Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Oxford SC - 18/09/2004
The weekend of the 18th and 19th of September saw the RS 400 fleet
descend on Farnmoor Reservoir for the final round of the Fat Face
Circuit. With the top positions already decided and a clash with the
Southport 24hr many of the top teams stayed away. However with such
strength and depth in the 400�s it was still a highly competitive fleet
that assembled.
On arrival at Farnmoor, Saturday morning, the conditions looked awesome.
White horses as far as the eye could see with clear blue skies above.
However, by the time the fleet got afloat the scene had changed a
little. The idyllic conditions had evaporated and the fleet had to
contend with a patchy and shifty force 1 to 3 under ominously dark skies
that had the distinct feeling of winter sailing about them.
Fresh from an impressive fourth at the nationals, Mark and Sam Littlejohn
wasted no time in taking up from where they left off. After a good start
out of the port end, Littlejohn masterfully picked his way through the
40� wind shifts to arrive at the windward in the top group. Littlejohn
found a good wind lane on way back down and built a lead that lasted him
to the finish. Steve Venables and Richard Brown were chasing hard but
couldn�t keep pace and had to settle for 2nd. John Cooper and Becci
Wigley continued an excellent season showing they had the pace to push
the top duo and earned a credible third.
In race two it was Venables and Brown�s turn to lead the fleet. By the
first windward mark they�d built a significant lead and look set to walk
home with an easy victory. However it turns out their sailing ability is
significantly better than counting ability as they lead the front four
boats on an impromptu lap of honour. RS400 fleet rep Bill Handley knew
what was going on though, and made no mistake sailing on from fifth
straight to the finish line and took the bullet. Steve Josling and Sarah
Richards also enjoyed the unexpected gift to finish second and third.
The mistake cost Venables and Littlejohn who came home in 18th and 19th.
In race three Venables and Brown dominated again but this time they had
enough fingers and toes to count the laps and sailed on to take the
bullet. Littlejohn was again sailing well to finish second. Local duo
Paul Hilliar and Toby Ashton finally showed their face at the front of
the fleet completing the podium positions in third.
A lack of local accommodation or camping meant that most of the fleet
went their separate ways on Saturday night and on Sunday morning it was a
remarkably refreshed and sober looking fleet that arrived back.
In race 4 it was Sarah Richards who got the best start and sailed the
perfect beat to arrive at the windward mark first. She continued with
good pace to extend her lead and looked very comfortable showing the
fleet the way round. Unfortunately for Richards on the last run when a
win looked in the bag the wind gods had other ideas. A huge wind lane
opened up behind her to allow the boats in second and third to sail in a
straight line all the way to the finish. Ian Pickard and Sarah Taylor,
in second place, must of laughed all the way to finishing line as they
sailed through to take the bullet. The 400 fleet really must have a word
with themselves to allow that pair to win a race! Mark Littlejohn also
crept through to take second and Richards hung on for third.
In race 5 Venables and Brown were back in leading form prior to an
unusual capsize on the gybe down wind. This left an incredibly close
battle between Hilliar and Littlejohn for first place with tacking and
gybing matches on all legs. However, in the end Littlejohns decision to
head to the finish line a lap early handed Hilliar an easy win and left
Littlejohn fighting the Grimms off to maintain his second place.
In the final race Hilliar lead from start to finish but even with
Littlejohn down in 4th it wasn�t enough to snatch overall victory from
him. Venables came in 2nd to take third overall with Pickard in 3 third
sealing an excellent 4th overall.
Fat Face Racing Circuit 2004 |
Preliminary Results
Sailed: 6 Discards: 1
Rank | Sail No | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Nett |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1174 | Mark Littlejohn | Sam Littlejohn | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 11.0 | |
2 | 1121 | Paul Hillier | Toby Ashton | 4.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 14.0 | |
3 | 1059 | Steve Venobles | Richard Brown | 2.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 15.0 | |
4 | 1240 | Ian Pickard | Sarah Taylor | 6.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 18.0 | |
5 | 1056 | Steve Josling | 2.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 25.0 | ||
6 | 1201 | Bill Handley | Linda Handley | 1.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 29.0 | |
7 | 1217 | John Cooper | Becci Wiggly | 3.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 | |
8 | 1221 | Sarah Richards | 5.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | DNS | 40.0 | ||
9 | 1219 | Mark Reddington | Jane Sutor | 9.0 | 7.0 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 41.0 | |
10 | 1205 | Chris Bailey | Matt Bailey | 14.0 | 5.0 | 10.0 | 13.0 | 3.0 | 45.0 | |
11 | 1134 | Howard Fulbrother | 6.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 47.0 | ||
12 | 950 | Neil Peacock | Liz Peacock | 12.0 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 50.0 | |
13 | 971 | Nigel Hammond | 13.0 | 12.0 | 7.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 52.0 | ||
14 | 1115 | Martin Ward | Linda | 7.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 61.0 | |
15 | 1073 | Adam Oliver | 10.0 | 8.0 | 11.0 | DNS | DNS | 69.0 | ||
16 | 602 | Andy Harris | 15.0 | 13.0 | 16.0 | 14.0 | 12.0 | 70.0 | ||
17 | 1247 | Smith | 16.0 | 15.0 | 17.0 | 15.0 | 11.0 | 74.0 | ||
18 | 693 | Jon Smith | 16.0 | DNF | 17.0 | 12.0 | DNS | 85.0 | ||
19 | 1188 | DNS | DNS | 18.0 | DNF | DNS | 98.0 |