Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Datchet SC - 18/09/2004

Datchet saw twenty RS600s at their penultimate FatFace circuit event of the season with several new travellers coming to the circuit. The fleet arrived on the Saturday morning to some very blustery conditions and the lake looking decidedly lumpy. Fortunately as the boats were being prepared the weather did start to settle down a bit, although there were to be some interesting wind conditions throughout the whole event. The first race got of cleanly. On the first beat the fleet split as to where the best side of the lake was to be, with about half the fleet taking the port side of the lake and the half going to the starboard. As the fleet arrived at the top mark there was very little between the split and the fleet was all going for the mark at the same time. The shifty wind conditions were to take its toll with shifts at some impromptu moments. In the second race the fleet had the unusual sight of Matt Humphreys being completely inverted by the centre water tower and a good part of the fleet getting past him ? not that he stayed behind them for long. With the wind still playing havoc the fleet started the third race under the black flag after a recall, but no mistakes this time. Day two and the wind was looking a lot calmer than the day before. Once launched, the fleet had to deal with even more big shifts, which saw the top reach almost become a run and the run a very broad reach. The short bottom reach was entertaining with a few swimmers at the bottom mark. All in all there was some good racing to be had and Datchet sailor Griff Tanner took the weekend with Matt Humphreys in second and Paul Smalley in third. Fred Lord took the Merit award for finishing a very respectable 12th. Thanks go to the race officer for good race control in some tricky conditions and to Datchet Water SC for looking after us all.