Phantom class HD Sails and Ceilidh Masts Midland Circuit at Bartley Sailing Club
Bartley Sailing Club hosted 15 Phantoms to the second round of the HD Sails and Ceiledh Masts Midland Circuit. We were greeted with bacon butties and promises of building breeze and glorious sunshine. The wind direction was an unusual easterly, coming over the dam, giving wind shifts of 40 degrees - the joys of inland sailing.
Race starts were at the far end of the pool giving opportunity for a few mishaps along the way. First race saw the fleet spread out across the water with no obvious route up the first beat. Despite this the fleet rounded in quick succession with Mike Webster and Rob Cook with the rest of the fleet following close behind.
As the race progressed Mike kept ahead with Chris Bownes, Mike Tustain and Jim Hopton joining the pack. Chris pulled a blinder (local knowledge) up the beat to get into second; the race finishing with Mike Webster first followed by Chris and Rob.
Race 2 followed on with the wind building and a few more of the fleet getting familiar with the underside of the water. Mike Webster again led the field with Rob, Tom, Jim and Mike T in the chasing pack. Snakes and ladders on the beats with the right side paying handsomely on lap two but teasing and failing to deliver on other occasions. At the finish it was Mike Webster followed by Rob Cook and Tom Gissane.
The third race again saw the fleet spread across the water for the beats, but by this stage Mike Webster's magic touch had been used and he got on the wrong side of the lake. Rob and Tom broke clear of the fleet to duke it out with Rob eventually victorious. The pack had multiple place changes on every beat with places decided in the last 100m, Richard Nurse finishing third on the water with Jim fourth after recovering from an earlier spectacular capsize.
The race management used a classic PY for the older boats giving local sailor Dorian Roe third in the final race. Overall, Mike Webster was the winner with Rob Cook second and Tom Gissane third.
Our thanks to Bartley for an excellent days sailing and look forward to the third round at Northampton for the two day event 4th-5th June.
Overall Results:
by Jim Hopton
28 Apr 17:04 BST24 April 2022
