Optimum Time Watches Southern Phantom Travellers Series Round 3 at Bowmoor Sailing Club – 14th April

A warm welcome and usual car park banter met visitors and locals to Round 3 at Bowmoor Sailing Club.   The sunshine welcome, the lack of any wind meant discussions of delay abounded.  However as if on demand the 6/8 knots forecast arrived just after completion of the briefing.
The first race started cleanly and Nick Ormam showed his usual speed to win from Alister Morley.  The second start was a little more lively and a number of bangs and bumps resulted in a number of turns and some discussion over lunch.  Nick won again, with local Phil Benn benefitting from the quickening Alister who retired following the start line events.
A very pleasant lunch break was taken and 2 more back to back races held.  Race 3 saw Nick and Alister tangle at the start resulting in the rest of the fleet having a chance.  Ivan Walsh got so far in front the most gave up chasing but he was caught by Alister, Nick and Phil.  The final race saw the whole fleet contesting the final run with Alister staying in front of Nick and Tom Whittington.
Cake, beer and prizes finished a very enjoyable day.
Results
1st Alister Morley     Salcombe Sailing Club
2nd Nick Ormam     Castle Cove Sailing Club
3rd Phil Benn             Bowmoor Sailing Club  

Simon Clark

Eastern Series Fisher Green Open

I would like to congratulate the great people at Fishers Green for their lovely welcome and hospitality.  Fifteen boats took part ranging from a very early woody to the newest Ovington boat.

Bacon rolls on arrival, curry for lunch plus a very nice snacking buffet at the prize giving - the way to any Phantom open event sailor's heart.  All that and some fantastic racing. What a blast!

But it could have all been so different. Not the food and the hospitality, that was a given, but because we arrived to a zephyr of a breeze and a not too promising forecast.

After the bacon rolls and briefing the decision was made to drift out to the course and at least attempt some sort of racing. Then, out of nowhere, wham a good strong southerly which set up a windward leeward course using the full length of the lake.  

Three great races followed.  There were casualties, there was some incidents,  people swam. Most sailors headed out in clothing suitable for a light wind drifter and found the water temperature not to their liking. The sometimes strong and shifting gusts made the beats very interesting with the whole width of the lake opening up for use, islands could be passed on different sides and as I found out by following local Nick Yannakoyoros, there was even a fantastic lifter up the edge of a forest.

Matt House showed that a consistent winter racing regime pays dividends with a convincing double race winning victory.

Bob Portway and Chris Roberts had nothing between them by the end of the day except on count back.

Another great sail was had by the three woodies but unfortunately Ian Simpson lost his forestay so could only complete the first race.

Matt Aldous-Horne was a little too good in his woody 438 and really showed what a well sailed £200 boat could do.  His third race start was textbook stuff and it looked very much as though he would be first round the windward mark.

After the let down of the first round at Island Barn being all but wiped out by the Beast from the East it was great to get going again.  Until the next one at Waveney and Oulton Broad Yacht Club on 9th June thanks to everyone both afloat and ashore that made this a memorable event.  Did I mention I was fifth?

1. Matthew House 1432 Alton Water SC
2. Bob Portway 1334 Alton Water SC
3. Chris Roberts 1395 Creeksea SC
4. Nick Yannakoyoros 1291 Fishers Green SC
5. Eric Howe 1404 Creeksea SC

Optimum Time Watches Southern Phantom Travellers Series Round 3 at Bowmoor Sailing Club

Phantom Open Saturday 14th April. First race approx 11.00am. Entry is on the day from 09h00 with a fee of £15 payable at the registration desk (cash only). The Registration Fee includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll on arrival.

We are expecting fierce competition with some of the fleets top guns entering after this weekends training camp at Castle Cove Weymouth. Great club, huge car park with easy launching into a lake packed with Phantoms !!
See you there

Ivan

Optimum Time Watches Phantom Southern and Eastern Travellers at Island Barn Sailing Club.

Icy roads & snow significantly reduced attendance at this popular joint Southern & Eastern Travellers event. However, three Phantoms  did start without initial mishap in a strong NE wind.

Halfway through race one   Richard Barker's escapade was soon over when his sail shredded in a prolonged heavy gust. After leading throughout John Oldham had to settle for 2nd on Steve's 57th birthday when he chose the wrong finish mark.  Steve who borrowed Ivan Walsh's famous Prawn Star for the event decided to call it a day as his icy mainsheet began slipping through frozen fingers. 

Incredibly, John went on to complete race two & three alone and take the overall win.  A genuine local hero !!  

Sincere thanks to Island Barn for cheerfully putting on this event which was run to their usual high standard in challenging conditions

1st   1351  John Oldham        Island Barn SC

2nd  1300  Steve Popple        Shoreham SC

3rd   1289  Richard Barker     Island Barn SC

2018 Optimum Time Watches Southern Travellers Series

7th March Island Barn ( joint with east region)
17th March Winbleball
14th April Bowmoor
23rd 24th June Lee on Solent
7th 8th July Weymouth
14th 15th July Downs
6th 7th October Salcombe
10th November Burghfield


Optimum Time have kindly sponsored the 2018 Southern Phantom Travellers Series and we have a calendar of 8 events with 4 to count. For the start of the season we have a choice of venues at each end of the region...
Some very nice venues to race and socialize at including a first time visit for the Phantom fleet to the exquisite Salcombe in sunny Devon !!

Island Barn Phantom Open 17th March
Entry Fee £18 to include afternoon cream tea
Welcome and briefing 10.30am (club opens at 9.00am)
Start of first race 11.00hrs
Schedule 4 races, best 3 to count
https://www.islandbarn.org.uk/article/1191/Phantom-Open-meeting-17-March.html

Wimbleball Phantom Open 17th March
Entry Fee £15 to include hot meal
Welcome and briefing not later than 30 minutes before the initial start
Start of first race not before 11.30
http://wimbleballsc.org.uk/pages/Phantom%20notice%20of%20race%202018.pdf

Looking forward to another great season and seeing some new faces travelling, it's how you will improve !!!

PHANTOM EVENTS 2018

Optimum Time Watches Phantom Southern Travellers at Burghfield Sailing Club

By Rob Starling

A light breeze met the 11 who turned up to compete in the Phantom Open hosted at Burghfield Sailing Club. 3 local sailors were joined by travellers from across the south, several keen to secure a top position in this the final event in the Southern Phantom Traveller Series.

In keeping with other classes to visit Burghfield this year, the Sprint Race format was used. Quick fire racing with races of around 20 minutes each. This format certainly puts an emphasis on a good start, (great practice for the big fleet events in the calendar) but equally good tight racing through to the end.

In total 7 races were run, perhaps it could have been more, but the wind was fickle and the Race Officer did a sterling job in testing conditions.

The first bullet of the day went to ex Phantom sailor Doug Powell, who’d borrowed Alex Reeve’s old boat for the day, (and is still getting used to his new one), with series leader Nick Orman coming in 2nd.

The conditions for the 2nd race were the lightest of all, but saw another local sailor Rob Starling take the bullet, with Simon Hawkes coming in 2nd. At one point Nick was seen heading back to shore, on the edge of calling it a day, but just at the last minute the wind picked up slightly. Good news for him as he rolled in with a win in the 3rd with Doug coming in 2nd.

What Spinach is to Popeye , Carbs are to Hawke’s, because after lunch the surge began. 3 of the 4 races were wins, with Starling taking the other. The final positions saw Hawkes take top prize and getting his name on the trophy , again. With Starling, Powell and Orman taking up the next 3 places.

A special mention has to go to the Sea sailors who made the trip inland on a light and testing day. The final results reflect that they all mixed it up interchanging results throughout the day and keeping the racing tight throughout the fleet.

Optimum Time Watches Southern Phantom travellers Series Round 10 at Burghfield Sailing Club on the Saturday 11th November

Saturday 11 November marks the last event in the 2017 Phantom Southern Series, hosted by Burghfield Sailing Club.

There’s still much to be decided in the series, with even series leader Nick Orman not being safe, should Chris Shelton make the long trip across country or Paul Birbeck score a top finish.

Last year’s champ, Ivan Walsh, is presently third but he could also come under threat for the last berth on the rostrum by a number of competitors, including his very own club mate, Steve Popple – Who will get the bragging rights.

The first race will start at 10.30, with a briefing set for 9.45. Further information can be found on the Burghfield website, including the ability to register early and enjoy a reduced entry price. 

Optimum Time Watches Phantom Southern Travellers at Bowmoor Sailing Club

Fifteen boats attended the Phantom Open at Bowmoor SC on the 14th October, 10 visitors and 5 from Bowmoor. It was an overcast day with winds oscillating between 5 and 10 mph with plenty of direction changes.

All 3 races got away first time and in Race 1, Olly Hopkins (Bowmoor) was first to the windward mark followed by Jim Hopton (Shustoke) and Dean Griffiths (Bowmoor). It was a close tussle at the front but Jim dropped back when he infringed at the windward mark and had to do a 720. Mike Tustin (Bowmoor) then established a clear lead with Dean and Olly battling for second place. On the last lap Dean went high and was passed by Tom Whittingham (Bowmoor) and Pete Barnstable (Sutton Bingham) who both got a nice gust while Dean was in a wind free area.
For Race 2 Nick Orman (Castle Cove) got an excellent Start on the pin end and was first to the windward mark followed by Leigh Riddell (Broadwater SC) and Jim Hopton. Jim went into the lead and stayed there until the end followed by Nick and Mike Tustin.

Read more: Optimum Time Watches Phantom Southern Travellers at Bowmoor Sailing Club