Results / RS Fat Face Eurocup Travemunder Woche, Germany - 23/07/2007

Saturday- By 9pm the majority of the small 600 fleet were in Travmunder. Their tents were erected on the green some fifteen minutes walk from their boats, in a quite spot just ten metres from the waters edge. Everyone felt privileged to have such a lovely place to camp,  a small restaurant within thirty metres, and The Luebeck Cat Club next door. A group of  600 sailors, lady friends and family decided it was time to sample some German sausage eating and beer drinking. It wasn’t long before Duckstein beer was discovered. It remained  the favourite all week.

Sunday- Unknown to some today was practice race day. Andy Heissig and four other RS sailors made the start of this light air race.

 Tony Mitchell and Dave Annan went for a practice sail in the early evening. Once about three miles from the shore they returned in light airs which made them a little late for the evening meal on the tall ship ‘Passsat’. The group made their way to the ferry nearly two hours late but felt sure that a meal was on board for them. Once on the ferry the heavens opened  and torrential rain soaked the group before they could get onboard the Passat. AJ’s shoes were slowing her down so she decided to jump onto Martins back and ride piggy back. He ran very quickly but to no avail….they were both soaked. Once onboard it became evident that all of the other greedy RS lot had gobbled up the food but hadn’t drunk the ship dry of alcohol. A local beer seemed to be the favourite, especially with the normally T-total Andy Heissig. Most of the 600 group then decided that it was time to seek food from the other shore, so it was back to the ferry. Unfortunately they arrived just as the last ferry of the day was leaving. After a long wait they realised that the ferry wasn’t coming back for them so they took a trek along the coast  to the all night ferry. Once back in Travmunder most opted for a stand up healthy Asian meal, a sausage and a waffle along with a couple of Ducksteines.

Monday. Race 1- After a five mile sail out to the start line it was time for Race 1- wind light force 2.

Following a wind shift most of the fleet started on port accept Martin Fear and John Archer who both opted for the safer starboard start. Everyone got off to a good clean start. By keeping a close look at his recently fitted onboard compass Dave Annan was the first to spot a shift and tacked. Annan rounded the windward mark first by a good few boat lengths, whilst Tony Mitchell rounded in his usual light wind last position. After bearing off the fleet split into three groups of two. Annan and Heissig in the first, Rich Mayo and Fear in the second and Archer and Mitchell in the third group. A gust allowed Mitchell to pass as it caught Archer  sitting far forward on his foredeck resulting in a downwind capsize. Annan came home in 1st place, Heissig 2nd, Mayo 3^rd, Fear 4^th, Mitchell 5^th, Archer 6th . The wind then all but disappeared so the racing was cancelled for the rest of the day. Dave later reported that he had a headache that was due to the intensity of the race. That night most of the fleet retired for a meal at The Fisch und Mear. John  Archer took pole position with the chat, he even explained to our German lady host that the difference between English and German beer can be measured with a fartometer.

Tuesday- It was decided that the racing  would start at the earlier time of 11.30. The fleet limped out on a run for  five miles to the start line. After a delay of half an hour a fresh force 3 turned up.  Around the windward mark 1st was Heissig, 2^nd Annan, 3^rd mayo, 4^th Fear, 5^th Mitchell, 6^th Archer. Mitchell and Archer gained a couple of positions when  on bearing away Fear capsized twice and Mayo dicked it in once. Shortly afterwards the wind died and the racing once again was cancelled for the day.

Tuesday night saw the fleet attend the RS barbecue. After a lot of discounted cocktails Christel Mitchell decided it would be a good idea to check if a man with a curly hairdo had a wig on or not. After a good tug and a lot of screaming (and laughter) it was established that the hair was for real. Meanwhile Andy and Rich were playing a drinking game that invovled downing a pint everytime  they saw  two girls holding hands. The name of the game began with an L and was the perfect way to get very drunk indeed. Tony and Dave met Rich at 8am the next morning, he didn’t look well and he kept  impersonating Bruce Forsyth.

Wednesday race 2- The fleet was met with a strong force 4-5 wind, 3-4 feet waves, champagne and some overkeen photographers .By tacking off from the fleet into clear air  Dave Annan  made it  first to the windward mark, Mayo was 2^nd, Heissig 3^rd, Mitchell 4^th and Fear 5^th.  The next leg was made extremely hard by the overkeen photographers who parked themselve’s  just windward of bouy three. Gusts were hitting the fleet hard and forcing them at times in the general direction of the photographers. Much screaming was heard and the air started to turn blue. It was Tony The Helmet (Mitchell) that flew towards the photographers shouting all sorts of things at them. Just in time white water was seen to fly form the rear of the photo boat and a full blown collision was avoided. Only Annan and Fear made the bearaway with Heissig submarining, Mitchell submarining and Mayo snapping his mast during the jibe. This was the last time that Mayo sailed in Travmunder….his Championship unfortunately was over. On the approach to the leeward mark Annan capsized during a jibe allowing Heissig to obtain first position. The wind had by this time built up to a steady force 5. Heissig maintained his lead finishing in 1^st place, Annan 2^nd , Mitchell 3^rd and the lighter Fear retired a lap early.

Wednesday race 3- The wind a steady force 5 with most of the remaining fleet quite used to the adverse conditions. Annan once again made it to the windward mark 1st, Heissig 2^nd, Mitchell 3rd and Fear 4^th. Annan lead the fleet for  the first two laps with Heissig sitting in Annons wake and at times just to his side. On the last beat anxiety worked it’s way into Annan, he rushed a tack and then capsized. Heissig finished 1^st, Annan 2^nd, Mitchell 1^st and Fear 4^th.

Wednesday race 4- A very fresh force 5-6 was  blowing during this race. A 33 knot gust was recorded so the champagne was building up on top of the five to six feet waves. Just prior to the race Heissig broke his boom bolt which meant his racing was over for the day.  Following his earlier nightmare when his main halyard broke five miles out to sea, John Archer now lined up for the start. Archer lead for the first half of the first beat but was overtaken by the now flying Annan. A few miss tacks saw Archer move back another place when Mitchell passed. Around the windward bouy in 1^st place went Annan, Michell 2^nd, Archer 3^rd, the lighter of the fleet (who was still on full rig) Fear rounded 4^th. Annan manages to pull a good gap between himself and Mitchell but then capsizes on the run allowing Mitchell to close the gap. Annans will to win  during this race gives him 1^st position, Mitchell 2^nd, Archer 3^rd and Fear 4^th.

 Wednesday night became RS 600 campsite barbecue night. Everyone fully enjoyed sausages, kebabs and hot banana with molten chocolate all washed down with a selection of wine and beers.

Thursday race 5- force 2-3- Again Dave Annan rounds the windward mark first with Andy Heissig not far behind in 2nd. Heissig manages to capsize on a run and get into irons during a tack. Annan leads throughout the race finishing 1st, Heissig 2^nd Archer 3^rd, Fear 4^th, Mitchell 5^th.

Thursday race 6- A building force 3.  This race saw John Archer round the windward mark first. Archer  then drops two places as Annan and Fear blast past on the reach. The next beat saw John Archers last moment of Travmunder sailing when he had a big collision with with a 700 with its kite up. The 700 survived and sailed on but Archers foredeck was lifted and smashed so he had no choice but to retire. Meanwhile Annan was flying, building a good lead,  but just a boat length away from the finish line capsized (much to the amusement of the Committee). Annan was applauded by the Committee when he  managed to get over the finish line just before Heissig. Mitchell was in 3^rd place and Fear 4^th.

Thursday race 7- force 3- Annan once again rounds the windward mark first, leading the whole of the first lap with Heissig around ten boats behind him. Heissig takes the lead when Annan capsized his boat amongst the 400’s near bouy 3. Tony Mitchell shoots past Annan for the reach but then decides to take a detour through the finish line because he suspects this race is a two lapper. Whoops it’s a three lap race so Annan then moves up into second place. Heissig finishes 1^st, Annan 2^nd, Mitchell 3^rd Fear 4^th.

Thursday race 8- wind building to force 3-4. Dave Annan again rounds the windward bouy in first position. On the next beat Heissig finds a  lift that takes him past Annan. Annan drops further back when he slips off the front of his rack straight into the water. Fear, Annan and Mitchell round bouy 3 for the last time together. The reach home see’s Heissig finish in 1st position, Fear 2^nd, Annan 3^rd, Mitchell 4^th.

During Thursday the girls took the ferry over to Sandworld and became very proficient  plate spinners. When the boys returned to the campsite the girls proudly presented a video of the plate spinning . That night more Duckstein was consumed although in moderation as the big finale was due the next day.

Friday- force 8.  The lack of flags suggested that the Committee were worried about the conditions. Andy Heissig was the first to launch in the angry force 8 wind. A while later Dave Annan and Tony Mitchell launched as well, set there foils and got ready for a blast and the finale. It wasn’t to be , the committee launched a rib and called the three hardcore skiff sailors back to shore. It was a full four miles before they caught up with Andy Heissig. The nice German crew explained to Andy that it was a force 8 and  40 knots. ‘Oh yes’ said Andy, sort of pretending that he hadn’t noticed LOL.

Racing was cancelled for the rest of the day which meant That Andy Heissig had finished first overall on count back with 8 points, Dave Annan 2^nd with 8 points, Tony Mitchell 3^rd with 18 points, Martin Fear 4^th with 22 points.

Travmunde week had been fantastic, it will be remembered for many years by all that went. It was agreed that our German hosts had done a great job…we thank them for that.  TM.