Events Strategy 

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Phantom Eastern Region 2023 in review

by Warren Martin 5 Nov 17:11 GMT

Well, that's a wrap. What a great year we have had in the East having 'phun' in Phantoms. Over the course of the year, 31 competitors took to the water over six events hosted up and down our beautiful East Coast.

The racing took place on rivers, reservoirs and ponds, with each event hosted with aplomb by our great yacht/sailing clubs, where we thank the very kind commodores, race officers, race, safety and galley teams that looked after us so well throughout the season. Unfortunately, our headline sea event at Gorleston was cancelled due to 'inclement' weather, but we hope to make good that visit next year.

Richard Nurse enjoying the gentle patter of wavelets on his hull - Phantom Eastern Series and Smugglers Trophy at Royal Harwich YC - photo © Pavel Kricka

On to the racing. It soon became apparent that this year was a shoot out between top guns Bill "Slayer" Taylor or Billy the bus driver as he is affectionately known, and Richard "Rich" Nurse or "The Titch's Apprentice". Everyone has at least two names on the East coast! These two went at it like bull walruses trading blows in event after event. Billy took Stone and Royal Harwich, whilst Rich dominated the East Coast Championship at the Royal Burnham. Second place wasn't good enough for either of these two aces even though they both had plenty.

The scene was set and the final event at Wavely & Oulton Broad Yacht Club would be the decider, where winner would take all. London Transport intervened and demanded that Billy actually did some work after his professional sailing summer, leaving the door wide open for Rich Nurse to take the spoils or did it? Grand Master Ben Falet once again showed the fleet how to sail in tricky conditions after winning the first event of the season at Ardleigh Reservoir, he dominated the final event with four bullets and two seconds. Even Rich's new white dinghy boots couldn't help as he had to marvel as Ben sailed into the distance in the majority of the races. An event second place for Rich wasn't good enough, an absent Billy would take the spoils.

Creeksea SC Phantom Open - photo © David Chick, Shaun, Graham-Dale Jones, Chris Roberts

What for the minor places? The competition for the last place on the podium was intense with a number of helms able to take third place. Terry Crook had put in a commanding performance at Creeksea, winning the event, and took second place at Stone. Who knows what could have been if he had sailed a few more events. Your author was feeling confident after recently honing his skills on the "Pond of Frustration" in Ardleigh and stepping up his fitness regime. Unfortunately for him, Eric "The Eel" Howe came to the event hungry and put on a fantastic sailing display in his beautiful wooden decked, dropped floor JJ Boats Phantom. Eric took sixth at W&OBYC cementing his well-deserved third place overall - congratulations to the Eel, there is always next year!

I leave my final words for our Champion Billy - our local hero and my co-East Coast Rep. If imitation is the highest form of flattery, I'd like to plagiarise our Phantom Class Editor at Large Mark "Sprucey" Spruce on his comments in his Nationals Runners and Riders article (a must read if you haven't already) "This year Big Bill Taylor from Creeksea is making an appearance. Now a full-time sailor he navigates his Phantom like his red London Routemaster bus - get in his way at your peril!" Congratulations Billy, you are the East Coast Series Champion!!

Bill Taylor wins the Phantom Eastern 2023 - photo © Alan Hanna

Signing off, we look forward to welcoming all East Coast sailors and travellers who would like to sample our hospitality in 2024. Our class is inclusive, it doesn't matter what sort of phantom you sail, it's age or condition. It's been known for our "pit" crew to re-rig boats mid regatta and pass on "the knowledge" of how to sail these magnificent boats faster. If you are lucky, will meet some of our East coast rock star legends: Chris Roberts; Matt House; Graham Dale Jones; Bob Portway and Ben Falet who resemble an aging boy band (more Stones than Take That) and will undoubtably beat you on the water! We have "younger" sailors too, where Terry Crook, Roger Smith and David Nicholls will be happy to show your their transoms. Enjoy your winter sailing wherever you are.

Fair winds,

Warren (aka Thumper, Panther and co-East Coast Rep)

Overall Results:

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Phantom Midland Travellers Open at Burton Sailing Club

by Richard Nurse 13 Oct 16:45 BST8 October 2023

Apologies for missing this one - it was published in Y&Y (but I missed it) - Mike Blunt

The morning of October 8th saw the keen Phantom sailors start arriving at Foremark reservoir for the 2023 Burton Sailing Club, the final event of the Phantom Midland Travellers Trophy.

Unfortunately the wind was not as keen as the sailors. Race Officer Ian Merryfield matched the enthusiasm of the sailors and held his briefing in the sunshine outside the club house at 10:15 as scheduled, but the weather still had not provided the sought after wind, so the decision was taken to hold the fleet ashore until at least one o'clock after lunch.

 Burton SC Phantom Open © Sarah Gay

So the order of the morning was tea and chat. Midday came and went and the fleet enjoyed the lunch. At one o'clock the fleet reconvened and decided to wait just a little longer. At 1:45pm Ian made the call for the fleet to go afloat. At 2:30pm the fleet would be ready for the first start, with most of the fleet assembled at the starboard end, trying not to be over the line in the very light breeze. It would be Adam Froggatt of Chase SC who lead the way round the course, with the breeze building and dropping fairly evenly across the lake.

After a quick reposition of the committee boat the second race would get underway cleanly, and once again it would be Adam that would lead the fleet this time on the windward leeward course.

  Burton SC Phantom Open © Mike Hampton

Unfortunately the wind all but disappeared on the third downwind leg, so the fleet returned for more local hospitality and the prize giving where Adam not only collected the win on the day but the Midland Travellers Series to boot.

Results - Top 10

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Broadwater SC Phantom Open 2023

Report written by Chris Shelton

Photos by John Greaves

YouTube footage by@BSCWeather (posted by Jeremy Deacon) 

Broadwater Sailing Club hosted the final round of the 2023 Phantom South East Traveller Series on Saturday 7th October. The weather was unseasonably warm with a south westerly wind which varied between 3 and 8 mph. 8 visitors joined 7 boats from the home fleet to give a total of 15 boats on the water.

The races were started from a rather short line set between one of the club pontoons and the adjacent island. Getting a good start and mastering the first short beat tended to be critical and a lot of the time it was the boat that was first round the windward mark that went on to win the race. For Race 1 this was Bill Taylor who went on to finish a good way ahead of the fleet. Local sailor Jeremy Deacon was second and Chris Shelton third.

In Race 2 it was Jim Hopton’s turn to get the first beat right and sail away from the rest of the fleet. The wind had dropped slightly for this race and was proving to be very shifty in places and this, together with the wind shadows behind the islands resulted in various place changes during the race. Local knowledge must have paid off, as at the finish it was Jeremy Deacon in second place again and Brian Deacon third.

Race 3 was sailed in very similar conditions to Race 2, and the result was similar. Jim Hopton was again first, Jeremy Deacon second and another Broadwater boat, Tim Davies, third.

The wind had increased slightly for the final race and this time it was Jeremy Deacon first around the windward closely followed by Chris Shelton. These two places remained the same until the finish. Further behind, Bill Taylor was obviously getting too hot and decided to fall out of his boat to cool down. Meanwhile, after a poor first beat, Jim Hopton was working his way through the fleet to eventually finish third.

When the points were tallied up, there was a tie for the first two places, but on count back the winner was Jeremy Deacon. The organisation by Broadwater SC was impeccable and all competitors enjoyed a sandwich tea before travelling home.

Results