Results / RS Fat Face Open Lee on Solent - 15/05/2004

RS FAT FACE CIRCUIT EVENT AT LEE ON SOLENT SAILING CLUB. Lee On Solent was the sun soaked venue for the multi fleet RS Fat Face Racing Circuit on May 15/16. It was fantastic weather for May but it was not the best conditions for fleet racing and particularly race officers with some fickle Solent breezes. Saturday and it was hot. The fleets were very happy to continue where they left off at the 10th Anniversary Regatta, sitting around chatting with everyone. After an hours delay a light south easterly allowed both race teams to lay two courses and get the first race off. It was bound to happen and right at the end of race 1 the breeze from the west of the Solent arrived reversing the course. The race teams did a good job and re- set the course, races 2 and 3 were held in the best breeze of the weekend, building to 12 knots by the end. The days racing had been videoed by Cathy Foster who gave each fleet excellent de-briefs in the early evening, part of the RS Associations extensive coaching programme. A. good party was further livened up by the Brother Grims unusual attempt to re-arrange the disco layout Unfortunately Sunday in many ways was a worse day, there really was no breeze. Eventually a light easterly appeared and just as thoughts were turning towards abandoning the day the race teams called the fleets out. With light winds and the tide it was slow going but two races were completed. RS Vareos The first race was delayed while the Committee waited for the wind to fill in. When the race finally started Carl Whitehead (Filey SC) lead from Chris Froehlich (Burghfield SC) and Tim Greenwood (Chew Valley SC). After two rounds the wind died and started to fill in from a more natural sea breeze direction. The three above sailors struggled to beat from the final mark to the finish; Froehlich just edging out Whitehead with Greenwood in third. The Race Committee postponed for a short while until the breeze settled and built. Two races were sailed in a reasonable force 2/3 breeze. Both races were won by Whitehead, with Froehlich and Greenwood battling it out for second place of which Froehlich triumphed in both. By the end of the third race the wind had built and the Vareo sailors enjoyed a thrilling fast reach back to the sailing club where Saturday night�s entertainment was laid on. Sunday morning dawned � blue skies, bright sunshine and no wind! When the fleet got away after a long wait ashore Greenwood pulled a port end flyer which gave him a two to three hundred yard lead at the windward mark. On the second round the wind eased and boats struggled to sail over the tide. The shorten course flag was flown and Greenwood just held on by about a boat length from Froehlich with Whitehead third just in front of Steve Mummery (LOS SC). The second race got underway after the wind had returned slightly. Only one round was completed and Greenwood dominated to take line honours with Whitehead second and Mark Hayzelden (Burghfield SC) third in his first open.