Results / Fat Face Racing Circuit South Caernavonshire YC, Abersoch - 05/05/2007

RS400 Fat Face Racing Circuit event at Abersoch

Jones/Hogan snatch a last gasp victory.

Abersoch played host to 26 RS400s for the Fat Face Racing circuit event over the early may bank holiday weekend.  With sandy beeches and good breeze, those that attended enjoyed a well run and friendly event.

Saturday kicked off with a shifty 8-10 knot breeze and blazing sunshine.  Following a general recall, Dave Jones/Mark Hogan and Stuart Hudson/Mark Greaves took early control and led until the final downwind leg when Tom Halhead/Kojak Humphrey slipped through to steal the win, from Jones/Hogan and Hudson/Greaves. The finish was so close that leading 10 boats all finished within a minute of each other! 

In the second race, flyweights Nick Lowe/Elaine Marsh sped out of the blocks and by the end of the first lap were miles in front, chased by Halhead/Humphrey and Paul/Mike Allen.  On the second beat, the wind filled in from the left, benefiting Chris Gowers/June Riley big time and pushing Lowe/Marsh into an even bigger lead.  Down the final run, the wind shifted back, bringing Halhead/Humphrey through but not enough to catch the leaders.  Gowers/Riley finished third.

Jones/Hogan had a great start to Saturday’s final race and crossed the fleet early on.  However Halhead/Humphrey led at the first mark.  These two were both overtaken by the flying Gowers/Riley who led down the final leg, only to be overtaken by Jones/Hogan near the finish, with Halhead/Humphrey third. 

Sunday dawned with much more breeze and the prospect of some proper wave sailing!  After another general recall, the fleet got started in 18 knots and great waves.  The Allen’s looked good early on but this was to be a Ginster benefit day and Jono Shelley/Chris Blackburn led at the windward mark.  However they were soon overtaken downwind by Paul Hilliar/Stu Jagger and Gowers/Riley.  With overnight leaders Halhead/Humphrey tasting the drink, the overall results were becoming closer and closer.  Eventually Hilliar/Jagger held off Gowers/Riley to win, with Jones/Hogan grabbing third.

For race 2, Gowers/Riley led for the first lap from Jones/Hogan, before Hilliar/Jagger came through Jones/Hogan at the leeward mark and into the lead up the second beat.  They held on for a second win from Gowers/Riley, while Jones/Hogan just held off the charge of a towelled-down Halhead/Humphrey to take third.

In the final race of the weekend, Gowers/Riley scorched out to the left and led by some distance from Hilliar/Jagger.  Throughout the race, Gowers/Riley continued to pull away, a result that would give them the event overall, as Jones/Hogan were well back.  Then, with 150m to go to the finish, disaster struck as they donned the water wings on the penultimate gybe!  This allowed Hilliar/Jagger to take their third straight bullet, and crucially let Jones/Hogan through to second and win the overall title. 

So in the final results, Jones/Hogan won after a fine show of consistency in the varied conditions, with Halhead/Humphrey second and Gowers/Riley left wandering how many Fat Face vouchers their Jacques Cousteau impression cost them.  Hilliar/Jagger took fourth, thinking ‘if only both days had been windy’.  Many thanks to South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club for hosting a great event.  The next event on the Fat Face circuit is at Hayling Island SC, on the late may bank holiday.