Phantom Open Midland Series at Shustoke
The forecast of little wind and thunderstorms may of put off the usual travelling fleet from attending however the 5 club boats and 1 visitor (Northampton S.C.) that took part in the Phantom open were treated to some close racing. The open was also shared with 22 lasers in very light and fluky winds.
Race 1 - With an extraordinary long line to cater for the 22 lasers, the Phantoms faced a choice of starting at the committee boat end which provided a slight Starboard bias or the pin end which would offer a shorter course to the first mark. Ade Padro chose the pin end and rounded the mark first. Jim Hopton rounded next closely followed and then Mike Webster, Chris Biglin, Brian Wembley and Peter Smith. Jim over took Ade towards the end of the race but failed to capitalise on this with Ade tacking quickly around the leeward mark enabling him to get his bow forwarded of Jim and then benefiting from a slight wind shift.
Mike followed 3rd with Jim, Brian and Peter finishing in quick succession.
Race 2 - Again with a long line, the port end offer the benefit of a shorter distance and a slight bias, something that Chris had clearly spotted as he was seen circling this area well before the start drawing attention to fellow sailors! As such his plan of a clean getaway with a quick port tack was foiled as Mike and Ade decided to join Chris at the port end and Chris was forced to give way to 2 starboard boats when he did tack.
Jim, Brian and Peter opted for a midline start which was looking good up until half way up the beat when a left hand shift left them stranded to the right hand side of the course. This left Mike, Chris and Ade to battle it out for the rest of the race and this is the order they finished in.
Race 3 - With Ade with one win, Mike with one win and a Jim with a second under their belts, the final race would decide who would win the 2019 Phantom open title. With the winds lighting further, it was going to be a test of nerves on who could gain a lead and remain there at the most critic time - the finish line!
The most pivotal moment in the race which decided the outcome of the race and ultimately the overall winner came at the leeward mark as the Mike, Jim and Ade came reaching towards it on port only to see a flotilla of lasers on starboard heading within a few boat lengths of our mark heading towards a mark further down the course. After much dodging, Jim came out worse as his certain overlap over Mike and Ade faded away as we got towards the mark zone. With Mike rounding first he took this advantage all way to the finish line and won the final race and the overall competition. Ade came second, Jim third and Brian 4th.
At prize giving, Mike thanked the race and galley team and commented of the friendly environment we have a Shustoke. He looks forward to coming back next year.
Next stop for the next leg of the Phantom Midland Series is Blithfield 6th October .....
Well done to all those sailing today
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Topic: Midlands Travellers - Shustoke S.C. (Read 1963 times)