RS800 Fat Face Racing Circuit - Review

The RS800 Fat Face Racing Circuit has finally drawn to a close and the champions for 2006 have been decided! With seven amazing events comprising this year�s circuit, here�s a re-cap of the highlights! The circuit kicked off at Draycote Water Sailing club on a freezing March morning. With icicles forming on the kicker and frozen kite halliards, defending Fat Face champions Steve Irish and Martin Gotrel (Magic Marine) took the event win counting 5 first places � what a way to kick off a season! Second event of the year took the fleet to Rutland where spring was definitely in the air. While the conditions were light, the competition was not and coming out victorious were Dom Johnson and Jenny Heeley. Then it was down to the south coast to the 800s favourite, Stokes Bay. Once again light winds plagued the frustrated fleet but by the end of the 5 races it was Justin Deal and Sarah Marriott� turn to shine taking their first event win. Round four and the fleet headed north to pastures new at the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club. Beautiful sailing made for a full series of six races and this time Ian Martin and Claire Booth (Sail4Cancer) stole the show and took the bullet. Then it was down to the heart of the English Riviera and to Paignton Sailing club for the first hot event of the season. Still not much in the way of wind, but plenty of sun for the tans! While the competition was very tight, it was Justin Deal and Sarah Marriott who walked away with the event win in their pocket. The penultimate event of the year was held at Lymington Town Sailing Club and finally the wind gods arrived! There was no disputing the champs that weekend; with three first places Peter Barton and Roz Allen (Henri Lloyd) proved that they were the ones to beat in the breeze and took first place. They later consolidated that by winning Garda two weeks later! Finally Queen Mary Sailing club hosted the last event of the season on a beautifully hot September weekend. Light winds made for tactical pond sailing for the 20-strong fleet and calling the shifts best were Justin Deal and Sarah Marriott who finished off in top spot. In total 92 boats took to the race track this year and 7 events later the top three look like this�.. Rob Watson and James Holmes take third place overall counting a string of top ten results and a second from the last event of the season at Queen Mary! Ian Martin and Claire Booth (Sail4Cancer), one of only two teams to complete all seven events, take second place overall including an impressive first and second in their final points tally. And finally, counting three first places in their final score line, Justin Deal and Sarah Marriott take first place overall, the winners of the 2006 RS 800 Fat Face Racing Circuit! A huge thank you to Fat Face for all their support and prizes and here�s to 2007 for another season of fantastic sailing!