Results / Winter Championships Leigh & Lowton SC - 17/03/2012

Lee-on-Solent was the venue for the third Fat Face Open Event on the 9^th and 10^th of June. The fleet was welcomed to a flat calm sea and a building tide. The first race was scheduled for 1pm and thankfully the breeze began to slowly kick in at 2pm.

K. Jones took a storming lead up the first beat of the first race. Some close racing followed him behind where positions changed frequently. The wind swung around constantly resulting in nearly the whole fleet arriving at the final leeward mark together. Chris Larr managed to find a puff of wind to come through on the inside> The final run in resulted in Nigel Tinkler 1^st. Chris Larr 2^nd and Scott Butler 3^rd.

The 2^nd race and the wind seemed to have settled Tinkler established a convincing lead by the first run and stayed there. Timothy Seward was 2^nd and C. Thomas improved on his first race to finish a good 3^rd.

For race 3 the wind increased and had swung around to the North making for fresher conditions with a bit of a chop. Chris Larr and Chris Jordon stormed to the front revelling in the stronger breeze. Tinkler, Jordon, Butler and Larr moved ahead of the rest of the fleet. Chris Larr eventually won, Chris Jordon 2^nd. and Scott Butler showed consistency to finish 3^rd again.

A steady force 3 greeted competitors on the 2^nd day with K. Jones fast out of the blocks for the 4^th race and establishing a big lead at the windward mark. Tinkler, Jordon and Seward who finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in that order eventually reeled him in.

Things did not start to the race officers liking for race 5. A 600 managed to wedge his mast under the committee boat just before the start. After a delay and a monumental effort from those aboard the committee and rescue boat he was extradited and merrily went drifting downtide. The fleet was obviously impatient, resulting in a general recall, the race officer decided to black flag the Vareo fleet – unheard of! 2^nd attempt and a clean start. Close racing ensued with numerous lead changes. The final run saw Jordon, Larr and Seward heading towards the shore. Tinkler who was a bit behind spotted more wind out to sea and gybed away. This paid off and resulted in Tinkler 1^st, Jordon bagging his third 2^nd and Larr 3^rd.

Final race and the fleet enjoyed some close racing as the wind gradually increased. Jim Hood and Anthony Payne were not letting the leaders have it all their own way and were snapping on the heels of Tinkler and Seward. The battle for 3^rd resulted in Hood colliding with the buoy, which put Payne into 3^rd. Seward did an excellent job of covering Tinkler and kept his cool to finish by just two boat lengths. Larr who sails strongly in a breeze clawed his way through the fleet to finish 3^rd.

Final results were Nigel Tinkler 1^st, Chris Larr 2nd, Chris Jordon 3^rd and Timothy Seward 4^th. The weekend was enjoyed by everyone with a wind to suit all. A special merit prize went to Julie Hanson on her first ever open event although admitting to being a bit apprehensive beforehand she certainly did not disgrace herself. The fleet now look forward to more close racing at Llandegfedd.