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Phantoms at Island Barn reservoir SC – 8th June 2013

Saturday 8th June saw competitors arriving at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club near Hampton Court for the 5th "Tim Hemsley" Southern Phantom Open sponsored by Monkey Marine and Exmoor Ales. With 15 knots gusting 28 knots forecast by the Met Office and bright sunshine, eleven boats were tempted out onto the water.
The Met Office were spot on and the wind blew (and shifted) all day while the competitors basked in bright sunshine. Following the success of the previous event at Bowmoor SC the four Race series for the day was adopted with one disgard.
Race 1 - The Race Officer, Gareth Griffiths set an ‘Olympic Triangle Sausage’ course which led to some close racing with the wind gusting at around 20 knots and at times shifting 60 degrees causing a number of competitors to take the early bath to windward. Ian Sullivan led the fleet chased by Nick Mason, Mike Tustin and Ian Jay who tried his luck with a ‘port end flyer’ on the start line – and he would have got away with it had he not been headed as he crossed the leading starboard boats. With the shifting wind and gusty conditions positions changed on a number of occasions ending with Ian Sullivan taking the honours followed by Tustin and Mason, who recovered well from a capsize at the windward mark on the first beat.

Race 2 - started with the wind blowing a good twenty knots. Nick Mason fought his way up the first beat crossing Barker, Tustin and Jay to lead round the windward mark where the wind gods smiled favourably sending him out of sight of the other competitors. The battle for the other places continued in testing conditions ending with Jay second, Tustin third (following a swim) and Barker following up in 4th.

The fleet broke for lunch for an hour for the customary abuse and arguments around the table. As usual nothing was resolved in there so it was back to the water for Races 3 and 4.

Race 3 - Started in a strong breeze and the event was still up for grabs. Sullivan, Barker, Mason, Jay and Tustin fought up the beat in the numerous shifts and gusts exchanging places. Mason was caught out at the windward mark when an 80 degree shift put him into windward. Sullivan and Barker took advantage and headed off downwind followed by the rest of the fleet. The racing was close with the first three boats finishing within 30 seconds of each other. Sullivan was first, Barker second and Mason making his way back up to third.
Race 4 – It was more of the same, great wind, warm sunshine and close racing. Once again it was Ian Sullivan, ‘The Beast from the East’ who prevailed taking the win followed by Barker and Mason.
All competitors agreed that Island Barn was a great event with its 122 Acres of Reservoir making for excellent racing conditions. The final results were;
Rank   SailNo   Club   HelmName   R1   R2   R3   R4   Total   Nett
1st   1404   Northampton SC   Ian Sullivan   1.0   (12.0 DNC)   1.0   1.0   15.0   3.0
2nd   1386   Island Barn Reservoir SC   Nick Mason   (3.0)   1.0   3.0   3.0   10.0   7.0
3rd   1289   Island Barn Reservoir SC   Richard Barker   (5.0)   4.0   2.0   2.0   13.0   8.0
4th   1406   Bowmoor   Mike Tustin   2.0   3.0   5.0   (12.0 DNC)   22.0   10.0
5th   1194   Sutton Bingham   Ian Jay   (4.0)   2.0   4.0   4.0   14.0   10.0
6th   1209   Whitefriars SC   Simon Clark   7.0   5.0   (8.0)   5.0   25.0   17.0
7th   1351   Island Barn Reservoir SC   John Oldham   (8.0)   8.0   6.0   6.0   28.0   20.0
8th   1385   Frensham Pond SC   Jeremy Hudson   9.0   6.0   (12.0 DNC)   7.0   34.0   22.0
9th   1277   Lee on Solent SC   Gordon Kingston   10.0   7.0   7.0   (12.0 DNC)   36.0   24.0
10th   1115   Castle Cove SC   Richard Cumberbatch   6.0   (12.0 DNC)   12.0 DNF   12.0 DNF   42.0   30.0
11th   1366   Tewkesbury CSC   Mike Allard   (12.0 DNF)   12.0 DNC   12.0 DNC   12.0 DNC   48.0   36.0