Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Stone SC - 07/06/2003

14 guests and 11 members of the host club arrived for the start of the Fat Face sponsored RS 600 Open meeting at Stone S.C. The first race was started in a sunny force 3, and saw Colin Turner, the current national champion make good progress through fleet to take the race from Pete Sanders. The second race saw most of the fleet go left on the first beat, with the exception of 2 or 3, including Ian Montague who was sailing a very solid race, only to suffer a kicking strap failure on what he hoped was the final run. Richard Smith and Matt Humphrey were at this time fighting it out on the run at close quarters, but could both barely hide their �disappointment for poor old Ian.� Ian was attempting to finish the race but on realizing there was going to be another lap, retired in order that he could compete in the final race of the day. Richard took the lead from Matt on the run and maintained it through to the finish. In the third race Richard had a good lead at the first mark, and was not challenged. Sunday saw the fleet wake up to no wind and rain. We had two contrasting weather forecasts of force 1 variable and the other was force 3 to 4, increasing force 6 later, which frankly at the time seemed unlikely. A relatively un-enthusiastic fleet launched in very light wind, by the time we arrived at the start line, this had increased to a shifty force 4. This led to several people capsizing the boats to adjust rig tension. Matt started well and got the shifts right up the first beat to lead at the windward mark with Ian close behind. Colin, showed good pace down the first run going both low and fast, took 3 boats to get to third place at the leeward mark. He continued his progress to take Ian on the final beat, but did not notice the shorten coarse flag and therefore lost second place to Ian. The second race of the day and final race of the series was a very tight with 1 point between Richard and Colin. The wind was a solid force 5 by this time. Richard led from the start. Colin again made good progress down the run to get second place at the leeward mark. The breeze was still increasing, now gusting force 6. At the final windward mark, Colin was still exerting pressure on Richard. Down the final run the righter was trying to assess if he had time to �tart it round�, RS speak for tacking where you should jibe. He decided that there was not enough time and went for the jibe successfully to win the race and event. 1st Richard Smith, Stone S.C 2nd Colin Turner, Stone S.C 3rd Matt Humphreys, Weston S.C 4th Ian Montague, Stone S.C 5th Pete Sanders, Datchet S.C 6th John Heissig, Lymington Town S.C