Results / RS800 Fat Face Racing Circuit Beer SC - 12/05/2007

BIG BEER FOR RS800s

Once every blue moon a day arrives that is like no other, etched forever in everyone's memories. Whilst other fleets were stormbound down the coast, the RS800s left for their race course off the pretty Devon village of Beer to seas that had been building over several days. The beech was deceptively calm under the shelter of Beer Head. Half a mile out the wind was 18knots, gusting up to 25knots with a rolling 4m swell.  "How much wind is there out there?" we asked the race officer. "I am not sure exactly, but we can launch the committee boat (so there will be a race)" he replied.

A credit to the resilience of the boats was that only one mast came down and that was due to operator error. Title contenders Spod Olive and Guy Fillmore warming up for the first race pulled a wave jumping stunt and on landing their aerial, Guy took out the shroud.

Race 1 - was led by everybody in turn, epitomising the friendliness of the fleet. Jamie Hilton and Bonnie Moody led every race as they port tacked the fleet - cheeky but effective. Unfortunately they had already been using the jib as a safety net so their pace was a little off. Peter Barton & Roz Allen (Skifftastic) were fast out of the blocks until they body charged a wave stopping them dead in their tracks, winded. They led again at the top before pitch poling twice "playing it safe".

Ian Martin and Adam Broughton (Sail4Cancer) powered past only to splosh on the drop. The fight to regain lead upwind was short lived with kite sheets under bow from the earlier incident. Lightweights Justin Deal and Sarah Marriott (Fat Face) tussled with heavyweights Simon Colleridge and Tim Collins upwind to lead at the top of the final lap, only to trawl the final hoist and after a torturous attempt at saving it succumbed to the ocean, as did Simon and Tim. Enter left wildman of Eastbourne Andy Jeffries and Ali Ody after several over stood the final gybe, shuffling the leaders again. Andy and Ali also had to drop early and, as if from nowhere in a ball of spray, Graham Simmonds and Chris Doe rode in guns blazing on the perfect lay to take the gold and their first RS800 race win. Andy & Ali 2nd, Ian & Adam recovered to 3rd, Alex Cherry and John Clifton took 4th.

Race 2 - Peter & Roz led practicing a more effective version of "playing it safe". Ben Schooling and Tim Hirst surfed into the lead downwind - right into a nose dive. Lawrie Fitzjohn-Sykes & Dan Allin narrowly took the inside berth lead at the leeward mark. In the drag race back up towards Beer Head Peter & Roz took it back. Lawrie & Dan made another charge downwind but got caught out by a particularly wobbly patch of water allowing Tim Smyth & Fiona Lockwood to claim a hard earned 2nd and Ben & Tim made a late move to take 3rd, with Spod & Guy (Harken) (now in borrowed boat) 4th.

Race 3 -  the wind was easing a little but the waves were still there. Peter & Roz led to the finish with Spod & Guy taking 2nd. Ian & Adam had 3rd under control until trying their own upwind arial stunt off the back of a steep wave allowed Andy & Ali to take the 3rd.

"I wouldn't have wanted to be in any other boat than the RS800 today" enthused class treasurer Graham Simmonds on his race win, whilst crew Chris got the champers in. I agree but maybe one with a raised bow like a southern ocean racer might have been even more ideal!

Ian & Adam were seen to let it rip downhill more than most;  Ian commented "We hoisted every time downwind and were forced into sailing very deep, playing the waves trying to keep the pole out of the wave infront - Adam played and eased the kite a significant amount to control the speed. We tried 'going for it' and twin wired down one run but was much too risky so soon dropped into a single wiring mode!!"

"Yes, single wiring helps control the speed through the waves and reduces the load (nose diving force) in the sails", agreed Peter, "but doesn't photograph as well" added Roz.

Sarah Marriott has been competing in the class for several years - "they were the biggest waves I've ever sailed an 800 in and that's including the wild event at Eastbourne and the crazy day at Pwhelli!"  

"We don't normally race in waves like that at Eastbourne" said David Pyke once he had recovered. Apparently, for our Nationals the wave sailing will be a little easier than big Beer (well that's alright then!).

Sunday dawned with more east in the wind and waves rolling up the beach. The race officer didn't like the look of the launching and coupled with the Force 8 forecast made a early call to abandon. A gigantic cream tea spread was laid on by the ever enthusiastic army of club members who worked tirelessly over the weekend assisting the fleet whether on the water, beach or clubhouse. After a fantastic weekend was had by all on and off the water and the RS800s look forward to returning again next year for more (or maybe even just a little less!) of the same.

Thanks to sponsors, Fat Face, and Thank you Beer SC!