Results / Fat Face Racing Circuit Llandegfedd SC - 23/06/2007

Llandegfedd SC in SE Wales boasts the largest Vareo fleet in the UK and 9 local boats joined 16 visitors to form an excellent fleet of 25. Saturday dawned cloudy with a southerly breeze which decided to swing to the West 1 minute before the start of the first race! A new course was set and thereafter the day’s racing took place in a decent breeze which ranged from Force 1- 3.

The first race was typical of the whole weekend with tight racing in all sections of the fleet with everyone enjoying sailing in such a large fleet.    Dan Partington won Race 1 and Race 3, with Mark Williams taking race 2. Nigel Tinkler, who is in good form this year, and Richard Willows, who is quick in lighter airs, were also never far from the front of the fleet and in the pub after sailing the clever money was on these four contesting  the top spots.

The breeze on Sunday was lighter, Force 1 -2, and from the South. Nigel was quick from the start taking second in the Race 4 and winning Race 5.  Richard won Race 4 but thereafter couldn’t get into podium positions. Dan again showed some good form coming second in Races 5 & 6. Mark had a nightmare first beat in the first race and that set the tone for his day! Conversely the lighter winds really suited Matt Moore who was now contesting the top spots and won Race 6.

The top positions were still undecided going into the final race. Matt again sailed well and won the race and took third spot in the Open. Nigel finished off a great weekend’s performance with a second. Nigel was in the top three in 6 of the 7 races and a deserved winner of the event. Dan had a nightmare last race but just hung on to second overall. Richard Willows was forth, Mark Williams fifth and Chris Jordan, who progressed from tenth in Race 1 to third in Race 7 during the course of the weekend, was sixth overall. 

The event was deemed a great success with close racing in all parts of the fleet, a decent wind, very little rain and slick race management. At least two competitors had not sailed a Vareo before the weekend but it was limping John Regan, who had been ordered by his doctor and his wife not to sail, who took the merit trophy for a couple of top six results!