The first RS200 Fat Face event of 2007 kicked off in great style at what has now become the traditional opening event of the year at Bristol Corinthian YC in beautiful Somerset. The 46 entries were greeted on Saturday with the forecast fresh and gusty conditions which were to challenge everyone at some point during the day with very few teams not testing the spring water temperature. Entries were down on last year due to the adverse forecast for Sunday with some long distance travellers not making the trip. Despite being hampered by Arky (World Greatest Race Officer), Rhys Lancaster and the rest of his team did a superb job of setting three good windward/leeward courses and getting everyone back in the clubhouse in time to watch Wales grab a lucky win over England. In a building breeze race 1 got away at the second attempt and saw Ian Sharp/Ellie Martin hold a convincing lead. Steve Dunn and Rachel Jones in their favourite conditions eroded this advantage and took the lead until a spectacular capsize with a back marker leading to a torn mainsail required a pit stop letting Roger Gilbert and Jane Willan take the gun with Ian Sharp/Ellie Martin second and Tom Hewitson sailing with Emma MWB in third With the breeze continuing to build, races 2 and 3 provided exciting downwind sailing with many capsizes at both ends of the fleet and some surprising retirements. Ian Pickard and Loopy hit the fast forward button and followed up their fourth from race 1 with a well deserved bullet in race 2 and the ominously consistent Roger Gilbert and Jane Willan in second with Matt and Emma Jenkins from Sheffield Viking taking third. Race 3 and Tom Hewitson and Emma MWB hit the front but were chased all the way by Roger Gilbert and Jane Willan with another consistent result to take second with Nick Charles and Juliet Kingsnorth from BCYC in third. The day ended with Roger Gilbert/Jane Willan leading from Tom Hewitson/Emma MWB in second, Matt/Emma Jenkins in third and Ian Pickard/Loopy in fourth hoping to discard race 3 the following day. After a demanding day the fleet enjoyed the legendary BCYC hospitality and set about raising some cash for Comic Relief. Now the one thing I hate about Windguru is that is taking all the fun out of weather forecasting as it is so often right. Sunday dawned too early for some and the Sunday windguru had forecasted had well and truly arrived. The first a couple of competitors sleeping in their car were aware of the stronger breeze arriving overnight was when they were woken up by their boat being blown over onto their car. A number of the fleet made the choice to head for the road early with wind speeds gusting well over 30 knots. An attempt was made to run race 4 for those who felt they could handle the conditions. After some spectacular downwind runs with several boats hitting almost 20 knots racing was abandoned for the day. With consistent sailing Roger Gilbert and Jane Willan took the win from Tom Hewitson and Emma WMB with Matt and Emma Jenkins in third. The Silver fleet was won by Rob Janerring and Nigel Harniman from Wembley who also finished a credible fifth overall. Lol Hayward and Sarah Webb from Staunton Harold won the Bronze fleet. Thanks go to all at BCYC and sponsors Fat Face. The next round of the Fat Face circuit is at Rutland SC on 21st and 22nd April Paul Goodwin