Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Parkstone YC - 16/07/2005
39 RS400 crews made the trip to Parkstone Y.C for the 6th Fat Face
circuit event shared with the RS200s. There was plenty of sunshine and
bikini clad 200 crews to go round, but the big question was would there
be any wind?
Following a robust briefing from the OOD the fleet launched in regulation
time and began the trip around the harbour to play chicken with the chain
ferry. With everyone safely through, bizarre wind conditions ensued as a
battle between the gradient wind and sea breeze took place.
The start sequence began a Force 2 sea breeze up and running. Race 1
eventually started after the 200s had finished checking the race officer
had packed all of his flags, over a particularly port bias start line. A
quick tack onto port was required with the windward mark to the right of
the course and a hack upwind against the tide began. The Littlejohns
came in from the left with a good lead to round first followed by a
tightly packed group. Burlton and Bonsey managed to break away from the
pack and ground down Littlejohn to pass them on the second reach to take
the win. Neal and Paul Freeman came through to 2nd leaving the
Littlejohns 3rd
Race 2 began in similar conditions with a similar port bias line. This
time the Littlejohns made no mistakes and won by a good margin. Just as
they crossed the finish line the game of roulette started behind them.
With 2nd, 3rd and 4th boats approaching the leeward mark the wind
switched off. These 3 boats managed to get round the mark giving
Burlton/Bonsey 2nd followed closely by Dave Jones and Mark Hogan in 3rd
and Chris Hogan/Elaine Marsh 4th. The remainder of the fleet was left
wondering whether the Northerly land or Southerly Sea breeze would win.
In the end neither did and the ensuing drifting match saw some massive
gains and losses. Notable losers were Stuart �suicide� Hudson and Adam
Healey who managed to spectacularly drop back to 30th.
Race 3 was cancelled due to lack of consistent wind. Jennings/Nicklin
tried to make up for a poor day on the racetrack by trouncing the fleet
on the way back in to the club. However they were robbed of first home
honours when the pace car came out in the form of a 200 tonne car ferry.
The fleet caught up, and a �lucky� Burlton took advantage when the fleet
was released. Burgers and sausages welcomed the fleet ashore and this was
so successful it has now been written into the contract for future events.
The evenings entertainment involved a fine curry at the club followed by
an equally fine band. A never-ending chorus of Queen�s �don�t stop me
now� helped us celebrate Tom an Jo Hewitsons 40th birthdays. Handbags
were seen flailing around the bar just before we left to top of an
entertaining evening.
More sun greeted the fleet on Sunday morning but a flat calm in the
harbour meant we had to wait for the sea breeze. The race officer showed
exceptional enthusiasm by initiating a tow out to the start, however this
was not required as the sea breeze kicked in late in the morning.
Race 4 started in a force 2, from a even line. Jennings/Nicklin got to
the windward mark first and got away down the first run. Holes in the
breeze made for tricky conditions and Burlton/Bonsey jumped the gap on
lap 2 and challenged for the lead on lap 3. Jennings/Nicklin just held on
at the bottom of the final run to bag the win from Burtlon/Bonsey and
Paul Hilliar/Toby.
Race 5 was run in similar conditions. This time local lightweights Duncan
Glen and Simon Flack finally got into their stride. At the windward mark
the tide seemed to be playing trick on everyone ending up with Chris
Gowers mooring up on the mark as the leaders sailed round him. Up the
second beat Burlton got to the favoured left of the fleet to briefly take
the lead only to have Glen sail past down wind. Glen and flack went on to
win from Burlton/Bonsey and Jennings/Nicklin.
With time running short it became clear that there would only be time for
one more race. With a consistent score line of 1,2,2,2 this gave Burlton
the event with a race to spare.
A pause in the proceedings followed Race5 while the race officer
manoeuvred the course to accommodate a huge shift in the wind signalling
the beginning of the end of the sea breeze. Race 6 started over a very
starboard biased line and the right side of the beat was favoured with
more wind. Jennings/Nicklin rounded first and gybed to stay with the
breeze. Duncan Glen/Simon Flack rounded second and used their light wind
skills to keep in touch. A shift left in the breeze favoured Glen/�who
took the lead at the leeward mark. Burlton/Bonsey also caught up in the
shift to round third. The wind was now very light and the right hand side
was heavily favoured. Glen/Flack led the way followed by
Jennings /Nicklin, Burtlon/Bonsey tacked away which turned out to be a
costly error. The Freemans took up the third spot and showed good light
wind speed near the top of the beat. The OOD very wisely shortened course
at the windward mark and Glen/Flack took the win. Jennins/Nicklin fended
off the Freemans who took 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Burton/Bonsey took the overall win by a large score margin. Jenning/
Nicklin took 2nd overall in front of a close scoring pack. Glen/Flack
took 3rd.
Parkstone ran an excellent event in which we were well looked after with
good communication, organisation and enthusiasm. The next and final Fat
Face circuit event is Weston S.C on the 6th/7th August, which is going to
be essential practice as the fleet ramp up for the Nationals at Abersoch
29thAug � 2nd Sept.
1. Craig Burlton Andrew Bonsey Northampton YC 1 2 2
2 7 7
2. Chris Jennings Ed Nicklin Burghfield SC 9 7 1
3 2 13
3. Duncan Glen Simon Flack Parkstone YC 11 8 4 1
1 14
4. Mark Littlejohn Sam Littlejohn L.S.C. 3 1 5 8
18 17
5. Neal Freeman Paul Freeman Parkstone YC 2 11 8
5 3 18
6. Paul Hilliar Toby Ashton Oxford SC 6 5 3
7 5 19
7. Dave Jones Mark Hogan Y Felinheli 10 3 7 9
6 25
8. Chris Gowers June Riley Y Felinheli 12 6 6
4 16 28
9. Chris Hogan Elaine Marsh Y Felinheli 5 4 11 14
13 33
10. Hywel Roberts Hugh Simms Williams Parkstone YC 4 24
12 12 9 37
11. Jon Gorringe Alex Palmer Parkstone YC 13 26 10
11 4 38
12. Phil Jackson Gerard Barron Parkstone YC 14 10 9
16 11 44
13. Neil Bevington Steve Read Lee on Solent SC 16 16
18 15 8 55
14. Stuart Hudson Adam Keeley Spinnaker SC 7 30 14
6 36n 57
15. Andrew Freeman David Freeman Parkstone YC 19 21 13
13 12 57
16. Richard Kenyon Richard Bullock Parkstone YC 24 12 20
18 15 65
17. William Hearn Nerissa Booth Parkstone YC 23 18 22
17 10 67
18. Sam Hoyland Mark Richards Weston SC 18 25 15
10 36n 68
19. Paul Lewis Sam Parker Burghfield SC 21 19 17 22
14 71
20. Ben Edwards Matthew Thomas Parkstone YC 17 20 16
19 19 71
21. Niall Peelo Hlen Macnamara Weirwood SC 25 15 23
23 17 78
22. Steven Joslin Nathan Pinch Queen Mary SC 15 9 19
36r 36n 79
23. Huw Willetts Sam Pearson Parkstone YC 28 33 24
20 20 92
24. Patrick Keats Jon Porter Parkstone YC 27 31 25
21 21 94
25. Howard Farbrother Louise Hosken Queen Mary SC 26 17 21
36r 36n 100
26. Giles Chipperfield Heather Chipperfield Lymington SC 8 22
36n 36n 36n 102
27. Stewart Bowen Roy Bowen Parkstone YC 20 13
36n 36n 36n 105
28. Jonathan Ambrose Stewart Harries Datchet Water SC 36n
36n 27 24 22 109
29. Paul Naser Bob Swaffield Spinnaker SC 33 14 28
36r 36n 111
30. Marc Sollars Chris Goswen Burghfield SC 29 28 26
36r 36n 119
31. Peter Milligan Rachel Montgomery Parkstone YC 22 32
36n 36n 36n 126
32. Tim Sands Peter Warburton Lee on Solent SC 32 23
36n 36n 36n 127
33. Richard Arthur Sue Arthur Queen Mary SC 31 27
36n 36n 36n 130
34. David Jones Simon Jones Stone SC 34 29
36n 36n 36n 135
35. Christopher Hitchman Stuart Roberts Bartley SC 30 34
36r 36r 36n 136