Results / Fat Face RS700 Racing Circuit Event WPNSA - 26/08/2006

Fat Face RS700 Circuit, Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy 26th 27th August 2006 The last of this year�s Fat Face racing circuit events took place over the bank holiday weekend of 26th/27th August. A fresh breeze of between 15-20 knots greeted the keen fleet for this final show-down of the 2006 season. In the Gold fleet Andy �PG� Peake & Matt Humphreys had taken it to the wire for the top circuit spot while old master, Andy Irons & the well travelled Andy Holland from Hunstanton were battling it out for the bottom step of the podium. The Silver fleet was even more open with a number of helms needing a good result to complete the series and take the top spot from the current leader Ian Nolan. The racing got under way in overcast conditions with Irons taking first blood leading at the top mark. However an oscillating breeze favoured those who gybe-set on the first downwind leg and it was Peake who edged through to gain best advantage closely followed by Humphries and Koukourakis. Peake seemed to have it in the bag until an unforced error saw him uncharacteristically swim leaving the door open for Humphries, now over his �mal de mer�, to sail to victory in race 1. Portland Harbour gave us some further testing conditions with gusts being recorded up to 30 knots during the next 2 races as the breeze failed to settle. Any lead established was never secure and those following always had a chance to make back ground. Tim Dickinson picked his way best round the second race course as Peake again managed an unforced capsize. Peake hit the front again in race 3 and this time managed to stay there taking a commanding lead into Sunday. For once there was a very serious atmosphere in the club after sailing as the calculators were busy working on the standings, pasta was being consumed and orange juices downed. The fleet clearly had a very quiet Saturday night which didn�t involve beer, nor a monster curry (how many poppadoms?) and carefully avoided the nightclubs which stayed open till 0500. As a result they all emerged on Sunday morning looking at their very best, full of energy and ready for the days battles to commence. Very similar conditions prevailed on Sunday morning with the aches and pains from Saturday (that�s sailing aches and beer pains) still fresh in everyone�s minds. Peake made no mistakes out the traps in race 4 and as hard as Irons tried he couldn�t catch him. Koukourakis and Holland were both on the pace behind the leading pair. By now a pecking order had been established and with the wind still very much around the same 15-20 knots great sailing conditions continued. Peake once again stamped his authority on race 5 with his Eastbourne under-study, Koukourakis, hard on his transom. Irons held a watching brief in 3rd happy to keep his nearest rival Humphries behind him. Peake had done enough for the win and also took the 2006 series title without needing the complete race 6. This was just as well as both he and Koukourakis were a little premature on the line which cost the latter dear in terms of overall position. Jon Heissig showed more like his normal form by winning race 6 while Irons completed his consistent series with another 2nd. In the silver fleet Paul Hayden appeared to be locked together for most of the weekend with Hayden just edging it by a capsize, to not only take the event prize but the silver circuit overall. Gold Fleet 1st Andy �PG� Peake 2nd Andy Irons 3rd Matt Humphries � Rooster Sailing Silver Fleet 1st Paul Hayden 2nd Ian Nolan � Sail4Cancer.org With the wind blowing at 15-20 knots and the sun shining, Weymouth had provided some of the very best sailing conditions which we�ve seen this year. The boats really perform at their best in these conditions making this one of those champagne days which make it all worthwhile. Our thanks go to the event sponsors Fat Face for their continued support and to Rosie and Laurie and their teams at WPNSA for their flawless organisation and race management. The 700 fleet now move into their autumn program with the Tide Ride at Hayling, club opens at Queen Mary and Hayling, the Inlands at Grafham and not to mention the end of year ball at Rutland. If you are interested in finding out more about the class, get in touch via the association website on www.rs-association.com