Results / Gul Winter Championship Chew Valley SC - 10/03/2007

Twenty RS700s turned out for the re-run of the wind cancelled Gul Winter Championships and first Fat Face open meeting of the season. The event was shared with the 600s and 800s, with the 700s sailing the outer loop of the trapezoid course. Race 1 started in a stiff F4 with plenty of gusts and holes caused by the close proximity to the shore. Andy White made the best of a good start to lead at the first windward mark followed by local hero Tim Johnson. Andy Holland rounded next just in front of last years winner Matt Humphreys. On the reach across the top of the course Humphreys dived very low across Holland�s transom in a move that looked strange until the wind shadow from the shore took effect. This allowed Humphreys, sailing in stronger breeze further offshore to slip into third place and close in on the leaders. Andy White gybed early to go left down the run whilst Johnson went right and Humphreys took the middle. Johnson picked the best route and the order at the leeward mark was Johnson followed by Humphreys and White. This order remained the same to the finish despite some tight racing. The second race started in lighter conditions, Johnson won the favoured pin end of the line and led for the first lap. Humphreys was left to chase and at the leeward mark had reduced Johnsons lead to just 5 feet. With the gap from the leading pair to the rest of the fleet nearly 1/3 of a leg it was becoming match race. Humphreys tacked off straight into a hole, Johnson made the most of this building a large lead whilst the rest of the pack closed in on Humphreys. On the final lap the tables were nearly turned when it was Johnson in a hole with Humphreys being lifted into the windward mark but the lead was held and Johnson went on to win by 15 seconds from Humphreys. Nigel Walbank finished in third in front of White who had struggled to break free from the pack all race. The breeze was back up again for the final race of the day. At the windward mark it was Johnson leading with Humphreys trying to tack in front of White to follow. A fluffed tack led to Humphreys having to do circles as White chased after Johnson, this pair pulled out a lead whilst the pack fought behind. Andy Holland was attacking Humphreys for third when he capsized going up-wind. Newcomer to the fleet Phil Dickinson over took Humphreys for third at the last windward mark before gifting it back by capsizing on the gybe. At the finish the order was Johnson from White with Humphreys hanging on for third. After some excellent food in the club and the odd beverage, Sunday dawned with no snow to the relief of many (unlike last year) and more breeze coming straight down the lake allowing a longer course. The first race of the day saw the usual suspects at the front and in the strong conditions Humphreys Johnson and White battled it out at the front, Johnson and Humphreys showed good upwind speed to break clear of White. At the top of the last run Humphreys was just behind and inside Johnson, the breeze really kicked in at this point, Johnson fluffed the gybe allowing Humphreys through into the lead. The bottom reach into the line was barely sailable with capsized boats all over the shop. Humphreys kept it upright to take the win with Johnson recovering to second ahead of White. Race 5 was a master class from Johnson who came out of the blocks well to take the lead which he held until the finish despite a capsize. Humphreys finished second with Dave Smithwhite in third. With these results the top 3 places were decided with Johnson taking a well deserved win from Humphreys in second with White taking third. A depleted fleet took to the start line for the final race of the weekend. Johnson won again but was pushed hard by Nigel Walbank who finished second followed by Dave Smithwhite and Andy Holland. This left Tim Johnson a clear winner from Matt Humphries with Andy White taking the final podium position. In the silver fleet competition was close throughout the weekend with Stuart Riches taking a close win by one point from his Hunstanton club mate Ian Nolan with a new face, Gary Austin from Lancing in 3rd place. Our thanks go to Chew Valley for once again being excellent hosts and to Gul and Fat face for their continued support. The Fat Face circuit next moves onto Lymington Town SC on 14th and 15th of April. See you there. Matt Humphreys