Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Queen Mary SC - 16/04/2005

Queen Mary Sailing Club hosted the 2nd RS400 Fat Face event of the year. A fleet of 31 boats was greeted with a disappointingly light breeze. It was clear that the high point of excitement for the day was going to be risking life and limb to actually get to the water on the infamous "slipway"�. some say wall of death. The fleet took to the water in regulation time and it was good to see a number of new faces and several new boats. The wind was very sporadic in direction and strength and the race officer was kept on his toes by the fickle breeze. Race 1 With most of the fleet flipping a coin to decide which side of the beat to go, the first race began in a flat calm. The fleet made slow progress to the first mark and about halfway up the beat a rogue RS400 was seen racing along the shore on the starboard layline in a private gust. It appeared that the Gowers/Riley team were heading to the first mark via the clubhouse bar located in the righthand corner of the beat. Unsprisingly they rounded first followed by Rob and Janet Martin. Gowers' lead was pegged back through the race and the Martins eventually bagged the race win, followed by Howard Farbrother/ Louise Hosken with Gowers/Riley 3rd. Were the Club Championship teams going to show the rest how it�s done? Race 2 started once again in next to no wind but built a little throughout the race. At the first mark Richard Grey/Jon Dyas held the lead followed by Burlton/Bonsey, sailing their new boat for the first time, and Craig/Stewart. Following a close battle Craig took the win followed by Burlton and Hywel Roberts/Karen Baker 3rd. The final race of the day the race started with barely a breath of wind. The Father and Son Littlejohn team took a leaf out of Gowers first race, first beat performance, this time choosing the left hand corner to bang. The clang of the corner bell was heard as the Littlejohns inspected the dredging unit and came roaring into the mark in a blaze of glory, in their own private gust. They rounded second, not bad, after a shocking start to the race. Perhaps the Olympic Coaching manual has a new paragraph we all need to read on conservatism? Craig/Stewart rounded first and went on to win followed by the Littlejohns and Burlton/Bonsey Sunday dawned and a glasslike QM greeted the fleet. A postponement was enforced. The fleet was invited to indulge their fetishes and watch Paula Radcliffe going to the toilet live on TV, while they waited for the wind to fill in. And fill in it did to a reasonable strength, however it had all the stability of the Millennium Bridge. Race 4 saw the leaders becalmed half way down the first reach as the rest of the pack planed down the right hand side of the first run. Littlejohn, Roberts, Craig and Burlton managed to drift around the bottom mark just in time to avoid being engulfed by the flying pack. The first two broke away whilst the remainder of the pack played a game of snakes and ladders. Little John won from Roberts but the minor placings were not decided until the fat lady sang. 3, 4 and 5 all went their separate ways and the order was duly reversed with Jennings just clinching 3rd from Craig in 4 and Burlton 5th. Race 5 saw the wind build and become a little more stable. This race was domimated by Craig/Stewart with the Littlejohns 2nd and Roberts continuing his good run in his new boat 3rd. Race 6 began with an audacious, if not foolhardy, port tack attempt by Richard Gray, which was foiled by the timekeepers watch and subsequent black flag. At least he wasn�t sunk. The race was dominated by Craig/Stewart despite their being headed at the windward mark by Middleton/Rowland, who chose to inspect the concrete bank on the right hand corner of the beat. Something they repeated to great effect each time. Perhaps they�d been having a bit of coaching from Littlejohn and Gowers? Burlton and Bonsey took second in a in an impressive final reach showdown with Middleton/Rowland. Final Result A very random weekend was won by Craig/Stewart who were ominously consistent. The Littlejohns came equal second with Burlton/Bonsey. The next stop on the Fat Face circuit is Abersoch on 30th April/1st May, an excellent opportunity to get some big fleet practice in for what is undoubtedly going to be one of the biggest championships of the year. With talk of the return of the ledgends Budd and Grebo to the fold the question on everyone lips is will the Grandfather of 400 sailing still be able to cut the mustard?? Ed Nicklin / Craig Burlton