Hunts Sailing Club Open 2007, St.Ives, Cambridgeshire - 14 April 2007 - Phantom Open Meeting (Eastern Travellers series)
Eighteen Phantom helms found their way to Hunts SC through the fog of a cool, windless morning. While Mark Barrett of the host fleet welcomed the visitors and bacon butties restored their spirits, Race Officer Sam Davy and his Laser team set up a course with well-diverged beats to suit the light and variable wind that developed as the fog cleared.
In the minute before the start of the first race the wind veered about twenty degrees so most of the fleet bunched at the committee boat end. After a hasty conference Sam decided to continue the sequence. When the wind backed during the first beat Richard Parkin of Hunts SC was best placed and built up a lead that no-one seriously challenged. Chris Hibbert, also on home waters, made a good start and finished the first lap in second place. However Chris Sallis of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston SC, having fought through the fleet after a difficult start, overtook Chris Hibbert during the second lap and held onto second place. Similarly Mark Barrett, the Hunts SC fleet captain, worked up from 9th at the end of lap 1 to 4th in lap 2, held to the finish. Rod Thorpe of Creeksea SC in Burnham on Crouch started well but was pushed back into fifth place.
A tentatively planned second morning race was cancelled owing to the light conditions. During the famous Hunts Chilli lunch, with extra raw chilli for those who felt the need, the race management team agreed to simplify the course to give a single beat.
In race 2, Richard Parkin was clearly enjoying the light and fickle breeze (E to NE, occasionally NW, 5-7 knots, gusting 10 knots) more than were some of the heavier helms. By the first mark he had established a strong lead and extended it thereafter to over 90s. David Clarke of Hunts SC lead James Case of Wells SC at the first mark and these two fought throughout the race although Chris Sallis overtook both of them to finish second with James 3rd and David 4th. By the end of the first lap these had opened up a 60m gap ahead of the field lead by Daren Pike of Rollesby Broad SC. Daren was challenged by Simon Fielden of Hickling Broad SC and later by Tim Travis of Alton Water Sports Centre and RAFSA but held 6th position for the last three laps.
Race 3, back to back with 2, started with E-NE winds varying from 3 to 10 knots. The wind backed to NNE briefly before the start then veered so the committee boat end was favoured. Chris Sallis lead at the first mark from Rod Thorpe, Richard Parkin and Chris Hibbert but by the end of the lap Richard was in front. In the last lap Chris Sallis took 2nd place from Chris Roberts of Creeksea SC. Tim Travis, having rounded the first mark in 7th place, moved up two places in the second and thirst laps, finishing 5th.
The fleet became quite spaced out except James Case, Chris Hibbert and Mark Barrett had a lively race for 6th, 7th and 8th positions. By the end of the race the wind was falling even lighter, some holes being only 2 knots.
