Fat Face RS400 Open at Oxford Sailing Club

The weekend of the 18th and 19th of September saw the RS 400 fleet descend on Farmoor Reservoir for the final round of the Fat Face Circuit. With the top positions already decided and a clash with the Southport 24hr many of the top teams stayed away. However with such strength and depth in the 400’s it was still a highly competitive fleet that assembled.

On arrival at Farnmoor, Saturday morning, the conditions looked awesome. White horses as far as the eye could see with clear blue skies above. However, by the time the fleet got afloat the scene had changed a little. The idyllic conditions had evaporated and the fleet had to contend with a patchy and shifty force 1 to 3 under ominously dark skies that had the distinct feeling of winter sailing about them.

Fresh from an impressive fourth at the nationals, Mark and Sam Littlejohn wasted no time in taking up from where they left off. After a good start out of the port end, Littlejohn masterfully picked his way through the 40º wind shifts to arrive at the windward in the top group. Littlejohn found a good wind lane on way back down and built a lead that lasted him to the finish. Steve Venables and Richard Brown were chasing hard but couldn’t keep pace and had to settle for 2nd. John Cooper and Becci Wigley continued an excellent season showing they had the pace to push the top duo and earned a credible third.

In race two it was Venables and Brown’s turn to lead the fleet. By the first windward mark they’d built a significant lead and look set to walk home with an easy victory. However it turns out their sailing ability is significantly better than counting ability as they lead the front four boats on an impromptu lap of honour. RS400 fleet rep Bill Handley knew what was going on though, and made no mistake sailing on from fifth straight to the finish line and took the bullet. Steve Josling and Sarah Richards also enjoyed the unexpected gift to finish second and third. The mistake cost Venables and Littlejohn who came home in 18th and 19th.

In race three Venables and Brown dominated again but this time they had enough fingers and toes to count the laps and sailed on to take the bullet. Littlejohn was again sailing well to finish second. Local duo Paul Hilliar and Toby Ashton finally showed their face at the front of the fleet completing the podium positions in third.

A lack of local accommodation or camping meant that most of the fleet went their separate ways on Saturday night and on Sunday morning it was a remarkably refreshed and sober looking fleet that arrived back.

In race 4 it was Sarah Richards who got the best start and sailed the perfect beat to arrive at the windward mark first. She continued with good pace to extend her lead and looked very comfortable showing the fleet the way round. Unfortunately for Richards on the last run when a win looked in the bag the wind gods had other ideas. A huge wind lane opened up behind her to allow the boats in second and third to sail in a straight line all the way to the finish. Ian Pickard and Sarah Taylor, in second place, must of laughed all the way to finishing line as they sailed through to take the bullet. The 400 fleet really must have a word with themselves to allow that pair to win a race! Mark Littlejohn also crept through to take second and Richards hung on for third.

In race 5 Venables and Brown were back in leading form prior to an unusual capsize on the gybe down wind. This left an incredibly close battle between Hilliar and Littlejohn for first place with tacking and gybing matches on all legs. However, in the end Littlejohns decision to head to the finish line a lap early handed Hilliar an easy win and left Littlejohn fighting the Grimms off to maintain his second place.

In the final race Hilliar lead from start to finish but even with Littlejohn down in 4th it wasn’t enough to snatch overall victory from him. Venables came in 2nd to take third overall with Pickard in 3 third sealing an excellent 4th overall.

Overall Results: