Results / Fat Face Racing Circuit Chew Valley SC - 10/03/2007

Round 1 of the RS800 Fat Face Racing Circuit took place at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club on the 11/12th March. 24 boats turned out and were blessed with champagne conditions over the weekend. The ice on the shrouds and frozen blocks at Draycote a year ago at were long forgotten as teams rigged up in T-shirts, even some bare arms were spotted out on the water! Out the blocks in race 1 and it was Birthday boy Pete Barton/Roz Allen who took an early lead from Spod Olive/Dan Brown (Sola/Harken) in what was to be a two horse race for the event. The 8-15kt breeze was filling down the lake in bands which made for some frequent place changes downwind and challenging layline calls. Justin Deal and Sarah Marriott (Fat Face) took full advantage of the gusts and managed to sneak through Olive/Brown on the last run to take second spot. Race two and the first general recall of the weekend brought out the black flag as promised by the race officer. The fleet got away cleanly the second time splitting across the lake. Those who went left seemed to benefit and it was Olive/Brown (Sola/Harken) who led into the first mark. With the windward mark placed a stones throw from the shore there was some tricky manoeuvring to get in and out cleanly and over standing the port layline seemed to be the paying tactic. By the finish it was Olive/Brown (Sola/Harken) who managed to stay out front with Deal/Marriot (Fat Face) showing good consistency in the shifty breeze to come home second. Ralph Singleton and Jayne Johnson put their local knowledge to good use and showed great pace through the holes to finish third. The breeze picked up nicely between races and by the third start there were some spicy 20+ knot gusts giving the fleet some awesome runs on the flat water. The black flag start caught a couple of boats out including Charlie Roome and Steve Hall who were sent home for an early bath. Barton/Allen found the conditions to their liking and showed off some blistering pace to lead the fleet home and take overnight honours. Behind them it was a battle of the heavy-weights leaving Graham Simmons & Chris Doe to cross in second just ahead of Ben Schooling and Tim Hirst who pulled up through the fleet to finish third. Class Chairman Ian Martin and Rob �Big Guns� Marriott were trialling out the prototype RS800 and put in some steady mid fleet results as they found their feet in the new hull shape. The new boat didn�t seem to have any edge on performance on the rest of the fleet throughout the range of conditions over the weekend and so any concerns over this issue can happily be dismissed. Back ashore everyone was buzzing from a great days racing. The rugby on, a few beers, great food from the galley and with the prospect of another breezy day in store the fleet were in high spirits! Sure enough Sunday morning the sun was out and with 18-25kts from the south this was setting up to be another great day on the water! With the start line 50 yards off the club house the pre-start area was pretty busy with 6�s, 7�s and 8�s all blasting around making for a great spectacle from the shore. Race 1 and the eager fleet caused a general recall forcing the race office to unleash the black flag once again. Away cleanly the second time and it was usual suspects Olive/Brown (Sola/Harken) and Barton/Allen who led the fleet out to the left towards the bigger breeze. A close battle between the two ensued but it was Barton/Allen who drew first blood and led across the line from Olive/Brown. The chasing pack saw frequent place changes with downwind angles changing by 20 degrees in the big puffs. It was Ben Schooling and Tim (in his element!) Hirst who took advantage of a wiped out Roome/Hall on the last run to hold off Deal/Marriot and Mike Hart & Sally Kilpatrick for a close third. Race 5 and once again it was a Barton/Allen v Olive/Brown showdown! By the finish it was Olive/Brown who secured victory from Barton/Allen leaving everything to play for going into the last race. Simon Coleridge and Tim Collins enjoyed the big breeze and brought the best of the rest home in third followed by Russ Gibbs and Lisa Curtis. Final race of the day and the average breeze was around 20kts but still with some healthy gusts knocking any unwary boats flat. The pair in contention had a close eye on each other pre-start and both looked to get away cleanly. But the black flag police positioned at the leeward mark put an end to Olive/Brown�s chances and called their number out handing the event to Barton/Allen who cruised home to a comfortable victory. Hart/Kilpatrick cashed in on Spod�s retirement to take a well deserved 2nd and James Ross/Heather Back showed their usual big breeze form to cross in 3rd. On the podium then it was Deal/Marriot (Fat Face) who finished up in third, Olive /Brown (Sola/Harken) in second and Pete Barton and Roz Allen who sailed a great series to take the first Fat Face 800 Event of 2007. A big thank you to Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club who put on a great show and ran an excellent series of races. Next event is a one day-er at Oxford on Sunday 25th March followed by the Sprint Champs at Rutland over Easter. Hope to see you all there! Ben Schooling 989