A total of 51 RS200s travelled west for the sixth round of the Fat Face Racing Circuit at Exe SC last weekend 19/7/07
A total of 51 RS200s travelled west for the sixth round of the Fat Face Racing Circuit at Exe SC last weekend.
This was the last event before the Nationals in Tenby and all crews were keen for sea practice, for once the weather gods were smiling on us. It was difficult to imagine better conditions and everyone agreed it was the best racing of the year so far by some distance.
Race 1, Lee and Anne Sydenham soon were through into first to win from Roger Gilbert/Jane Willan and Sarah Allan/Pete Rowley. Race 2 and the breeze was building. Nick Charles/Juliette Kingsnorth jumped from 6th to first to win the race from Gilbert/Willan and Micky Wright/Katy Nichol. Race 3 and the Gilbert/Willan team loved the breeze/sea state to win. Charles/Kingsnorth were second, while Will Storey and Tobytastic rounded off with a third.
The good weather could not last and Sunday dawned wet with an 8-9 knot northerly.
It looked as if Gilbert/Willan would continue on from Saturday and win race 4. Charles/Kingsnorth managed to get by on the second beat, a lead they held to the finish. The Sydenhams got through to second on the final beat and then new local heroine Rosie Sands/Andy Williams claimed third on the final run.
The breeze was lighter for race 5. Trudie Fell/Karen Baker were fast out of the blocks to lead the whole race with Sarah Allan/Pete Rowley in close company in second with Charles/Kingsnorth third.
The breeze was disappearing but just when it looked like the end of the fun an easterly breeze quickly filled in allowing race 6. The Sydenhams led throughout, Gilbert/Willan came in third behind Allan/Rowley. Charles/Kingsnorth won overall by a point.
Rob Janering/Emma Harniman won the Silver division and Tom Winskell/Alex Pickles won the bronze division.
With the Sydenhams, 2004 Champions back on form after Lee’s shoulder injury last year, 2005 National Champions Craig Burlton/Fiona Clark on the entry list and Charles/Kingsnorth clearly on good form there are plenty of challengers for Gilbert’s title at Tenby in five weeks’ time.