Nineteen RS Vareo sailors met at Burghfield SC last weekend.

Race 1 started cleanly in generally light breeze but with strong enough gusts to cause a few capsizes. Close racing was enjoyed by all wherever they were in the fleet as the wind direction meant a tight windward/leeward course across the lake. Matt Moore looked set to win after rounding the final mark but a quick tack by national champion Chris Larr snatched him victory by an inch.

The traditional at BSC hospitality; lunch on the club verandah then so fortified by chilli and other delicacies – the fleet set forth for the second race in an increasing breeze. A slight change of course due to a wind change now left the fleet an interesting challenge – an island almost smack in the midst of the beat/run.

Another wind shift before the start caused most of the fleet OCS at the start and to the first ever RS Vareo general recall. Second time around the fleet was away and this time Martin Barrett won closely followed by Chris Larr with Matt Moore third.

Going in to race 3 Larr seemed best positioned to take the event. But the shifty wind near the windward mark and the difficult tactical decisions led to many place changes throughout the fleet. Dan Partington mastered the conditions to take the race followed by Barrett and Martin Peters with his best result of the day.

After three races each with different winners Moore showed his consistent mastery of the conditions and won the event by two points followed by Partington and Barrett. The Merit Prize was awarded to Nigel Best – who had driven a long way to his first Fat Face event.