Results / Fat Face Racing Circuit Bristol Corinthian YC - 12/03/2005

Last weekend saw the much anticipated start to the 2005 Fat Face RS400 Racing Circuit at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club. Competitors arrived to find a fresh north-westerly breeze blowing across the lake, and with a rolling start system running throughout the weekend had the opportunity to watch the 200 fleet have the first attempt to make sense of the shifts. The first race got underway after a short pause to allow the course to be reset in more 'stable' breeze on the far side of the lake. The fleet got away cleanly at the first attempt, with Nick Craig and girlfriend Emma Roberts taking an early lead which they maintained throughout the race to take the win. Paul Hilliar and Toby Ashton were clearly enjoying the big breeze, taking second with Chris Jennings and Ed Nicklin in third. Race two saw another clean getaway but a loud bang marked the end of the race for Craig / Roberts as cracks appeared in the loveboat, albeit only in the mast step. Jennings and Nicklin took this one, with Archie Massey & Giles Bradford, taking a break from the 14s, showing serious upwind speed to finish second with Hilliar / Ashton in third and the Grimms making a welcome appearance at the front of the fleet to finish fourth. The fleet returned to form in the third race with a recall and the appearance of the black flag. Held in slightly lighter conditions, the team of Chris Gowers and June Riley took a large lead which they were never to lose, with Massey / Bradford second, Jennings/ Nicklin third and Hilliar & Ashton in fourth. Saturday night saw the fleet enjoying some west country hospitality together with with the 200s, with the main task of the evening seemingly being to decide what was actually in science teacher Sarah Taylor's test tubes behind the bar! Sunday morning dawned completely windless, however a fickle westerly breeze filled in allowing the 200s to kick proceedings off. With the wind swinging through 30 degrees it was hard to tell who looked more concerned; PRO Rhys Lankester or those who'd enjoyed Pete V's cooking earlier that morning, however it is of great credit to the race team that even in such tough conditions the windward leg only became a fetch toward the latter stages of the first race, with true courses set for the remaining two. Again the black flag was used with Chris Gowers, Chris Hogan and Ian McLean casualties. Jennings and Nicklin took the win with Massey / Bradford second, Nick Craig and regular crew James Stewart third and locals Tom Halhead and Ruth Johnson fourth. Race 5 saw the Sea Sure sponsored team of Dave Jones and Mark Hogan pull off a comprehensive victory, despite practicing finishing on the third of the four laps. Jennings and Nicklin kept up their consistent scoreline with a second with Massey and Bradford finding a good lane on the last downwind leg to pip Halhead and Johnson for third. The final race of the day was held in much more consistent conditions than previously, with a clean getaway under the black flag. It was a race for the Welsh boats, with Jones / Hogan taking another bullet and Chris Hogan & Elaine Marsh in second, Craig and Stewart in third and Halhead / Johnson scoring another fourth. So with a score-line containing only top three results Jennings and Nicklin deservedly took the event, with Massey / Bradford second and Jones / Hogan in third. Thanks must go to BCYC for a impressively run event held in tricky conditions, managing to fit 12 good races into two days. The circuit now moves on to Queen Mary in London on April 16th/17th, with a good sized home fleet a large turnout is expected! Tom Halhead