Fat Face RS Feva Open at Chichester Yacht Club
by Peter Robson 20 Jul 2005 07:37 BST
10 July 2005
Hot weather with a gentle Northerly for the RS Fevas at Chichester © Peter Robson
Hot weather with a gentle Northerly wind greeted the competitors to Chichester’s 2nd Fat Face Feva Open meeting, some coming from afar as Norfolk to sample the delightful sailing in Chichester Harbour.
Nick Colbourne (Race Officer) and his race team set a Figure 8 course, which it was hoped would cope with a fluctuating wind direction. And indeed it had to. Before long the prevailing wind was fighting the Southerly seabreeze, a tug-of-war that lasted all day.
The first start was against the tide, which fortunately kept all the competitors behind the line until the very last second. 5knts of wind, and the battle was on! The choice was between the ‘lake’ on the Port side, (a large area with little tide) or the Starboard bank . Those that favoured the Starboard side won, as more breeze filled in from the left. The Ackroyds rounded first, and proceeded to stamp their authority on the fleet by sailing away to a big margin win. The minor placings regularly changed, with Simon Kitchen and Bethany Robson scraping in ahead of the Ponsford brothers and Rupert Jones-Warner and Nick Robson. Ed and Will Lowe had the misfortune to see their jib fall down just after the start, and had to retire.
Race 2. Nearly slack tide. With the OOD threatening to use the black flag, who would dare to push the line? Several boats looked likely,….and managed to stay the right side until the gun for another perfect start. Rupert Jones-Warner & Nick Robson chose the Starboard side and looked very promising, until… the Ackroyds and Simon Kitchen/Bethany Robson came steaming in from Port! A tough battle was set. All four of the leading boats led at some time, before the Ackroyds pipped all at the finish to secure the Open.
Race 3, and all to play for in the minor placings. Now the tide was pushing the fleet over the line. Everyone was justifiably cautious, and another clean start. First around the windward mark was the Lowes, who then tangled with a Laser2000 and lost their lead. Next round was Rupert J-W, who looked set to sail away from the fleet. However it was not to be. A big hole in the wind opened up, and the fleet caught up. The Ponsfords, smartly assessing the situation, sailed around the fleet to slip into the lead. The Ackroyds, saved from a mid-fleet rounding at the first mark, worked their way up to second place, which they held to the finish. So second overall was taken by the Ponsfords by the slimmest of margins, by winning this final race.
Many thanks to Chichester Yacht Club, who managed to hold the open whilst the club was being substantially rebuilt. Next year we’ll all be back!
Overall Results:
1st: Nathan & Anna Ackroyd 830 Norfolk Broads YC
2nd: James & Mattie Ponsford 375 Chichester YC
3rd: Simon Kitchen & Bethany Robson 937 Chichester YC
4th: Rupert Jones-Warner & Nick Robson 936 Chichester YC