POSH Phantoms at Costa Del Paignton

15 Phantoms converged on Paignton Sailing Club for the inaugural Southern Championships over the weekend of May 12th & 13th. With the current National and Inland National Champions in the entry list, along with a host of top names competition was certain to be red hot. The Phantoms competed on handicap in the fleet along with 13 Contenders and 8 RS600s.

With blue skies and the English Riviera seaside the venue could not be faulted. We launched into a south-easterly F3 onto the trapezoidal course set by the RO. With an orderly start the usual top flight approached the windward mark just as a considerable wind shift turned things topsy-turvy. When all had sorted themselves out and we had reached around several legs the finishing order was Wilde, followed by Couch, Jacobs, and Childs with the rest further down the fleet.

Race 2 started in a fading breeze on the same course. After a less than perfect 1st attempt in race one, Bower finally got his Port flyer start working to perfection, clearing all of the Phantoms by nearly a boat length. With the wind settled but lighter Wilde again showed his talent with an outright win on handicap, again followed home by Couch, Hawkes, Childs and James Dawson, showing good consistency.

With the wind now lighter still, it was away again on the same course for race 3. Bower tried the port tack start again but failed, and then went hard right into a great lift and rounded the windward mark just in front of Wilde and just ahead of Dawson. Wilde then cruised through to the front and Bower just managed to hold off Dawson to the finish of the shortened course. A few of the top names chose an early bar, I mean bath, and sat this one out. I am certain that there was some very close racing at the front but those that were up there need to tell the stories.

After a very good meal provided by the club it was up to the Phantom drinking classes to "get stuck in" The following morning dawned bright and sunny with not much breeze. A few of the class seemed a touch reluctant, allegedly, "Jaeger Bombs", smooth moves on the dance floor, and assorted roundabout journeys to bed may, or may not, have been involved.

After a short delay on the beach, race 4 started in a not strong but increasing easterly. Hawkes now came to the fore winning on handicap, followed by Webster, Dawson and Bower. A few top names were missing from this start As the RO attempted to get race 5 underway the wind swung back and forth through up to 180 degrees leading to a lengthy postponement. The fleets then followed the committee boat around Torbay on a sightseeing tour in an increasing but unstable F3-4. Eventually a course was set and we were underway for race 5. With the increased wind-strength it was harder work up the beats but great fun down the reaches, places changed and a few unlucky souls tested the water temperature. After three laps it was Hawkes 1st Phantom followed by Chris ??????, Jacobs and Dawson, then back to the beach and the help of the trolley dollies.

When all of the results had been calculated, top of this fleet was the RS600 of Peter Nelson, followed by Graham Scott in his Contender, with the consistent James Dawson 3rd overall and the first Phantom in the regatta. After the Phantom results had been extracted from the overall results Simon Hawkes just pips James to the title as Southern Area Champion. Congratulations to James, Simon and all who sailed.

With a great vote of thanks to the RO, Paignton Sailing Club, and all of the helpers, safety boats, galley and all, the verdict of the Phantom fleets is "We'll be back!"

Results after the break

PHANTOM Class

The overall results from the POSH showing that James Dawson was first overall from the Phantoms but due to the numbers involved meant that others carried large discards that weren't there with the extracted Phantom results above. Sorry James but well sailed.

Fleet 2 Fleet

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