Island Barn Reservoir Phantom Open 21st April

It was the inaugural Phantom Open for Island Barn that has only in the last 6 months started to build a fleet. There were glimpses of sunshine amongst the clouds as well ominous dark clouds scattered around, which promised gusty conditions. 11 helms took to the start and in race 1 everyone got away cleanly. The fleet spread out, but with the gusts and shifts, places were changing constantly. By the time everyone had settled down, a rather surprised Richard Barker found himself in the lead, which he managed to keep until the last beat when Ian Jay snuck past to take the win.

After lunch the second race didn't start quite so well with a big pack of boats at the committee end with an individual recall for a few boats pushed over. Tim Helmsley got off well, leading at the windward mark, a lead he didn't relinquish until the end despite the conditions getting even more shifty and gusty.

For race 3, the wind decided to give up 30 seconds before the start and on the gun a raft of boats were stuck a long way behind the line. As the wind started to fill people could separate and get away with Jay leading at the first mark. The wind shifts were really making things difficult and on two different beats some of the fleet could lay the windward mark on opposite tacks. Tim Helmsley seemed to be working the shifts well to get into the lead in the middle of the race and eventually took the win.

With two bullets Tim won the Island Barn open, Ian Jay came in 2nd with a 1, 2 and Tim Andrews took the last of the silverware. A good first Open for Island Barn and now it's on the map, hopefully more helms will come next year.