Results / RS Fat Face Racing Circuit Hayling Island SC - 10/09/2005

10 days after the end of the nationals and with no wind forecast for the weekend, the 700�s for the Hayling island open meeting turned out an impressive 30 strong fleet. Following a long postponement the fleet made there way out to Hayling bay in a 5 knot breeze. Matt Humphreys shot off the line in race 1, with Tim Dickenson and Steve Butcher in hot pursuit. This order remained the same at the finish followed by the late recovering Neil Robinson and Andy White. The fleet got away at the second attempt in race 2, with Robinson continuing his tradition of corner banging, hit the right hand side of the course and the front. Dave Smithwhite and Dickinson tussled hard. Robinson extended his lead to the finish with Smithwhite getting the better of Dickinson, White and Ian Mitchell followed. Andy White led off the line in the dying breeze of race 3, to lead at the windward mark. Only challenged by Butcher, White won by a handsome margin, Nicky Griffin, the only lady 700 sailor, finishing third. Robinson recovered well piping Steve Marshall for Fourth. Sunday morning dawned with a 10 knot shifty Northerly breeze across Hayling Bay and with a couple of points separating the top 5 sailor, some great racing was in store. Robinson continued his early form hitting a corner and the lead, to take the first race of the day. Butcher and Lee Albrieght leading home the pack. The sun began to shine over the land as race 4 commenced, causing a drop in the wind speed and huge swings in direction. Butcher and Griffin lead down the first run, as the wind restablished itself Butcher maintained his lead, but Griffin was taken from behind by the 700 sailors ganged up behind her. White recovered well into 2nd, early leader Bob Chaplin 3rd and Ian Swann in 4th. The stage was set for the final race with Butcher needing to keep Robinson close to secure the event. Ian Nolan port tacked the fleet, but it was Humphreys who lead at the windward mark. Robinson and Butcher were neck and neck within the chasing group. But it was Butcher who took the initiative, as Robinson could not resist his natural urge to hit a corner. Humphreys maintained his lead to the finish. Steve Butchers 2nd. Smithwhite followed in 3rd and White 4th.. Steve Butcher impressive consistency gives him a well deserved event win. Neil Robinson piped Andy White on count back, with Matt Humphreys doing the same to Dave Smithwhite for 4th.