The weekend of the 26^th and 27^th June saw the RS400 fleet travel to Aldeburgh Yacht Club for round 4 of the RS Circuit.  With a gentle east to north east breeze forecasted, playing the shifts and getting out of the strong tide was the order of the weekend for the 18 teams.

Race 1 started with the tide running south.  The majority of the travelling fleet overstood at the 1^st windward mark by a fair way but the familiar faces of Chris and Dan Martin came through to take 1^st place closely chased by Mike Simms and Andrew George.  Locals Stephen and John Fulford claimed 3rd.

Race 2 saw the Martin’s fighting it out with Mike Simms and Andrew George for 1 and 2 again.  With a large wind shift on the final run boats inshore, seeking less tide, were left low on the bottom mark allowing the Fulford’s to soak down on Farbrother and Pinch to take third along with Simmons and Hosken sneaking in for 4^th.  Mike held out to take the win from the Martin’s.

Race 3 started with more breeze and a building choppy sea as the tide turned.  Crews were fully hiking and some were seen reaching for the cunningham!   Mike and Andrew took 1^st place whilst Farbrother and Pinch sailed a solid race to take 2^nd from the Martin’s (possibly too much cunningham Chris?!).

With sailing finished for the day and an increasing shore dump building on the easterly facing beach beers on the terrace were enjoyed by all after the boats were energetically pulled up.  Most stayed at the club for an evening meal followed by more beers in Aldeburgh town.

Sunday dawned misty and breezeless.  The OOD postponed for one hour to see if the mist would clear.  With a slight improvement the decision was made to go out and run 3 short races close to the shore.  By the time we had launched the mist had nearly cleared with a gentle Force 2 from the SE.

With the tide running south for all 3 races today surely inshore out of the tide would pay?  But some local boats had a different opinion.

Both Chris and Dan Martin and Mike Simms and Andrew George started the fourth race well from the pin end.  Farbrother and Pinch sailed an excellent second downwind leg to take the lead by opting for the inshore route.  The Martin’s took second in front of Mike and Andrew.

Race 5 started in a similar gentle breeze to that of Race 4 with some shifts to hook into.  Gavin and Anna Marshall stayed offshore downwind to make the most of a wind shift to favour the starboard gybe.  They held their lead to take 1^st ahead of Mike Simms and Andrew George.  Local boat 1346 of Nick and Alexia Bell sailed a great race to take 3^rd from Paul and Lindy Walker.

With 4 different teams taking 1^st so far the overall win was still undecided.  The Martins were left needing the win in Race 6 to steal the weekend from Mike and Andrew.

With the tide increasing in strength Race 6 started with a general recall.  Once away Paul and Lindy Walker sailed a good 1^st beat to make the fight between Mike/Andrew and Team Martin that bit more interesting.  Taking full advantage of the wind bend further offshore Paul and Lindy went on to take the win with the Martins following behind in 2^nd.  Farbrother and Pinch held off Mike and Andrew to take 3^rd.

In the end Mike Simms and Andrew George held on to the well deserved win with Team Martin in second and Howard Farbrother and Nathan Pinch in 3^rd.  1^st placed AYC boat went to Gavin and Anna Marshall in 4^th overall.

So another great weekend!  Thanks must be given to AYC and the efficient OOD who made a great effort to get all 6 races in.  With Lymington next weekend followed by Hayling soon after numbers are looking good for a bumper turn out at the nationals.