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The 2009 Phantom Inland Championships sponsored by Speed Sails was held jointly with RS300's and Solutions at Draycote Water sailing club over the weekend of the 16/17th May 2009. Many competitors arrived early on Friday evening for a first evening of drinking & merriment in the "Sundance Bar".

Saturday dawned with a very gusty SSW breeze, a solid Force 4/5 with large, powerful gusts leaving a few experienced competitors ashore & many more who wished they has stayed on dry land. The first race started on time in the blustery winds. The conditions spared no-one and capsizes were just as common at the front of the fleet as the rear. After the end of the first lap, last year's Inland champion Andy Couch lead, with Crispin, Turner & Gulliver making up the leading pack. On the second downwind Couch succumbed to one of the larger gusts in the gybe Gulliver passed Crispin & Turner to take the lead, which he held until the finish with Couch regaining 2nd with Crispin 3rd Turner 4th.

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Race 2 and the conditions hadn't calmed. The leading pack remained unchanged, Turner lead around the first windward mark followed by Couch Gulliver. These 3 quickly pulled away from the chasing pack. On the second windward leg Gulliver again moved into lead, leaving the others in a tough battle for 2nd place, only to be completed when Couch had gear failure on the final beat. Gulliver finished first followed by Turner and a rapidly improving Burrell in third.

After the second race the race officers took the decision to postpone due to a lot of boats being on the shore and a very menacing looking storm approaching quickly which left everyone scampering for cover. Once the cloud had passed, discussions ensued and the Phantoms and Solutions decided the free beer was more appealing "than going back out in that". While the RS300's in their wisdom went out for the third race in an increasing breeze.

Saturday night and the new catering team at Draycote were thoroughly tested and a great evening was enjoyed by all.

Sunday dawned with a few more sore heads and what looked like a steadier wind but unfortunately out on the water it was swinging like crazy. Eventually it settled just enough to get into sequence. But as the first start was recalled the hail storm from hell descended upon the fleet and with it a huge direction change round to the west. The wind increased to.., The course reset Race 3 got underway. With slightly lighter winds some new faces appeared at the front including Simon Hawkes James Case. In the end a rapidly improving Couch left it to the final run to move into the lead, a great result as he was in the twenties at the first mark. Hawks finished second with Gulliver Third and Crispin in fourth.

Race 4 and the wind had increased a little from the morning. Turner had a superb start and lead around the first mark, but the ever consistent Couch again moved up from 6th at the first mark taking the lead at the end of the second beat, and proceeding to the finish, followed by Hawkes, Turner and Gulliver.

The final Race (5) and the right hand side of the beat continued to pay dividends Gulliver, Couch Crispin had a monster battle often only separated by feet as the wind gradually increased to force 5, in a last gasp attempt Couch lead around the final windward mark proceeded to the finish line tired, and happy to have again secured the Inland championship trophy. Gulliver (forever the bridesmaid), in second, Crispin in third and Hawkes continuing his much improved day in fourth.

 

1st 1345 Andy Couch Blithfield SC

2nd 1346 Will Gulliver Northampton SC

3rd 1337 Chris Turner Tynemouth SC

4th 1309 Lawrence Crispin Stone SC

5th 1218 Simon Hawkes Wimbleball SC

6th 1301 Allen Burrell Thorpe Bay YC

7th 1243 Paul Lester Chase SC

8th 1324 Neil Fulcher Stone SC

9th 1269 Simon Feilden Hickling Broad SC

10th 1343 Norman Byrd Draycote Water SC

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