Phantom Open Meeting 19th / 20th June
Author: Chris Roberts
Sunny weather with a shifty force two breeze greeted 18 Phantom sailors at Creeksea Sailing Club on the River Crouch. The first race was held on a complex up river course requiring a full arms worth of course notes, intended to lead the fleet safely through an Optimist Open meeting also being held on the Crouch. Lawrence Crispin from Stone stamped his authority on the fleet, having kept ahead of Neil Fulcher and Phil Argent all the way round.
The second race followed a similar up river course with a long downwind leg replacing the dog-leg of the first race. Close reaching from the first mark, the fleet now had the yachts of the SailEast weekend to contend with, which were also starting in the vicinity of the second mark. Beating in company with the yachts the Phantom fleet avoided damage and were grateful to be able to turn for home and the downwind leg with the tide. Crispin again showed that he had read the course correctly and scored another win, whilst Phil Argent battled with Neil Fulcher and kept ahead.
Sunday saw a change in conditions with an increasing wind throughout the day. The first race of the day was over a simpler up river course on the flooding tide, and was again dominated by the trio from Stone Sailing Club, with Crispin pulling out a substantial lead and almost catching the race officer out with his speedy return to the finish line.
During the lunch break the wind built up, with strong gusts to force five developing prior to the start of a race, which was held over a shorter triangular course close to the club. This allowed spectators to relish the opportunity to observe Phantoms gybing around the leeward fairway mark with only Elliot obliging with a capsize. The four lap race saw Crispin overhaul early leader Tyler Harmsworth, who was making a guest appearance to sail Fulchers boat, to complete his clean sweep.
The overall results saw Crispin first, Fulcher second and Argent third. First home boat was Roberts in fourth, with Danny Maher winning the Creeksea Classic trophy for the first wooden boat with a tin rig.
Chris Roberts
1st 1176 Lawrence Crispin
2nd 1135 Neil Fulcher
3rd 1110 Phil Argent
4th 1128 Chris Roberts
5th 1113 Rod Thorpe
6th 1066 John Torrance
7th 970 Andrew Mills
8th 1157 Jim Frost
9th 1107 Chris Skedge
10th 1169 Andrew Elliot
11th 941 Danny Maher
12th 946 Ed Maggs
13th 1115 Ken Daniels
14th 1135 Tyler Harmsworth
15th 66 Carol Norris
16th 999 Alan Husk
17th 880 Brian Spurling
18th 922 Noel Sutcliff
