Results / Fat Face RS Eurocup La Societe des Regates Rochelaises, La Rochelle, France - 25/07/2005

RS700 Fat Face Euro Cup - Day 1 32 Boats lined up for the start of the RS700 Fat Face Euro Cup today in La Rochelle. Sunshine and a good breeze promise some real champagne quality sailing over the coming weeks. Race 1 started in a sunny force 3 and the fleet got away first time. Steve Butcher chose a mid line start avoiding the bunch at the favoured Committee boat end and powered away to lead round the first mark followed closely by Dave Geal. Pete Greenhalgh found himself buried at the start but quickly tacked off right to find clear air and started working his way back into contention 1. Steve Butcher GBR 2. Pete Greenhalgh GBR 3. Dave Cummings GBR The wind dropped slightly to a force 2 for the second race and this time it was Tim Dickinson who led away from the busy Committee boat end and worked his way up the middle of the beat. Pete Greenhalgh again went right in clear air to follow closely round the windward mark. The RS200 fleet arrived at the mark at the same time and in the confusion Pete went high whilst Tim tried to soak through to leeward which allowed Pete to take a lead which was never challenged. Further back in the fleet Nigel Walbank managed to sail clear of the RS200 fleet and went left on the run pulling up to 3rd by the first leeward mark. He maintained this position throughout the race before finding a little extra boat speed on the last beat to work through to 2nd with Dave Gorridge taking the final position. 1. Pete Greenhalgh GBR 2. Nigel Walbank GBR 3. Dave Gorridge GBR Special mention must go to Nicky Griffin who despite celebrating her birthday until the wee small hours, managed to put in a very credible performance. Ian Nolan