Thanks to Adam Peak( lucky 5th)
The 2014 Phantom Eastern Series sponsored by JJ Boats and Allen Brothers kicked off this weekend at Alton Water. The weekend followed the familiar format at Alton Water of training on the Saturday, kindly provided by the sailors at the front of the fleet, and racing on the Sunday. This format is proving to be very successful with a host of new faces appearing amongst the fleet and some noticeable improvements in speed from the local sailors over the two days.
After the glorious sunshine on Saturday, the drizzle and gusty F3-4 was a surprise for the sailors during the Sunday briefing but fortunately it brightened up just before launching. In the first race Ian Sullivan took a commanding lead and was followed home by John Wayling and Ian Miller. In race two, Ian Sullivan yet again took the win with Andrew Gregory in second after sorting out a few rigging issues from race 1 and Adam Peak just clinching 3rd from John Wayling.
After a quick break for lunch, the race team of Gavin Johnson and Jerry Andrews sent us out for two more, slightly shorter races as by this time the wind was building and some of the fleet had already decided an afternoon of capsizing wasn't for them. Ian Sullivan didn't have it all his own way in the afternoon with a very tight battle between him and Andrew Gregory in Race 3 with Matthew House following closely in 3rd after finding an extra gear in his new boat over lunch! In the final race of the day, Matthew House continued to get faster and took the win closely followed by Andrew Gregory and Chris Roberts. This final race meant that Ian Sullivan won overall, followed by Andrew Gregory and Matthew House.
A special thank you must be made to Ian Miller for organising the event, Johno and the Alton water staff for hosting the event, the cafe staff for the excellent lunchtime service and the sailors who, unable to make the event, leant their boats out to other local sailors.
The next event in the Eastern Series event is on the 3rd and 4th May at Southwold Sailing Club.
1 Ian Sullivan Northampton SC
2 Andrew Gregory NFA
3 Matthew House Royal Harwich YC
4 John Wayling Northampton SC
5 Adam Peak Alton Water Sports Centre
6 Chris Roberts CREEKSEA SC
7 Ian Miller Alton Water Sports Centre
8 Ian Pavey Alton Water Sports Centre
9 Oli Harris Alton Water Sports Centre
10 Julian Woods Walton & Frinton YC
11 Warren Martin Walton & Frinton YC
12 Phil Longley Stone SC
13 Jonathan Pulfer Rollesbury Broad SC
14 Owen Lees Banbury SC
