Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Warsash - 24/07/2004

The RS Vareo fleet arrived at Warsash sailing club on the weekend 24/25 July with an expectant air within the fleet of sunshine and light to moderate winds. The race officer Peter Knight had a different story to tell at the briefing and thought the wind would build from the SW and so it did. The first race in SW F2-3 offered the closest racing of the day with Dave Machin, Eddie McDonald and Christopher Froehlich showing great speed off wind to leave positions uncertain until the final beat to the finish. A final tack for the line by Machin left an opportunity for Richard Kemp-Salt to win by a whisker with Froehlich third. By the time the second race had started the wind had arrived with a force 4-5. The upwind legs were dominated by Kemp-Salt, but more than equalled by the downwind performance of those following him. The tricky wave formation caused the odd trip for the chasing group when gybing, taking the pressure off Kemp-Salt, who went on to win both races with Machin and McDonald having second and thirds. Sunday arrived; part of the Fat Face sponsored series with new members to the fleet attending either to race or pick up some techniques when racing the Vareo. The whole fleet offered a variety of suggestions including details of the members� news group where everything is discussed and help from top sailors including Jonathon Lewis the current National Champion. Out on the racecourse the race officer was again proved right with the first race starting in a force 4 but this time with swings and lulls, having started more westerly. Kemp-Salt was away again from the start, Machin proved to be superior on the offwind leg to close the gap and pass only to loose it on the second upwind leg. The wind steadied in direction to SW and increased from that point on to force 5 plus and a steep 3 to 4ft wave, which allowed Kemp-Salt to take the three races of the day. Machin continued to show consistency with three second places with McDonald and Froehlich having their moments of success in each of the races. Special thanks go to Fat Face our sponsors and everyone who helped at Warsash to make the weekend possible.