Results / RS700 Fat Face Racing Circuit Hunstanton SC - 23/06/2007

An intermittent light breeze and warm sunshine welcomed the 12 competitors to Hunstanton Sailing Club.  However, keen to get things underway the fleet launched on time and gathered expectantly by the committee boat.  After a short postponement the breeze stabilised and the fleet were able to start race 1.  Heading right towards the ominous dark cloud was clearly the way to go and it was Andy Irons sailing slightly freer than the rest of the fleet who led round the first mark from Andy Holland, these two went on to finish in that order with Matt Humphreys sailing through the fleet on the run to take third. With storm clouds fast approaching the course the race officer had wisely shortened and the fleet dashed for the shore through the thunder, lightning, squalls and torrential rain.

After a further postponement with the fleet relaxing on shore a beautiful force 3 and brilliant sunshine arrived setting the scene for some real champagne sailing. 

Race 2 saw Andy Irons lead the fleet round the top mark with Matt Humphreys hard on his heels, Matt rolled Andy down the run and then lit the afterburners to pull out a substantial lead. Nigel Walbank led the chasing pack and managed to get past Andy before problems at the kite drop let him back through on the penultimate lap.

Race3 started and it was Ian Nolan who picked up a lift on the right to lead into the windward mark followed by Nigel Walbank and the rest of the fleet bunched together.

Nigel took the lead down the run and was chased at the leeward mark by Matt Humphreys, these two pulled out an extensive lead on the rest of the fleet, Nigel won with Matt second and Andy Holland beating chasing pack to third.

The fleet retired to the club which had been magically transformed into a Hawaiian paradise with the aid of some serious bamboo and cardboard palm trees. Everyone enjoyed the gourmet BBQ and the occasional local ale.

Sunday dawned overcast and with a chill in the wind which was blowing steadily from the southwest accompanied by a lumpy sea state to make for fun downwind.  Most of the fleet went left up the beat, Matt Humphreys judged the layline right to take the lead at the top mark which he then extended to a convincing win followed by Andy Irons and Nigel Walbank.  The event was fast becoming a 3 way fight between these three.

It was Nigel Walbank who made the best of the first beat to lead race 5, closely followed by Matt Humphreys. Humphreys was gradually reeling in Walbank until he forgot to unhook whilst tacking and took a quick swim. Andy Irons snuck past Humphreys whilst he was recovering and these 3 places then remained the same until the finish.

Going into race 6 everything was to play for with Matt Humphreys and Andy Irons very close only separated by 2 points.  A port biased line saw most of the fleet queuing up at the pin end. However some late arrival’s decided to barge in, creating mayhem at the pin end. Andy Irons emerged first and popped out to lead the fleet but accompanied by cries of protest.  The race was very unpredictable and shifty with the breeze dying off, Jon Heissig made the move of the day going from nearly last to first on one beat (a move that even he will admit had a lot of luck in it!) Once racing had completed Andy Irons took the sensible option and retired from the race leaving Matt Humphreys the overall winner.

Our thanks go to Fat Face for their continued support and to Hunstanton for their warm welcome.  We were also pleased to greet some new Faces to the circuit and hope that they enjoyed themselves.  Next stop on the circuit is the spiritual home of the RS700, Hayling Island on the 7^th & 8^th of July.  See you there!