Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Hayling Island SC - 12/07/2003

For the penultimate round of the RS Fat Face Racing Circuit the 400�s headed to Halying Island to sample the clubs excellent new facilities. With the forecast for the hottest weekend of the year and some decent sea breeze the scene was set for what proved to be an awesome weekends sailing. Saturday and a fleet of 44 400�s headed to sea in sweltering heat and a steady force 3. The pattern of the day was soon set with the first start resulting in a general recall and the black flag being unleashed. After the restart Chris Jennings and Ed Nicklin sailed well up the first beat to get to the windward mark first followed Robin Kenyon and Toby Lewis sailing Proctor Masts and the Brothers Grimm; Chris and Matt Bailey. With obviously shock at the Grimm�s position they were immediately black flagged as they must have been over the line to get that high up. Jennings sailed away to take the win from Kenyon with Stuart Hudson finding away past Woods to take third. Race 2 and Steve Venebles and Rick Brown started what was to be a profitable afternoon with the first of 2 bullets. A masterful display as they led from start to finish showing that a bit of time off hasn�t slowed them down. Nic Craig and Keith Bedborough returned to form to take 2nd after a shaky tenth in the first race. Tubby O�Brien and Pete Rowley took third. Race 3 and Dave Sheil set the early pace firing out of the port end to arrive at the windward mark first followed by Venebles and the Grimmsters, who to the amazement of all had actually managed their first clean start of the day. A mistake by Shiel on the downwind allowed Venebles and the Grimmsters to sail through and Venebles to sail on to take his second bullet of the day. A tight pack of 6 boats behind the leader meant that going into the final leeward mark, 2nd to 7th were any bodies. Woods and Fletcher came out on top to take second followed by Craig and Bedborogh and the Grimms in 4th. Special mention has to go to Phil Jackson and Gerard Barron who after ending up on the outside of the pack managed to lose the best part of 10 places on the final reach to the finish line. Despite the best efforts of the fleet to destroy themselves at the bar and pay for the new club house in one night most were unsuccessful as the bar was more appropriately staffed for a 420 junior event than the full force of an RS social. However in the difficult conditions some excellent performances were put in not least Tobytastic who was forced to sleep under the foredeck of his boat after Robin pretended not to hear him knocking at the car door. Sunday and the fleet once again awoke to idyllic sailing conditions. Thanks to Haylings thoughtful drinking protection measure these conditions were also enjoyed by certain sections of the fleets who are not normally seen on the water till at least Sunday afternoon. In Race 4 Dave Shiel and Paul Heath again got away well out of the port end to lead at the windward mark followed by Woods and Fletcher. Shiel showed excellent boat speed to keep the fleet at bay but yet another error on the final down wind allowed Woods to sail through him and take the win. Stuart Hudson and Adam Healey began a return to form to take their second third of the weekend. Tubby O�Brien completed a good race working his way up from eighth to take fourth. Race 5 and Hudson and Healey were really on form as they dominated the fleet and sailed them home to take the bullet. Nic Craig and Keith Bedbororgh put in an appearance at the font of the fleet to take second with Woods scoring another consistent third. Going into the final face and it appeared that Woods was firmly in control with a 3 point lead over Hudson and apart from a black flag having never finished lower than fourth. Out of the line it was Nic Craig who set the early pace leading to the windward mark from Hudson and Kenyon. However a visit from the rib confirmed what many had suspected; Nic had started halfway up the beat. This left Hudson back out in front and Woods under real pressure. Hudson consolidated his lead and took his second bullet of the day with Kenyon second and Chris Jennings finishing a difficult day in third. Wood posted another highly consistent result in fifth but it wasn�t quite enough to take the event from relative RS new boys Stuart Hudson and Adam Healey. A great result for Hudson and a sign that he may well be a major player in the forth coming 400 nationals. A top event was enjoyed by all and with excellent race management and superb facilities, Hayling Island really have the opportunity to make a very special venue.