Results / Fat Face Racing Circuit Hayling Island S.C. - 23/09/2006

Fat Face RS400 Open at Hayling Island Hilliar/Jagger win closing circuit event The final event of the 2006 Fat Face circuit was hosted by Hayling Island S.C. on the weekend of 23/24 September and was shared with the RS200s, RS600s and RS700s to make a very social weekend. Fortunately, both sun and wind also came out to play, so the fleets enjoyed 6 close and competitive races. Race one got underway in 15 knots and a lumpy sea. Michael Adams/David Stedman hit the left of the tide-influenced beat to lead at the first mark and held the lead until the second lap, when Chris Gowers/June Riley powered through. Tom Halhead/Chris Bishop and Paul Hilliar/Stu Jagger also got through but Gowers/Riley held their nerve to win, followed by Hilliar/Jagger and Halhead/Bishop. Following a general recall in the second race, Halhead/Bishop chose the left side of the beat and then stretched their lead on the downwind. Gowers/Riley and Hilliar/Jagger chased but could never catch the flying Bristolians so it finished with Gowers/Riley in third behind Hilliar/Jagger. For race three the tide had changed and the wind built, giving large and steep waves for the crews to contend with. With no �friendly� waves at all, keeping the boat from sailing through the waves was the highest priority! Gowers/Riley shot out of the favoured end and showed class to sail away from the fleet in the tough conditions. Howard Farbrother/Sam �Agent Provocateur� Parker chased hard but were overhauled first by Hilliar/Jagger then by Halhead/Bishop. Overnight, Gowers/Riley held a one point lead over Hilliar/Jagger, with Halhead/Bishop a further one point behind. The multi-class social was well attended, very lively and led to many sore heads the next morning, which might explain why several boats misjudged how long it would take to get to the race course and missed the first start! Fortunately for the latecomers, the first start was a recalled. With the tide running sideways over the course and 10 knots of wind, Rick Peacock/Ian Dobson won the start but by the first mark were overhauled by Hilliar/Jagger. Halhead/Bishop chased hard and briefly took the lead but couldn�t maintain it and ended up second, with a charging Jon Cooper/Becci Wigley taking third. For the second start, the tide had moderated and Hilliar/Jagger took an early lead from Peacock/Dobson. These two built up quite a lead on the pack but eventually Peacock/Dobson were reeled in by Rob Jones/Liz Jones and Halhead/Bishop. Hilliar/Jagger won the race and with it, the event but the race for second place went down to the wire. Halhead/Bishop just overtook the Jones� after the Jones� chose to take their spinnaker down on the final close reach to the finish and Halhead/Bishop sailed straight underneath. For the final race of the event, the wind had dropped to about 8 knots. James Downer/Trevor won the start and looked good early on, along with the Jones�. However the fleet had failed to take the tide change into account and sailed way past the new layline, leaving Hilliar/Jagger in the lead. While first was settled, the maths for second overall meant that if Gowers/Riley could finish second then they would be second overall. With Peacock/Dobson also at the front of the pack, the placings were eventually settled on the final run. Hilliar/Jagger won, with Peacock/Dobson just ahead of Halhead/Bishop and Gowers/Riley. This left Hilliar/Jagger as the winners of their first Fat Face Event, followed by Halhead/Bishop, Gowers/Riley, and Peacock/Dobson. A fine 1-2 for Bristol Corinthian Y.C. Halhead/Bishop comfortably won the overall Fat Face circuit, winning two events and never placing outside the top 3.