PHANTOM CLASS ALTON WATER OPEN REPORT
7 visitors joined 5 local boats for the last event in the JJ Boats /allen Eastern travellers series open of the year
We were greeted with a cold 15knt northerly and told by race officer we were racing under rs rules and were allowed to hit marks which some helms soon mastered.
In the 1st race we all set off with the wind shifting all over the place, local hero Bob Portway was first round the windward mark followed by Chris Roberts. Luckily for the rest of us there was a chink in Bobs local knowledge as he charged off to the wrong mark which left Matthew House chasing Chris who he eventually overtook for the win with Chris 2nd and by some luck Paul Church 3rd.
2nd race started in the same pattern , this time Bob made no mistakes and shot of in the lead with his local sparring partner Matthew chasing hard, but just as he was getting close headbutting the mainsheet block and a capsize put paid to any overtaking manoeuvre’s even with his new skills of crashing round marks, Darren pike followed the locals home in third.
3rd race of the day Bob, Chris and Daren contested the first three places eventually finishing in that order.
Sunday dawned with some faces looking a bit bleary eyed after a night in the pub and some of Matts hospitality which I am led to believe involves rum.
The wind was not playing ball though it was light, again from roughly the same direction but getting round the windward mark was like playing snakes and ladders ,the first three boats all from the home club knew how to play Bob 1st, Matthew 2nd and Ian Pavey going well in third,
2nd race was much the same Bob 1st Chris 2nd Matthew 3rd
Last race of the weekend the wind made a brief appearance which made the first beat much more fun Chris took the lead and stayed there followed by Matthew and Ian Miller in 3rd.
Which left the event win for Bob, Matthew 2nd and Chris 3rd
Thanks must go to Alton water for a very professional run event
Winter series starts next week visitors welcome so some of us have left our boats there to see if some the local’s magic will rub off on us.
Paul church 1273
Overall
1 Bob PORTWAY 1334 AWSC 4.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 (5.0) 8.0
2 Matthew House 1432 AWSC 1.0 2.0 (5.0) 2.0 3.0 2.0 10.0
3 Chris Roberts 1395 CREEKSEA SC 2.0 4.0 2.0 (5.0) 2.0 1.0 11.0
4 Daren Pike 1349 ROLLESBY BROAD SC 5.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 (14.0 DNC) 19.0
5 Paul Church 1273 HARLOW BLACKWATER 3.0 6.0 4.0 6.0 (7.0) 4.0 23.0
6 Ian Miller 1305 AWSC (14.0 DNF) 5.0 6.0 8.0 5.0 3.0 27.0
7 Ian Pavey 1279 AWSC 7.0 7.0 (8.0) 3.0 8.0 6.0 31.0
8 Nick Yannakoyorgos 1291 FISHERS GREEN SC 6.0 (8.0) 7.0 7.0 6.0 7.0 33.0
9 Warren Martin 1233 WFYC 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 (10.0) 8.0 44.0
10 Graham Dale-Jones 827 CREEKSEA SC (10.0) 10.0 10.0 10.0 9.0 9.0 48.0
11 Phil Longley 1193 STONE SC 8.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 (14.0 DNC) 52.0
12 Ian Hill 1065 AWSC 12.0 (13.0) 13.0 DSQ 12.0 12.0 10.0 59.0
13 Jonathan Pulfer 1378 RBSC 11.0 12.0 (14.0 DNC) 13.0 13.0 14.0 DNC 63.0
JJ boats / allen Eastern Region Travellers Trophy
The Eastern Region Travellers Trophy races were held on 7 completely different waters ranging from the famous Swallows and Amazons Walton Backwaters to the legandary Creeksea hut.
The title was keenly contested by 42 helms with the tail enders being given the usual encouragement and advise of “Keep it flat”.
The 2016 series will once again see some old favourite venues returning and new ones being added so keep an eye on
http://www.phantomclass.org.uk/ to find out where we will be sailing near you.
