Results / Fat Face Racing Circuit Event Burghfield SC - 10/06/2006

An excellent forecast, summer weather (at last!) and great winds encouraged a bumper turnout for the Fat Face sponsored RS300 open meeting at Burghfield SC on June 10th. Luckily, a clash with the England/Paraguay World Cup game did not seem to put anyone off (although I note that no Scots were competing�). A firm force 4 with sizeable gusts and shifts welcomed the fleet for race 1. Matt Sargeant in his new machine made the best of a good start on the port-biased line to lead for the first couple of laps. He was initially followed by Steve Cook and Cliff Shaw and then Steve Bolland who pulled though on the downwind legs. Bolland did his normal capsizing routine and Sargeant seemed to have the race wrapped up until an incident with Cook forced a 720. Bolland then made the best of a private gust to pull up on Cook who he harried for the next lap before moving into the lead. Bolland and Cook finished in that order with Sargeant in 3rd after Shaw had broken his gooseneck on the final lap. 4th was Chris Hart. A course adjustment for race 2 made the course (in the words of Barry Steel) even more like the Tour de France with seemingly every buoy used at least once. This time it was Cook who got away cleanly followed by Tim Keen and Mark Russell. Bolland pulled through to second place as the wind piped up downwind and took the lead at half distance. Keen and Russell were still close although being closed down by Sargeant and Hart who were moving through. Bolland extended his lead with another private gust and Cook was secure in second place until being caught on the wrong side of an outrageous shift and then getting caught up with a couple of Vareos at the penultimate windward mark. Sargeant made the most of it and managed to pull through to second in the last half lap. Hart showed his consistency with another 4th. Bolland sat out the last race to watch the England match. Sargeant had a comfortable lead at the first mark which he held to the finish. The race for 2nd place was close though with Cook and Hart in close combat for much of the race, Cook shading it at the finish. 4th place went to Barry Steel rounding off an excellent meeting and showing many a younger sailor the way round in trying conditions. An excellent and exhausting meeting which was enjoyed by all with a refreshing number of new faces making an appearance. The race officer set interesting and challenging courses and the beachmaster ensured we all got in safely. Thanks to all who helped and to Fat Face for the sponsorship.