Results / Fat Face Eurocup Carnac YC - 30/03/2002
Fat Face Eurocup � Carnac, Brittany, 30 March - 1 April
RS200, RS400, RS600, RS700, RS800
The RS Eurocup venue, Carnac, has become renowned for its mixed weather,
not always clement. The early arrivals this year, however, assumed they
had hit the jackpot, when they were met by warm sun, blue sea, and force
3-4 winds. Bliss.
A total of 65 boats, made up of 10 RS200s, 14 RS400s, 14 RS600s, 10
RS700s, and 17 RS800s made the journey, mostly from the UK, but with a
smattering from Switzerland, The Netherlands and France. Well done to
Alan Mackie, who travelled all the way from Scotland!
John Callaghan, Eurocup Rep, who had arranged the event, was one of the
early arrivals, quickly rigging the Racing Snake, and rushing out for the
practice race followed by �trips round the bay�. He was almost not the
first in the bar. This enthusiasm was rectified during the regatta,
however, when he and Danny Girney failed to complete any races. The
Racing Snake did make the occasional appearance, helmed by a holidaying
Sarah Taylor, initially crewed by Emma Jackson, then Jane Norris, who
showed the boat what it is like at the front of the 400 fleet, and
showing a clear transom to their respective partners.
Carnac YC held a practice race late on Friday. The conditions were
perfect � a force 3 wind with sunshine, preparing participants for their
first moules frite and beers at the notorious Square Bar.
Day 1 racing started early afternoon, with 2 races. The sun still shone,
and the wind had dropped to force 2 for Race 1, decreasing somewhat for
Race 2. General confusion reigned regarding the course, especially in
the 600 fleet, who entirely failed to see the replacement mark boat
festooned with flag M, and rounded a random selection of mooring buoys
off La Trinite before rejoining the race course. It didn�t make much
difference since almost 50% of the 600 fleet were OCS anyway. A class
act by all concerned. Other classes managed the confusion slightly
better, and all enjoyed a beautiful sail in sun and wind.
In the 700s, RS600 guru, Paul Bayliss show that he is a quick learner.
Competing in his first 700 Regatta, he pipped Tim Johnson at the finish
with Demo Dave Merchant of LDC in third. In race 2, Johnson
demonstrated his expertise in light wind often trapezing
from what looked like the bowsprit, taking first with Carl Vining in
second and Bayliss third.
The holiday feeling continued into the evening, with the fleet
disappearing to the many excellent restaurants within 5 minutes walk,
converging on the Square Bar, with the stalwarts nightclubbing into the
early hours in the Whiskey Bar. Steve Dunn was heard to remark that, if
the cocktails he had been drinking had had alcohol in them, he would have
been slaughtered, moments before falling over �.
Day 2 comprised 3 races, sailed back to back. The wind had eased to a
gentle force 2, but the sun continued to shine. The start was delayed
for almost an hour with most of the fleet anticipating a day sightseeing
lighthouses & creperies. However, the excellent Race Officer, Jacques,
after finishing the first bottle of vin rouge du R.O, spied a puff, and
got one short and 2 reasonable races in before the wind disappeared
completely.
In the 600 fleet, Ben Willows made a re-acquaintance with his boat after
a winter in the Caribbean. He, Roland Emmans and Ian Jubb all went right
up the beat to cheat the tide and lead the fleet from there on to the
finish, with Ben Willows winning. Races four and five saw consistently
tight results from Matt Chapman and Ian Jubb, with multiple place
changing and very tight starts, although the race officer did not resort
to the black flag.
Race 4 in the 700s didn't go Johnson's way as a very tight reach to the
finish with
Vining on his tail saw Johnson uncharacteristically capsize 10yds short
of the finish line. While this was going on, long term Contender
Campaigner Nigel Walbank stole first,
showing that he will be a real threat once he masters the big blue sail
at the front. Johnson recovered his composure and position at the front
of the fleet in race 5, getting around the windward mark just ahead of
Bayliss and Walbank. With the 800s climbing all over the mid-fleet 700s
at the first leeward mark, an unusually dozy Merchant was t-boned by an
800 when he should have given way. Much blue language and some ingested
salt water later Merchant recovered his capsize and composure to steal a
couple of positions back.
In the 400s, Giles & Heather Chipperfield led the fleet out of the tide
towards the �Dangerous Rockies� in Race 3, while Phil Jackson & Gerard
Baron did the same in the next race. Everyone was winning a race now,
while Nick Craig concentrated on beating Sarah!
Carnac YC hosted a beer, cider & crepe night, followed by the normal
visit to the local hostelries. The writer can�t say exactly what
happened, having retired due to peaking too early on the previous
evening, but the results the next day were truly horrible �.
2 races were scheduled for Day 3, but the 2nd race was cancelled to
ensure that all competitors were off the water in good time to catch
evening ferries home. The final race, therefore, was once again in
gentle wind, with tactics being the name of the game.
Ollie Holden & Sarah Freestone showed the old hands of the 200 fleet a
thing or 2 by wrapping up the event on the last day in a very tense
finish. Jon Lewis/Paula Hall pulled out into a clear lead whilst Ian
Pickard/Laurie Dunn, Steve Dunn/Dottie Cormack, Pete Vincent/Pippa
Williams and Ollie/Sarah swapped positions almost every minute giving new
permutations on overall victory. Ollie gained the vital water at the last
mark to just beat Pete with Ian fourth. This was enough to give them
overall victory by a point even though they were blissfully unaware on
the water. Lewis and Hall had to settle for second, a point ahead of
Ian/Laurie, with Steve/Dottie unusually out of the prizes. RS maestro
Pete Vincent starred more in the evenings than the days, only just making
the last race at all.
In the 400 fleet, �the brothers Grimm�, Chris & Matt Bailey, came
straight to Race 6 from the nightclub, shot off the start line, led the
fleet to the windward mark, then remembered where they were, and slowly &
painfully drifted down the fleet to finish 8th.
In the 600s it was anyone�s event going into the last race with everyone
assuming that Ian �more wind� Jubb would not hold on to his slender lead
in such light airs. Tony Freer did his best to claim overall victory with
a good lead but could only watch as the fortunes of other prize-
contenders varied considerably. Then to the amazement of all, Jubby found
otherwise hidden talents, sailed fast down the run and finished third. A
disbelieving fleet tried hard to make the scores add up differently but
eventually had to admit that Jubby had actually won a light wind regatta.
Whatever next? John Callaghan completing all races at an RS event
perhaps.
The final 700 race saw 6 boats round the windward mark one after the
other with
fleet youngster Lee Albrecht, 18, showing his upwind ability with first
round the mark but moving to 4th by the end. Even sailing newcomer Alan
Mackie managed to be just 5th around the top mark, demonstrating that
with a bit of effort you can move from a Wayfarer to a 700 in one season!
The race finished with Bayliss scoring his second bullet, Walbank second
and Johnson Third.
The prize-giving was a very Gallic affair, with podium presentations,
Easter eggs, and flowers for the ladies! John Callaghan (promoted to RS
Chairman by YC Carnac) thanked the club for their excellent organisation
& hospitality.
A great weekend was had by all, and we all look forward to returning to
Brittany next year.
1 HOLDEN Ollie
FREESTONE Sarah
2 LEWIS Jonathan
HALL Paula
3 PICKARD Ian
DUNN Laurie
4 DUNN Steve
CORNACK Dottie
5 GILLOW Simon
HILL Tracey
6 VINCENT Pete
PIPPA Williams
7 DAVIES Matt
PATTISON Melissa
8 MATTHEWS Simon
MATTHEWS Lucy
9 DAY Babs
NASH Prue
10 ENGLISH Martin
HALL Matt