Results / RS Fat Fac Racing Circuit Oxford SC - 18/09/2004

Oxford Sailing Club hosted the seventh RS200 Fat Face circuit series event on 18th/19th September. The branches blown off trees and white streaks across Farmoor reservoir early Saturday morning reminded several sailors that it had been a while since their last sail at the Nationals. However, the wind calmed down, the rain mostly stayed away, and three cracking races got underway. James “I can’t sail inland” Stewart and Lucy Mathews were always in the leading pack in race one, and crossed the finish line first. The battle of the weekend was happening just behind them with David Giles and Fiona Clark taking 2nd place from Tom and Jo Hewitson. The overall Fat Face circuit prizes could be determined this weekend, with the Hewitsons’ having three event wins, and Giles/Clark with two event wins leading into Oxford. David Giles/Fiona Clark showed great pace in the shifty and gusty conditions to win the 2nd race, with James “I can’t sail inland” Stewart/Lucy Mathews coming in 2nd, and Steve Dunn and Dottie Cormack in 3rd. Newcomers to the RS200 fleet, Tim Fells sailing with his daughter Becky, showed the usual suspects that they can’t have it all their own way, and finished 4th in both races. After losing her rig overboard in race 1, Trudie Danbury and Graeme Ryder recovered in race 3 to take the lead at the second mark and finish in that position, with the Hewitsons in 2nd and Giles catching up from a poor start to take 3rd. The unfortunate side affect of this midlands sailing club being so conveniently located for so many of the fleet, meant that, unfortunately for the bar takings, most people were also very conveniently close to home. However, those that stayed for the BBQ ate everything anyway, and hoped for more breeze on Sunday. With similar gusty conditions again on Sunday, there was no chance for a break in concentration whilst racing. Boat handling skills were thoroughly tested with positions changing constantly. The race officer provided great courses in the gusty and shifty conditions. The Hewitson Vs Giles battle continued with Tom and Jo beating David to first place in Sunday’s first race. John Greenland and Pippa Williams showed that helms sail better without Saturday hangovers and took 3rd place. Geoff Carveth had just flown back into the country, so obviously the first thing he wanted to do was go RS200 sailing. Only sailing Sunday meant he wouldn’t be in the prizes, but he could certainly mix things up a bit, which he did by taking 1sts in the next two races. This left an incredibly tight finish, with Tom and Jo Hewitson and David Giles/Fiona Clark tying in the lead with 11 points each. With an equal number of 1st, 2nds and 3rds each, it was down to the worst result of each boat to split the tie. Tom and Jo Hewitson claimed victory; this fourth Fat Face circuit event win gives them the well deserved title of Fat Face circuit winners with one event to spare. James Stewart is going to have to stop saying he can’t sail inland, because his consistent performance gave him 3rd place overall at Oxford. With John Greenland and Pippa Williams 4th; Trudie Danbury/Graeme Ryder 5th on equal points with newcomers Tim and Becky Fells 6th. The Merit prize went to Jeremy Gorbold, the only RS200 at Oxford, who manage to take his new boat sailing as well as being involved in the organisation of the event. Trudie Danbury