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Phantom East Coast Championship at Burnham Week 2022

by Chris Roberts 7 Sep 06:39 BST27-29 August 2022

Phantoms from the air at Burnham Week 2022 © Roger Mant

The three-day Bank Holiday weekend is the start of Burnham Week and the Phantoms race as a class with a fleet start to compete for their East Coast Championship.

Winds were forecast to initially be from the North but were mainly from the East, with occasional swings and a somewhat blustery force four and above. The first two days of racing were sailed from the Burnham Sailing Club line on courses that ensured Quay based spectators could enjoy the sight of these powerful dinghies racing. The final day saw a reversion to the Pile House Committee boat starts with courses being the more traditional downriver racing including the River Roach.

In addition to a strong entry from the local Creeksea SC fleet, visitors came from Lee-on-Solent, Royal Harwich and Ardleigh Sailing Club. The close proximity of the event to the forthcoming National Championships may have reduced entries but those that took part were firmly of the opinion that with boats and bodies tested to the maximum this was the best form of preparation.

 (left) Graham Dale-Jones in his Phantom at Burnham Week 2022 ©Alan Hanna                                                    (right) Mark Spruce in his Phantom at Burnham Week 2022 ©Alan Hanna

And so on to the racing. Day one saw Bill Taylor put down a marker with a great start but he was unable to hold off Bob Portway who took the win after a ding dong battle with Taylor. A delighted Warren Martin took third place after Roberts picked up weed and almost capsized close to the finish letting Matt House through for fourth place.

Taylor again started well in race 2 and had a convincing win ahead of House and Portway. The run to the finish was however a classic Burnham dilemma of choosing either the North or South Shore. House was keeping a close eye on Roberts who had reached over to the North shore to avoid the tide. Taylor kept his cool though to win on the South shore and Roberts failed to receive a finishing gun as he and Warren Martin had been judged to be OCS. House took second having benefited from heading to the town shore whilst Portway took third having followed Taylor on the South bank with the rest of the fleet.

 (left) Chris Roberts in his Phantom on Burnham Week 2022 Day 1 ©Alan Hanna                                                (right) Bill Taylor in his Phantom on Burnham Week 2022 Day 3 ©Alan Hanna

That evening a barbecue was hosted by Spruce and Taylor in the motorhome corral and the local delights of local butchers were sampled by the fleet. Anxious to avoid temptation and maintain his lead Taylor was seen to be drinking non-alcoholic beverages and the fleet knew that tomorrow was going to be hard work.

Day 2 saw a slight tweak to the courses with a figure of eight course being set that allowed the fleet to show their reaching speed with a fantastic cross river reach to a dumpy mark laid off the town Quay. The beats were shorted which was a relief as the previous days had been over a mile and a half against a flooding tide.

Taylor revelled in the strong breeze to take two wins with second places being shared between Portway and House.

By now it was fairly clear that Taylor could wrap the event up with only one decent result required on the final day but the change of course and race area seemed likely to present a chance to Portway who has form at performing under pressure.

The first race produced a surprise for the local boats when visitors Spruce and Portway started at the pin end of the line and powered ahead of those that had started lower down the line in the hope of getting to the North shore sooner. Spruce looked comfortable on this new course and tore off across the river to reach into and out of the River Roach before the run back to the line. House took a clear second ahead of Taylor.

Taylor had achieved a great result that looked likely to seal the Championship having capsized on the first short tacking beat, hit a mark but recovered well to pull back through the fleet.

Rather than rest on his laurels and perhaps mindful of Portways determination he stayed out on the course to complete the final race. Making no mistakes he won this race as well and Portway had to be content with a second place in the race and the series overall.

Bill Taylor Phantom East Coast Champion at Burnham Week 2022 ©Alan Hanna

At the prize-giving a huge cheer greeted the ever popular Bill Taylor when he was awarded the bespoke trophy that was originally conceived by his late club mate John Torrance and donated by the late Kim Allen of Allen Bros.

The next and final event in the Eastern Series was scheduled to be held at Ardleigh Sailing Club in October however water levels are such that it is likely that an alternative venue will be found.

The fleet now looks forward to their National Championships at Lyme Regis SC over 16th-18th September.

Overall Results:

 

 

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Phantom Open at Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club

by Mark Spruce 10 Aug 22:04 BST   6-7 August 2022

"That was the week(end) that was!"

The weather forecast was, shall we say, less than ideal. With high pressure centred firmly over the UK the weather charts showed not a single isobar in sight! With very light Northerly gradient winds the omens weren't good for thermal breezes from either of the usual directions.

How often have we heard it? "It's not normally like this here!"

However, the sun shone and the race officer was having none of it and started the 12-boat fleet off on-time on their triangle - sausage course, deciding he could always scrap it if it turned inside out. Instead, the fleet enjoyed light 4 - 6 knot winds oscillating from the off shore gradient NW to a light WSW thermal breeze. At times, the breeze blew from all points of the compass, occasionally in the same 100square meters of water at the same time but as shifty as it was, three good races were completed.

Not everyone had a good day, the heavyweights struggled and it was an eyes out of the boat on a swivel head kind of day but as always, the good sailors made less bad decisions than the rest and rose to the top with consistent sailing. Perceived wisdom is you can't win a regatta on the first day but you can lose it and after the first day, the top sailors had kept themselves firmly in contention.

A day for "Little & Large"

As the fleet came ashore after the first day, Martin Watts (at 6ft 4" and 115kg) led with 5 points, 1 point ahead of class stalwart John 'Titch' Wayling (who, as the name suggests, is not 6ft 4" and 115kg!).

Nigel King and Chris Shelton filled 3rd and 4th and Rob Starling brought his inland Burghfield SC gravel pit skills to the fore to sit in 5th.

This event was shared with the Contenders and the Solution Class (who were sailing their National Championships). It made for a great social mix at the event dinner in the club house that evening - the lantern was swung, the rum bottle tops thrown away and discussion topics ranged from boat tuning tips, how to solve falling numbers at post-covid dinghy events, how we learnt to sail (more extreme than Monty Python's Yorkshire Men sketch that!) and rash statements made "Only one more" when the shots appeared later in the evening!

A lot of happy sailors retired to their bunks ready to do battle on Sunday morning.

Sunday brought a light gradient NE and the RO let us all know he was starting on time. He had 4knots of breeze and time & tide waits for no man - or Phantom Sailor!

Three great races were sailed in the sunshine and the overall results started to take shape.

Race 4 was sailed in a more consistent, building 6-8 knot ESE thermal breeze. A late shift brought port bias to the start line allowing Pete Harlow from Lilliput SC in Poole to pull off the perfect start, crossing the fleet from the pin on port tack straight off the line! Chapeau my friend.

Titch Wayling took the gun to share the overall lead with Martin Watts (2nd) closely followed by Chris Shelton and Nigel King.

In Race 5, the breeze built up to 10-12 knots, sparkling waves and white caps, champagne sailing conditions and full hiking conditions for the Phantoms.. Mark Spruce won the pin and led at the first mark from Titch Wayling and Martin Watts. He held them off on the first triangle but they both slid ahead with Martin demonstrating superb power and fitness to build an impressive 100m lead after the second beat. By the end, Nigel King powered through to second pushing Titch Wayling to 3rd to upset the top of the leader board. Mark Spruce held onto 4th ahead of Chris Shelton in 5th.

The wind eased to 8-10knots for Race 6, the last of the day. Martin Watts had built a comfortable (?) 2point overall lead over Titch Wayling with Nigel King a further 3 points behind so, in these lighter conditions, it was all to play for.

In an impressive display, Martin Watts came off the middle of the line to power to an impressive win with John Wayling, Chris Shelton and Nigel King filling the remaining places. On the very last short beat from the leeward mark to the Finish line the ESE breeze started to shut down to be slowly replaced by the more normal SW sea breeze. The Race officer's intuition and action to start on-time paid off and all three of the day's races were completed on a fair and reasonably consistent race course.

Two different days, two different conditions but 6 races successfully completed in trying conditions for any race team. There were no complaints from the competitors and, as a true test, the best sailors on both days emerged to fill the top of the leader board.

Congratulations to overall winner Martin Watts, an impressive performance and great preparation for the Phantom Nationals in September. John Wayling, Nigel King and Chris Shelton were always up there applying pressure, displaying good consistency over the two days of shifty and light winds.

A race is never over until you cross the finish line and commendation goes to those competitors who stuck at it through all the races, particularly newbies Mark Robinson and Dave Brewster. Both showed big improvement through the two days of racing.

Congratulations also to the Lee on Solent SC Shore and Race teams who ran a very successful two days of sailing and socialising.

The fleet now moves on to Torpoint Mosquito SC regatta just over the Devon border into Cornwall on 20th &21st August and then moves up to the last weekend of Burnham on Crouch Week on the summer Bank Holiday weekend of 27th - 29th August.

The last opportunity for training before the all-important 2022 Phantom Nationals at Lyme Regis on the 16th - 18th September; if you haven't done so already get your entry in now - it's going to be a good one!

Overall Results:

 

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Phantoms at Abersoch Dinghy Week

by Mike Webster 3 Aug 07:00 BST23-29 July 2022

South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary of Dinghy Week this year, I suspect a very different looking regatta to the 70's, where sailing saw an explosion of dinghy designs. It's still great to see so many of the classic fleets at the regatta of which the Phantom is one.

The Phantom Class also had its 50th Anniversary last year which has seen the class grow from strength to strength, modernizing with the usual carbon appendages, epoxy moldings etc. but still keeping its roots and great to see some of the original 'Woodies' and tin rigs still hitting the water on the open circuit.

Abersoch is located on the northern edge of Cardigan Bay jutting out on the end of the Llyn peninsula, which attracts its very own Mediterranean style micro climate. The club is positioned at the end of a mile-long golden sandy beach, adorned by colourful beach huts, overlooking the two islands with the Snowdonia mountains as a back drop across the bay... a sailors' paradise.

The Phantoms arrived in the 'Soch' on Saturday in preparation for the six-day-long regatta commencing the following day. The fleet providing a cross section of the class with a number of the more senior long standing sailors, up and coming stars, a smattering of newbies and a multiple national champion, all supported by their experienced and very helpful shore teams.

A big shout out to the newbies John Harrison from Rudyard Lake SC, John Evans Derwent Water SC and Tom Baker Millington from Ballyhome YC near Belfast Northern Ireland. Great to see so many new faces all keen to learn the ropes from some of the more experienced in the class.

This year saw SCYC mix up the format with two, back-to-back races for each fleet, with the Phantoms taking the midday slot. Plenty of time for the younger end of the fleet's advanced party to set up the beach base camp and empty the boats full of windbreaks, rugs, buckets, spades body boards, kites, deckchairs, frisbies..... did I miss anything? The first task of the day once the main party arrived was of course to build sand castles and dig holes. Despite many request none of the Phantom sailors put themselves forward to be buried alive by the kids... funny that!

The morning allowed lots of time for 'Phantom Group Huddles' with lots of banter and an opportunity to gather go fast sailing techniques and rig tuning settings. Never turn down a tip from Andy Couch in my humble opinion, every day's a school day even for the more experience end of the fleet.

The early part of the week's forecast looked decidedly fruity with 25mph and predicted larger gusts, there was some thought that day one might get binned. But the fleet gathered on the sheltered beach on Sunday morning eagerly looking up to the club for signs of flags. Oh no... was murmured as the fleet were cleared for launch! Once outside the shelter of the sand dunes the full force of the 25 mph run to the starting area wasn't for the faint hearted. The whole fleet were keen to get the regatta underway but some were already doubting their decision to launch.

The Race Officer set a perfect line and windward leg followed by a outer loop trapezoid. Not that anyone cared... looking upwind was a sight to behold, a sea of white horses speckled with distant craft. After a clean start the Phantoms battled the waves and super strong gusts arriving at the windward mark with aching limbs. The top reach was spectacular with Andy Couch - Blithfiled SC leading the pack with Mike Webster - Northampton SC close behind, conferring through the spray where the wing mark might be. With no-one particularly looking forward to the run, some deciding the tighter/safer angle flying off to Barmouth. However the brave soul digging deep saw gains, but others and in Mike's case big losses with spectacular capsizes. Not all made it to the finish, but the six that did deserved a well-earned result, Andy clear ahead in 1st, Oli Hopkins - Bowmoor SC in 2nd and Phil Worth - Delph SC in 3rd.

With the forecast for building breeze to 40mph later in the afternoon the second race didn't go ahead, much to the relief of the competitors.

Day two looked more sailable from the shore, but looks can be deceiving. Again a hairy run to the race course and some sailors decided safety over valour as conditions were as extreme as the first day.

A repeat of the trapezoid course saw Andy showing the fleet some impressive strong wind technique, Mike trying his best to keep upright finishing in 2nd and John H thoroughly enjoying his new Phantom in an impressive 3rd.

The second back-to-back race quickly followed with, yes you've guest it, Andy stretching his legs to a commanding lead, but only after a tussle with Oli now getting his sea-legs, with Mike pushing him all the way, eventually showing that experience outguns youth sometimes.

The tired fleet returned to shore to compare notes and assess damage. Matt Neild - Royal Windermere YC coming off worst with a broken spreader bracket, skilfully making it back to shore spreader-less and a mast in one piece. Mike also had carbon issues resulting in cutting 30mm of the top of the mast!

After the athletic start to the week, day three provided a welcomed moderate breeze, treating the fleet to some classic Abersoch champagne sailing and testing the fleet in more shifty conditions. A general recall showed the intention of the helms, helped by an out-flowing tide pushing boats upwind. Oli showing great pace upwind again leading at the windward mark closely followed by Andy, Phil and Tom 'Hotdog' Gissane - Bowmoor SC now getting into his stride. The downwind legs providing new challenges for some in finding pressure and surfing those waves as the fleet spread out wide. Andy proved his National Championship titles by posting yet another bullet, with Oli taking a well deserved 2nd with Phil and Tom G close behind. But it's not over till the fat lady sings as Mike nipped past on the final reach to the finish to take 3rd.

The second race of the day had some new faces at the front, Phil hitting the corner up the beat pushed him close to Andy at the top mark with Tom G sailing conservatively up the middle shifts saw him in 3rd. Richard Sims - Carsington SC, John E and John H, Oli, Mike battling it out with a close race and Tom BM hanging on to the pack, learning lots on the way. Phil held 2nd behind you know who, Tom G slowed down the last run allowing Mike to pass with a clear reach to the finishing 3rd and Richard wining the middle order over the two Johns.

Clearly the weather front had passed through as day four provided an extended 'Phantom Huddle' on the beach waiting for the wind. It didn't arrive so a welcome relaxing beach day was much appreciated, sampling the many delicious flavours of the local Two Islands ice-cream. Well it would be rude not to!

Finally after an express delivery by Ovington Boats and on beach repair, a much relieved Matt was back on the water, clearly with a point to prove. Both races of the day had the same top three positions Andy 2x bullets, Mike 2 x 2nd and Phil 2x 3rd with Matt punching a 5th and 4th as did Oli and John E pushing into the top five for the first time.

The week had started with extreme conditions but ended with a drifter. The Race Officer decided on an inshore, windward-leeward course through the moorings with a shore based start line. A few decided to take an early shower as the rest of the fleet drifted down to the starting area. The first race being abandoned due to a big left shift, the second race started with Andy and Richard leading at the top mark very closely followed by the drifting pack. As one sailor once said, "There's only two big decisions in life - Mint Choc Chip vs. Raspberry Ripple and which side of the run you take." The fleet spread and Andy and Richard relishing the light airs lead at the bottom mark. One more lap completed showed an impressive clean sweep on bullets by Andy, Mike managing to squeeze past Richard who posted 3rd finishing on a high.

A great week's sailing, learning lots, meeting new and catching up with old friends.... what could be better.

Overall Results:

 

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Phantom Nationals 2022 - Lyme Regis

 

Phantom Nationals (phantomclass.org.uk) ← click the link

Key information:

  • Nationals £190     (Early entry discount to £170, if entry before 5th August) 
  • Payments can be made on each entry form via Paypal 

 

The entry form will need you to complete the necessary information:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Contact information..
  • and importantly age 1st September (for age trophies).

 Location:

 

 

 

 For those that have been waiting, current list updated on 1st August:-

 




 

 

 

 Thanks to Ella Woodhouse for the amazing Artwork. ☺

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Phantom Eastern Series at Royal Harwich Yacht Club

by Peter Sarbutt 21 Jul 15:40 BST

Royal Harwich Yacht Club hosted the latest Eastern Series Phantom open event in conjunction with the annual Smugglers regatta, with a turn out of ten Phantoms. Many of the visiting Creeksea group elected to arrive on the Friday night to sample the culinary and liquid delights of the Butt and Oyster.

Saturday dawned sunny with light winds from the south east, which steadily built throughout the morning ahead of the racing starting shortly after midday with all competitors enjoying Champagne sailing conditions and the picturesque river Orwell.

  

Phantom Eastern Series at Royal Harwich - photo © Pavel Kricka

 

The race officer set a windward leeward course for the first race, with the fleet keeping to the north shore to avoid the rising tide. Visiting sailor Richard Nurse, was closely followed by local sailor Bob Portway as well as Creeksea top guns Chris Roberts and Bill Taylor. Richard held his position for the first race with Chris Roberts in second and Bill Taylor in third. Down the fleet there were regular position changes, some tactical checks of slot gasket and most importantly, close racing enjoyed by all.

The second race was an Olympic course, local knowledge prevailed with a win from Bob, a strong second position by Bill Taylor and third place to Richard.

The third race was back to windward leeward. Now towards the top of the tide, there were some more varied approaches to the upwind and downwind legs and some changes to the top of the tables. Richard dominating the race with Bill with another second and Pete Sarbutt in third after a particular fortunate downwind leg on the last lap.

Racing over, the club enjoyed the hospitality of RHYC for post race dissection and refreshments.


Phantom Eastern Series at Royal Harwich - photo © Pavel Kricka

Sunday morning was a similar start to Saturday with light winds, this and the aroma of bacon sandwiches convinced most of the Phantoms to stay ashore for the pursuit race, with only Bob Portway electing to compete.

The forecast of a building breeze led some of the athletes to decide that two bacon and egg rolls would provide tactical advantage for the afternoon's racing. Ballast consumed, a couple of hours were spent setting up boats whilst hiding in the shade as far as possible.

Fortunately the predicted breeze filled in throughout the morning so Sunday's racing was again held in perfect conditions, with a moderate breeze from the South East with some bigger gusts building through the afternoon to keep the fleet on its toes.

Race 4 was set as a windward leeward and Richard maintained his previous momentum to win a third race, with Bob, nicely warmed up from the pursuit race in second and Bill in third.

Race 5 was a trapezoid course allowing the phantoms to really shine making the reaching legs an exhilarating blast from mark to mark. Richard consolidated his position with another first with Chris and Bob snatching the remaining podium finishes from the rest of the field.

Given the afternoon was pressing on, the final race was a slightly shortened version of the previous trapezoid course. Some of the bigger gusts caught some of the fleet out, with a particularly spectacular capsize to windward at the gybe mark calling short Eric Howe's impressive performance. Gurgled expletives were enjoyed by the boats in close pursuit until they realised they too needed to gybe...

Bill Taylor put in an impressive performance to win, Chris in second and Richard third.

  
 
Phantom Eastern Series at Royal Harwich - photo © Pavel Kricka

A big thank you goes to the RHYC for their welcome and efforts to put on another superb event.

The next Eastern Series event will be at Burnham Week racing for the East Coast Phantom Trophy over the August bank holiday weekend with another strong turnout expected.

 

Phantom Eastern Series at Royal Harwich - photo © Pavel Kricka

 

Overall Results:

 

 

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SE & Eastern Area Phantoms at Broadstairs SC

24th & 25th June 2022

Mark Spruce (Sail No: 1342)

 

Broken boats and broken bodies – what a weekend!

Blue skies, a golden beach and a building 18 – 22knot southerly wind greeted the 9 boats who came to the line for the Saturday afternoon start.

With three races scheduled there was significant apprehension amongst the helms, with at least one newbie doing his first class open and another claiming he only sailed on a muddy creek although I did think that was a little unfair to Burnham on the River Crouch!

The side shore wind over tide was kicking up a significant chop over a nice building southerly swell making it an ideal course for the more “physical “of the Phantom sailors!

Sausage, triangle repeat – for as long as the RO wished to punish us.

The day should have belonged to Mark Spruce who demonstrated good starts and excellent upwind speed to lead the fleet at the top mark in every race. As the wind backed and increased during the afternoon, he spotted the left-hand shift to port tack the entire fleet in Race 3.

After winning Race 1  with a comfortable lead from Bill Taylor and Chris Shelton he decided to take his pet shoulder monkeys sailing for the remaining two races. In Races 2 & 3 Mad Monkey shouted to ease the vang, sheet the main one to one and see how big a lead you could really get! Cautious monkey covered his eyes and hoped for the best but needless to say, all got wet in the following capsizes, resulting in a 5th and retired!

Meanwhile, Chris Shelton kept the pressure on winning both the following two races to lead in the clubhouse with Bill Taylor, Mark Spruce and Tim Denby following behind.

All the sailors enjoyed a really nice evening with a wonderful home cooked meal organised by the sailing club but I’m sad to say that there were so many tired and battered bodies that not enough beer was drunk!

Sunday morning brought even more sunshine and even more wind. The previous days attrition went through the fleet like a scythe. Broken limping sailors turned up to say “no go  - I hurt too much / sore back / legs too stiff / nasty cough”  and watch the three keen racers take to the water. This time it was wind with tide so although the breeze was consistently higher than the day before the sea was less aggressive.

Spruce started where he left off the day before leading at the windward mark in both races and increasing his lead throughout – enough to ware round at the final gybe mark of race 5  as his Cautious Shoulder Monkey finally got a sensible word in!

Chris Shelton should have taken second in Race 4 but a dropped shroud lower just before the first mark – stopping to reattach it meant he snatched a third instead of a second. Sailing fast and under control, he regained second in race 5. Newbie, Al Baker, sailed really well in the very strong conditions to finish with a second and third to pull himself up the overall rankings. A really commendable effort in tough conditions.

The Race Officer finished the event there and after 5 races (1 discard) it was Chris Shelton who took a very deserved win with 7 points (1,1,2,3) followed by Mark Spruce with 8 points (1,1,1,5) and Al Baker in third with        (       ).

Chris thanked Broadstairs Sailing club – run entirely by its very friendly volunteer members for a well run and fun weekend of racing in trying conditions, a sentiment echoed by all at the prize giving.

The Phantom Fleet now moves onto its Inland Championships at Draycote Water SC over the weekend of 9th & 10th July.

This promises to be a very well supported event with a large turnout followed by the Lee on Solent SC Open on the 6th & 7th August.

 

**apologies for the picture quality, possibly due to greasy bacon butty fingers

  

 

 

 

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