Fat Face RS300 Circuit at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

The Fat Face RS300 circuit visits Stokes Bay © Eddie Mays

The Fat Face RS300 circuit visits Stokes Bay © Eddie Mays

Fourteen RS300s competed in the fourth round of the FatFace UK racing circuit at Stokes Bay Sailing on the weekend of the 9th-10th June. Undeterred by the prospect of little wind and the choice of attending the Northern Tour event at Combs SC competitors were greeted by glorious sunshine, a glass-like solent and soaring temperatures. Thankfully by the time the fleet launched a nice sea breeze of around 6 knots had appeared from the South East to ensure that racing could get underway.

Race 1 began with a frantic luffing session on the startline which saw homeboys Steve Cook and Cliff Shaw pushed over the line by an eager fleet. Ian Smith and Richard Pelley lead the pack from the windward mark until the run, however rounding the wrong leeward mark allowed Sargent through to 1st and demoted the pair down the fleet. The following run saw Cook claw his way back from a poor start to find some extra pressure down the run and sneak into the lead. Cook retained this lead until the finish to be followed home by Sargent and Richard Pelley in 3rd.

The fleet started race 2 in a more controlled fashion but in a dying breeze. After again putting in a strong performance on the beat Smith and Pelley were able to get out in front for the first few legs of the race. Unfortunately due to the wind shifting 180 degrees and then completely dying the race was abandoned much to the dismay of the early leaders who were but boat lengths away from a finishing boy.

The fleet were able to restart race 2 after a brief pit stop ashore where the deprived leaders were given redress in the form of jammy donuts, kindly provided by Catherine Wood. Cook again lead much of the race but was pushed hard by Sargent and newcomer to the circuit Thorsby, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The sea breeze was definitely dying off by the start of the third race, despite a few gusty moments close tactical racing became the order of the day. Pelley, Phare and Smith chose to sail the left- hand side of the beat to avoid the pack on the right. This seemed to pay off as Cook rounded the top mark first followed by Pelley and Smith. However a devious floating mooring line was to claim its first prey of the weekend by snagging Smith's rudder and stopping him dead, allowing Phare past into 3rd. Phare was then able to slip into 1st on the following run to be followed home by Cook and Pelley. Newcomer Luke Ridout also showed good boat speed in his first 300 open to claim 6th.

Overnight Cook headed the leader board with Sargent in 2nd and Phare in 3rd. However with the Grand RS Ball that evening and similarly fickle conditions forecast for the next day anything could happen.

The next day race 4 kicked off in about 7-10 knots of breeze allowing for some more exciting racing. Two thirds of the fleet took the right hand side with one third favouring the left. Cook again led the pack at the top mark followed closely by Smith, Underwood and Phare. However little did the pack know that something was again lurking below the water……that sly mooring line again! Underwood, Phare and Sir Barry all snagged and stopped dead, however fortunately for the rest of the fleet they were kind enough to sink the line just enough to allow others past. Cook then sailed another successful race claiming 1st but was pushed hard by Sargent and Smith. Chris Hart was rewarded with a 4th after his misfortune in races 2 and 3 where he experienced problems with his mainsheet.

The wind hotted up to a steady force 3 for race 5 to the delight of Alastair Wood, of Bough Beech, who led the fleet away with a fantastic Sir Barry style port tack flyer. Swiftly followed on port up the first beat by Clegg in his first 300 event Wood held onto the lead down the tricky runs to claim first place. Richard Pelley chased hard for 2nd followed by Phil Underwood who earned a well deserved 3rd after showing excellent boatspeed all weekend.

For the final race of the weekend there was no mistaking the starboard bias as the fleet bunched at the committee boat end. Cook somehow escaped the fleet on the first beat to lead the way around the course. Although pushed hard by Sargent, Pelley and Hart Cook again held on for the win with Sargent finishing in 2nd and Pelley in 3rd.

So, overall the Fat Face open at Stokes Bay finished with Cook heading the leaderboard followed by Sargent in 2nd and Pelley in 3rd. The racing was close throughout and it was great to see a number of new faces pushing the regulars all the way round. Despite lacking the lard factor of many of the other B-Rig regulars Clegg put in a fantastic performance at his first open to claim the merit prize. The fact that the class was able to hold two events on the same weekend without diluting either's numbers must also bode well for the prospect of a first 50 boat Nationals in September at Hunstanton. Thanks again to Stokes Bay for hosting such a successful event and to Fat Face for their continued support of this exciting open circuit.

Overall Results: