Phantoms at Shoreham SC 29th & 30th October
Shoreham Sailing Club hosted the Phantom Class 2011’s final two day Southern Travellers event sponsored by Exmoor Ale at the weekend. The meeting was superbly run by Principal Race Officer Jeff McTaggert and his experienced team. A steady force 4 onshore breeze combined with gentle rollers to create testing but thrilling sailing conditions for an 11 boat fleet that included 6 visitors. Local helm Steve Popple was first out of the blocks leading Tim Andrews and Nick Orman around the windward mark. Orman hit the gybe mark allowing Tyler Harmsworth and Tim Hemsley through to chase the leaders. Popple extended his lead upwind until deciding to clear his rudder of weed without easing the main with the inevitable result. Hemsley was putting Harmsworth under pressure until his outhaul parted company. The final two reaches were flat out and Harmsworth was able to use his local condition knowledge to pass Andrews and take the win, Will Ellison the new owner of ‘Snake hips’ (sorry Snakebite) finished off the top three. Race 2 got underway without delay with Harmsworth leading from the start wasn’t caught. Behind there was a close battle going on between Popple, Andrews and James Dawson who had made the trip down from Pennine SC. After constant place changing Popple took second with Andrews third and Dawson 4th. Race 3 with an increase of wind was again turned around quickly Popple and Andrews were quickest out of the blocks leading round the 1st mark, Popple maintained his concentration and extended to the end Andrews had a comfortable 2nd with Harmsworth clinching 3rd from Orman who finally discovered that testing the water was slow (there’s a nick name there somewhere) with Hemsley returning to take 4th. Competitors returned to shore with big grins and sore legs.
Unfortunately some of the competitors could not stay for the second day which left the remaining helms to enjoy the conditions in another 2 excellently run races by Jeff and his team. Popple was again around the windward mark first but was unable to contain Harmsworth downwind and with Dawson and Hemsley putting the pressure on defended rather than attacked and the finish it was Harmsworth, Popple and Dawson with local Peter Bennet piping Hemsley on the line having read the bias correctly. The 5th and final race was started after a short delay for the finishing club boats. Harmsworth made no mistakes again and led from start to finish, Popple secured his now regular 2nd and Dawson posting another 3rd, Hemsley didn’t make the same mistake again and kept 4th from Bennett. Harmsworth retain the trophy he won last year with Popple 2nd and James Dawson securing 3rd. Hemsley 5th overall was enough to move him up to 2nd in the Southern Series in his first season in the Phantom.
We were grateful for the visitors for supporting this event which was cancelled earlier in the season due to gales. The Phantoms have chosen Shoreham as the venue for their 2013 National Championships which this year attracted 86 boats. Check out
www.shorehamsailing.org. For great sea sailing near you.
1st 1340 Tyler Harmsworth Shoreham SC
2nd 1317 Steve Popple Shoreham SC
3rd James Dawson Pennine SC
4th Tim Andrews Brancaster SC
5th Tim Hemsley Frensham Pond SC
