Optimum Time Phantom Southern Travellers at Salcombe Yacht Club

For the second year running the Optimum Time Phantom Southern Traveller Series were at Salcombe Yacht Club for the final event of the season.

And what an absolutely stunning weekend it turned out to be. Wall to wall sunshine, blue skies and the harbour to ourselves, at what is undoubtedly the most picturesque venue on the calendar. Even the seals put in an appearance.

Admittedly, the wind and tide can be 'interesting' at times, but when you make a call and it comes good the rewards are significant. Get it wrong and it can be devastating. I don't think there was a sailor there who doesn't have tales of both. And therein lies the challenge, but until you go there I don't you ever really quite appreciate it. There's a reason other classes flock here.

The weekend started well, with a bit of session in the Victoria on Friday night, and a pub breakfast the following morning to watch England take the Wallabies apart. Perfect.

2 races were held each day, and overnight it was a Salcombe top 4, with Alister Morley, taking two bullets, Paul Ellis with 2 seconds, Chris Cleaves with 2 thirds and Olly Alexander a fourth and a fifth.

This didn't reflect just how close it had been on the water, with places changing constantly, but unsurprisingly the Salcombe boys came out on top when it counted.

Saturday's races were a beat down the estuary to mark 1, and then a long run up the estuary and through 'the bag' to 7, somewhere off towards Kingsbridge. No 40 minute lightweight races in this neck of the woods! Chris Cleaves led for much of the first race, but Alister and Paul eventually overhauled him.

In race two, at 50 yards from the line it looked like a bullet for Paul and a second for Richard Cumberbatch, but Alister still managed to find his way to the front for his second bullet, and Chris took his second third of the day.

Sunday was breezier, and the wind was coming down the estuary instead. In race 3 Alister Morley and Paul Ellis again led the way with Alister and Paul assuming their usual positions of a 1, 2 respectively. Jim Hopton, Richard Cumberbatch and Chris Cleaves were fighting for 3rd. As the breeze increased on the final beat Jim and Richard pulled ahead a little with Richard just taking 3rd on the line.

Race 4 looked like being a repeat of race 3 for Alister and Paul, but Jim was hanging in there. It was all getting rather close on the final beat. The shorten course flag was raised, but a little late for Paul who had already decided to cross the estuary. Jim Hopton snuck the bullet from Alister Morley, the only person to do so all weekend, and Richard benefited from the late shorten course signal to take 3rd from Paul Ellis. Not that either of these events affected Alister and Pauls final scoreline.

Overall Results:

1th Alister Morley (Salcombe)
2th Paul Ellis (Salcombe)
3th Jim Hopton (Shustoke)
4th Richard Cumberbatch (Castle Cove)
5th Chris Cleaves (Salcombe)
6th Olly Alexander (Salcombe)
7th Nick Mason (Island Barn)
8th Dave Patrick (Broadwater)

9th Bruce Hattersly (Salcombe)

All told, it was an outstanding weekends sailing. As one person was heard to say "it's like having a cheeky little summer holiday".

Sincere thanks to both Salcombe Yacht Club for their hospitality and for hosting a great event, and to Optimum Time for their sponsorship.

We'll see you all again next year!

Optimum Time Phantom Southern Traveller Series at Salcombe Yacht Club - Preview

Full details can be found here

https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/222977/Phantoms-at-Salcomber-preview

The Allen Brothers Phantom Nationals from the 6^th to the 8^th September with 52 entries to date and a few names missing who are supposed to be coming who is in the running for the top spots.

Harry Briddon last years winner and very fast especially in the breezey stuff and with the Solent chop he is a strong bet. 

Andy Couch runner up last year and multi times champion in the past. You would be foolish not to believe he will do it again.

Will Gulliver another past champion who also likes a bit of breeze. He will have been having missing training with Titch for a few weeks will that make him slower or quicker?

Ian Stone was the bearded wonder but showed up at POSH earlier in the year clean shaven and 5 stone lighter, this might stop him pulling his boat apart.  After being in the running last year has the bit between his teeth for this year.

Nick Orman (not entered yet but supposed to becoming) always in the running just needs more consistency to put it together.

Martin Watts has had more time this year and with a newer ship should be quick.

Alistair Morley another not yet entered but he is late for everything except around the course in anything below force 5. If it’s a light wind event a real flyer. Winner of POSH fast handicap and he was last to arrive.

Titch Wayling recently been resting due to back problems but is going to see how it goes. Good luck mate.

Ivan Walsh texted your correspondent to say if its light in his new ship Bruce he is flying so I have taken him at his word and included him in the list.

Welcome to Visitors to the fleet

Steve Bolland RS300 God and Dzero previous winner took him a few days last year to work out how to

Make it go. If his memory hasn’t faltered (it probably will have alcohol has that effect) should be quick.

Fernando Gamboa a local Aero 9 sailor from Portugal knows the local tide and chop.

Richard Le Mare another top 300 sailor sailing the Ollie Hopkins fast ship.  Is he here to check up on what Steve’s up to prior to the 300 nationals?

Written by Gordon Kingston-Minnis

Phantom Nationals 6-8 September Lee on Solent Sailing Club

Dates 6-8 September
Lee on Solent Sailing Club
http://www.lossc.co/

Entry £150 - 30% discount so £105 up to 11 August

Enter Here - http://www.phantomclass.org.uk/events/phantom-national-2019-online-entry

Entry includes Friday Saturday meal, Saturday Sunday bacon roll and every competitor gets a momento

Allen is title sponsor

Notice of Race can be viewed here

Unofficial Solent Champs!

Weston Open for Single Handers WOSH 17th &18th August. Us southerners have nothing in the calendar in August. We could declare this the unofficial Solent Champs.

Optimum Time Watches Southern Travellers Round 3

Castle Cove Sailing Club 13th - 14th July
The Phantom fleet will contest round 3 of the southern travellers series as part of the Weymouth Dinghy Regatta and base ourselves at the ever popular Castle Cove Sailing Club for the weekend.
SCHEDULE
Registration will be from 08:30 with a competitors briefing at 10:30 on Saturday 13
th July.
The scheduled time of the first warning signal is 12:55 on Saturday 13
th and 10:25 on Sunday 14
th July.
There are 3 races scheduled each day.
No World cup this year to keep people in the club watching football so expect the fabulous balcony overlooking the bay to be busy in the evening.
There will be an evening meal and a well stocked bar !!
Get your B&B booked now

Eastern Series Creeksea Open 15-16 June 2019

The weekend started early for those that arrived on Friday evening with a BBQ and the chance to sample the free beer that was very generously on offer from the members of Creeksea Sailing Club.  This also played into the hands of those that arrived on Saturday, or those that took it easy in readiness for Burnham-on-Crouch Parkrun Saturday morning!

Saturday dawned with a light breeze and a few heavy heads, having polished a box of the lovely Wibblers Dengie Gold.  With a South West wind forecasted for the Saturday, not the best direct for Creeksea, and increasing strength over Saturday and Sunday, the standard course of Cliff Canewdon was set by PRO Edwin Buckley with a quick dash down river towards Burnham to get an upwind start.

With a flood tide for the first start, there was a battle to be windward boat but also staying out of the main channel of the river, as the fleet set of for Navigation Buoy No.11.  The gusty condition caught some napping with a few capsizes on the way and a few notable fallers at No.11 for the bear away up river.  A fleet of Royal Burnham One Designs, also on the famous Cliff Canewdon course, didn’t help on the long reach down to Cliff, with some constant place changing as the fleet moved passed the RB’s.  Current Eastern Series Champion made the best of the conditions with a first, with local sailor Bill Taylor and Roger Smith taking second and third.

Race 2 followed the same course as race one, but tactics had changed following a turn of the tide.  This race included an extra loop around the top of the course taking in Tony Glaze and Bridgemarsh Buoys, which also meant a gybe mark and some more place changing as people inspected the underside of their phantoms!  The wind continued to increase during the race and left a difficult and long fetch to the finish line with continuous gusts and shifts of the south back of the Crouch.  Bill Taylor was loving the conditions and left the rest of the fleet in his wake for an infatic win and his first Phantom open race win, Titch Wayling returned to form with a second place followed by Clive Morley in third, thanks to capsizes from Bob Portway and Terry Crook as they approached the finish

The standard, excellent Creeksea lunch was served and then a depleted fleet return to the water for the third race of the day.  The same course was followed as race 2, I am sure that lots happened during the race, but I was quite tired by this point and don’t really remember.  Bill took another win followed by Terry and then Roger.

The rest of the day was then spent talking about fetching, capsizing and how much we all like Wibblers Dengie Gold, followed by a stroll into Burnham and an Indian at The Polash, who also happen to sponsor Creeksea Sailing Club!

Sunday dawned and the forecasted wind was already starting to build.  An even smaller fleet took to the water for three back to back races over a new course, with the windward buoy now Tony Glaze, but then a downwind leg and gybe at Cliff, returning to Tony Glaze and a final dash back to the club line.  When the small and selective fleet got to Cliff for the first time of the day, the upwind leg to Tony Glaze was looking very daunting with standing waves and large gusts that challenged the complete fleet.  Everyone really enjoyed the gybe at Cliff with the increased wind from Saturday, with a few sailors checking their centre boards for weed.  Titch found his normal form and won race 4 of the weekend and was followed home by Terry and Warren Martin, who were sailing well in the conditions, however overnight leader Bill was not having such a good day, with problems rounding Cliff.  

Race 5 took a similar pattern with Titch out the front, with just Terry to keep him company and taking second place.  Following a bad start, Clive made his way from the back to take a well-deserved third place.  Local hero Bill, was not enjoying the conditions as much as yesterday and retired following another problem at Cliff.

The sixth and final race of the weekend, got underway with rain clouds gathering over the windward mark!  Titch nailed the start and resumed his normal position at the front of the pack, he was closely followed by local sailors Warren and Roger.  With the rain, came the gusts and the inevitable capsizes on the upwind leg and the gybe mark.  Titch secured his clean sweep for the day and thus taking the event from a disappointed Bill.

Lunch was served in the marquee, with much talk about Cliff Buoy and capsizing.  Creeksea member Graham Dale-Jones was tasked with prize giving duties, Bill Taylor was congratulated with a well-earned second place and a large cheer from the crowd.  Titch was awarded the overall win and presented with an ironic bottle of ‘Taylors’ Port!  During titches winner speech, Titch thanked Creeksea Sailing club for another excellent event, Edwin the PRO and safety boat crews.  Titch also mentioned the un-touchable Bill for his 2 race wins on Saturday.

The Eastern Series circus now moves onto Royal Harwich for another 2 day event over the weekend 20-21 July.