Cardiff round 5: The weekend of 20-21st August saw the UKFFORC fleet, safety team and ‘new for 2011’ launch vehicle travel to Cardiff Bay in Wales. After paying our tolls to get into Wales we joined the circuit boats for round 5 of the National Championship for what proved to be a weekend of firsts.  Saturday started damp and breezy but the shelter of the barrage ensured racing for all classes went ahead.  Sunday the weather bucked its ideas up for a sunny, but breezy day 2.

In the E1500 class E08 Mick Pritchard and his substitute co-driver Arron Joyce took their first ever 1st place after an exciting battle with E10 after leading the pack in a 2 races.  Unfortunately an extra trip round a buoy meant a subsequent time penalty but after just 10 hours in the boat they are certainly the team to be watching. E99 Stuart Newcombe and Arran Scott achieved their highest ever finish with a 2nd place, well done boys!

In the E900 class 024 Ben Pocknell and Tom Newman made their debut and what a debut it was taking the chequered flag in the last race and also the 1st place trophy for the weekend after 007 experienced technical problems in race 2 meaning valuable lost points.  The boat to be watched for the 2012 series…

In the F400 class the battle of F14, F22, F44 continued with the girls in F40 coming closer every race.  F14 took the 1st place of the weekend, but the National Championship for this class is going to go down to the last race with positions changing every meet.

In the S250 class 2011 is the year of Tobias Adlam in S6 who seems to be untouchable this season whilst S8 Max Coleman achieved his first ever podium.  Well done Max and many more to come.