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53 svelte athletes turned up at Lyme Regis to contend the 2002 Phantom National Championships, the over-canvassed boat being well suited to the heavier sailor. The class is currently looking in good shape, unlike the sailors, with the Vanderborght boats, now being built out of epoxy giving a lighter, longer-lasting hull, being marketed by Pinnell & Bax.

Several competitors arrived early to sample the conditions, take part in the Wednesday Club race and enjoy the Burgers & Chips available outside a very welcoming and hospitable Lyme Regis Sailing Club.

Friday dawned breezy, Alan Burrell’s wind dance having worked wonders, with a South Westerly 4-5 forecast for the two scheduled races.  Race 1 saw the port end favoured, Nick Beloe went for the pin-end and ended moored up against the boat, leaving Simon Childs and Graham Scott to escape out to the left. Childs led out the race hotly pursued by Alan Burrell who gradually closed the gap, Neil Fulcher holding a steady 3rd. At the reaching finish Childs held off Burrell by a boat length.Beloe's race didn't improve as his mast broke half way up the first beat!

Race 2 followed quickly & Childs/Scott/Fulcher started well at the pin with Burrell/Beloe more conservative. This race gave all the best memories of the week. Champagne sailing with fantastic, full-on reaches down the Lyme waves. Childs led round the first lap but was soon overhauled up-wind by Burrell who stretched away to a comfortable win. Beloe with a new mast rigged started to reel in Childs but just ran out of time to finish third.

Saturday hosted 3 races with the wind having shifted round to the North, blowing off the land.  Race 3 started in a Force 2 with the pin-end continuing to be favoured. Childs & Fulcher again took the start and worked the left hand side of the beat to round the first mark in that order. These two managed to pull away from the fleet and at the finish it was Childs, Fulcher with Burrell grabbing third place late, just ahead of Paul Lovesy.

Race 5 was to prove a tricky one, with the wind shifting considerably off the land.  Fulcher, Beloe and Burrell worked out a small lead while the pack fought a close battle for the minor places.  Beloe managed to lead in to the final triangle until the wind shifted right by some 60 degrees allowing Fulcher through to win, Beloe managed to hold on to second with Graham Scott moving through to third and Phil Argent fourth. Burrell and Childs found some left hand snakes to slide down to finish 10th and 24th respectivel

Race 6 continued the tricky stuff. P Harlow in Big Bear led round the top mark with the usual front runners again having some work to do. Andy Elliot enjoyed the lighter conditions to fight Alan Husk for the lead. Husk led out the second sausage from a recovering Childs, who was passed down the run by a lightweight Beloe. Much to Childs' delight, Husk and Beloe headed off to the finish a lap early and left him to cover Fulcher and Burrell to the finish followed by Elliot, Beloe and Husk ending up 5th / 6th respectively.

Sunday brought another wind direction, North Easterly Force 2-3, and flat water & just what the light-weights didn't want. Childs went into the day 3 points ahead of Fulcher who was 1 point ahead of Burrell, Beloe & Scott a further 7 points behind. However a 24 point discard was already in Childs' bag and any slip would cost dearly.

Race 6 saw a clean getaway for Childs, Beloe and Burrell who led the race out until the wind briefly disappeared on the third beat. Childs held his nerve to hold on to the lead with the consistent lightweight Scott moving through to second ahead of Burrell. At the finish Burrell sneaked past Scott for second with Fulcher in fourth, Beloe slipping to 5th.

This meant Childs had a 5 point cushion over Burrell and 6 points on Fulcher going into the final race of the Championship. A congested pin-end in Race 7 was made worse by a 25 degree shift with 5 seconds to go before the start, however the fleet managed to flick on to Port and get away cleanly. Burrell was buried in the pack and Phil Argent  led the fleet round the windward mark followed by Childs keeping a watchful eye on Fulcher in fourth, sandwiching Beloe. Argent held on to the lead until the final gybe mark with just a reach to the finish, where Childs, Fulcher and Beloe all crept in on new breeze.  However Argent managed to win the final drag race downwind to the finish to become the 4th different race winner of the week. Childs, Fulcher and Beloe following across the line in close attendance.

The day finished in glorious sunshine and the assembled fleet were treated to a fantastic spread of prizes "al fresco" at Lyme Regis Sailing Club.

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