Eastern Series Round 3 - Creeksea SC
Phantom Open meeting at Creeksea SC Weekend 19/20 May
A total of 14 boats attended one of the Eastern series unique events with a forecast of dropping wind on the Saturday and a stiff Northerly breeze on the Sunday.
Race 1 started with the flood tide and to much surprise the line was clear as the fleet held back on the fetch up river. The northly breeze made for a follow the leader course with Chris Roberts and Rod Thorpe exchanging the lead on the way round followed by James Jarvey and Matthew House. With the fleet hugging the south shore to make full use of the slack water on the return to the club.
Race 2
The breeze started to drop so the course was course was changed to a simple triangle off the club to provide a beat . Bu now the tide was ebbing and House led to the first two maks followed by Roberts with the rest of the pack close behind. The beat across the tide in very little wind left half the fleet drifting down river to Burnham as the leaders made it to the far bank . It was now four boat race as first Darren Pike led then Roberts and finally Jarvey as fickle puffs came in from every direction. Jarvey led House to the mark followed by Pike and Roberts battleing all the way to the line.
Day 2
Race 3
A dull day with a good breeze met the competitors for the 3rd race but again the wind was across the river so it was a struggle to get a beating leg in.
The fleet was once again starting with the tide but all made a clean start and with the stronger conditions the heavier helms started to come to the front . At the last mark there was confusion as to which mark had been passed, leading to a few boats turning back , leaving Neil Fulcher to take the win from Jarvey and Ian Miller.
Race 4
The course had been changed again for race 4 and the fleet disappeared up river leaving House swimming as the toe strap in a borrowed boat failed. The increasing wind gave Lawrence Crispen his first win followed by Roberts and Marcus Ingrim.
Race 5.
By now it was a strong Notherly breeze and Fulcher powered away from the line being chased the Crispin and House. Crispin passed Fulcher to lead the fleet round with the 1st three positions remaing unaltered. Strong tidal effects on a headland and gusty conditions led to a couple of capsizes but all the fleet returned home in one piece.
Congratulations to James Jarvey to another win (on countback from Chris Roberts) and a big thank you to all at Creeksea SC for a great weekend.
