Stolen from the Yachts & Yachting website...
Almost perfect sailing conditions and bacon butties greeted the 11 visitors and 4 home boats at the 2nd Delph Phantom open meeting which was held this year alongside an RS300 open. With the wind blowing across the dam wall the first race consisted of a 5 lap marathon lasting almost 1 1/2 hrs for the tail enders. Andy Couch was first away but adjudged to be over the line and was recalled which meant Andy Osborne stormed up the first beat followed by Nick Beloe and the rest of the fleet. Andy Couch now some distance behind went steaming after the leaders and passed them with impressive speed going upwind only to be caught slightly by Nick Beloe on the reaches. Crewsavers Pete Evans had an excellent first race taking 3rd place in his wooden hull proving that wood can still be competitive.
Following an excellent lunch of chili and rice followed by cake made by Mrs. Phantomwebbuddah, and after collaring Tony Cropper and asking him to go easy on the fat boys by reducing the racing time to 50 minutes, the fleet re-convened at the start line. Pete Evans who recently has taken a liking to the colour black was called back following the start but was not given the dreaded black flag and powered his way up the fleet. An impressive sail from Colin Barrie, Richard Simms, Ian Smith and Delph sailor Graham Clow meant plenty of competition mid fleet as well as at the rear. Once again Andy Couch claimed the honours with Beloe and then Barrie. Following a brief shore break the final race started – Couch decided to sit out the race and Beloe took his place at the front followed by Pete Evans and Andrew Osborne which is how the race ended. Tired limbs and cramp forced the retirement of Abel, Brooks, Baycroft and Gordon Banning which meant that Pete Gribbin from Delph stayed the course to finish in 9th.
Is Couch on Nationals winning form? Only time will tell but an impressive sail by the new boy to the class means that he intends to stake his claim firmly at Lyme Regis in September.
The baby phantom, the Red Eye Solution, was also at Delph for an open day and looked highly impressive on the water along side the Phantoms. It got some excellent reviews and was judged by those who were light enough to sail her as "fantastic"! An accident involving an RS300 sailor and another vehicle upon leaving Delph caused probably the most activity of the day when it came to pass that the young lady driver was wearing the most improbably short pair of shorts. I'm pleased to report that the Phantom class lived upto it reputation of being the most friendly class out there with plenty of help on hand including ex firefighter Pete Gribbin who thought his skills may be needed and Graham Clow's son Matthew who went for a look to make a man out of himself!
Overall Results:
1st Andy Couch
2nd Nick Beloe (Northampton)
3rd Pete Evans (Rudyard)
4th Andrew Osborne (Ripon
5th Colin Barrie (Redesmere)
6th Richard Simms (Carsington)
