
light south westerly veering southerly filled in and the Race Officer
decided there was sufficient wind to race.
A short course was laid making it essential to get off the line in clear
air to squeeze ahead in a tight fleet. Race four got off in a force two
to three and to surprise of the sailors, the breeze steadily built to a
force four. Gilbert/Bonsey claimed first from Pyke/Rubble who this time
managed to keep Jennings/Nicklin behind them in third. Hudson/Heely and
Kenyon/Lewis continued their day one consistency with a respective fourth
and fifth. A credible performance came from Gavin Marshall/Anna Robinson
who rounded the first mark in third place but then lost out in the
strengthening wind.
The fleet thought it had died and gone to sailing heaven. The sun came
out and the wind continued to steadily increase against a tide kicking up
some great waves. After a recalled start and the appearance of the
ominous chalkboard, race 5 got underway. Jennings/Nicklin sailed well to
take the bullet followed by Hudson/crew and Jackson/Barron.
Gilbert/Bonsey came an uncharacteristic fifth but had done enough to win
the event with a race to spare.
At the start of race six, things were really starting to liven up. Half
the fleet experienced an involuntary early bath and followed it by an
early shower by not completing the race. For the remainder the racing was
fast and furious. Jennings/Nicklin won the race followed by
Jackson/Barron and Kenyon/Lewis.
1 Roger Gilbert Andrew Bonsey Frensham Pond 1161
2 Chris Jennings Ed Nicklin Burghfield Sailing Club 896
3 Stuart Hudson Adam Heely Spinnaker 922
4 Phil Jackson Gerard Barron Parkstone Yacht Club 1182
5 Robin Kenyon Toby Lewis Hamble River Sailing Club
1183
6 Jason Pyke Barney Goswell Burghfield Sailing Club 1208
7 Ian Robson Sandy Johnson Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1080
8 Martin Browne Dinah Holmes Gt Yarmouth & Gorleston SC
1129
9 Tim Halhead Chris Priest Bristol Corinthian YC 835
10 Stephen Fulford John Fulford Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1111
11 John Sears Nigel May Notts County Sailing Club
1131
12 Lloyd Walker Andy Middleton Leigh-on-Sea Sailing club
849
13 Gavin Marshall Anna Robinson Aldeburgh Yacht Club 886
14 Sally Styles Martyn Styles Downs Sailing Club 1170
15 Graham Bridle Patrick Robinson Bewl Valley 573
16 Malcolm Green Martin Green RYA 592
17 Stephanie Pilkington Martin Gunn Notts County Sailing Club
1187
18 Robin Parsons Rachael Rhodes Waldringfield Sailing Club
1057
19 Steve Tubby Jeremy Ripon Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club
796
20 Paul Walker Nick Barker Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1179
21 Terry Fellowes Nikki Fellowes Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1185
22 Toby Mace Alex Malone Waldringfield Sailing Club
923
23 Neil Miller Annabelle Miller Queen Mary 1008
24 Adrian Dyter Jonathan Keer Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1024
25 Nick Fribbens Paul Armitage IBRSC 1106
26 Mark Littlejohn Sam Littlejohn Lancing SC 1174
27 Adam Oliver Clare Fowler Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1073
28 Tim Deacon Alex Dalton Aldeburgh Yacht Club 838
29 Alex Hinton Jen Scorer Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1088
30 Alex Willard Rebecca Willard Royal Corinthian YC 1077
31 Jon Smith Debbie Thomas London Corinthian SC 693
32 Jonathan Prosser Francis Prosser RHYC 527
33 Chris Ritchie Amanda Hill Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1089
34 Nick Bell Alexia Bell Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1149
35 Alex Cooper Danny Hilling Aldeburgh Yacht Club 1178
36 Will Anderson Kay Anderson Army Sailing Association
754
37 Ian Heijne Nick Heijne Bough Beech Sailing Club
723