You will see that there is a new link in the menu above called the 2010 Nationals Page. This is the one-stop information resource for the 2010 Nationals at Stone SC. On this page you will also find the Notice of Race and the Entry Form.

THE LINK WILL NOT BE LIVE UNTIL 12.00 MIDDAY ON SATURDAY 6TH MARCH 2010

you will get an error page if you click on it before that time. This coincides with the release of the entry forms on the Phantom stand at the Dinghy Show.

www.rya.org.uk/racing/charter'

Phantom 2010 Winters Report – Sponsored by Advanced Safety

37 helms were greeted by Oxford Sailing Club with a surprisingly steady f3 and sunshine, unfortunately this ideal weather didn’t last...

Having had our fill of bacon butties, tea and a short briefing we took to the water.

Race 1. The Race Officer set the course; a triangle sausage. All keen to get away, several boats jumped the gun, a general recall and the “Black Flag” followed. The restart saw Olly Hopkins OCS but the rest were away clean, Simon Childs was 1^st to the windward mark followed by Will Gulliver and Andy Couch. As normal the leaders stretched away leaving the rest of the fleet having their own private battles. 1^st Andy Couch, 2^nd Nick Craig, 3^rd Will Gulliver.

Race 2. With a major change in wind direction the course was reset. As we lined up the skies darkened, down came the rain and hail. Staying with the “Black Flag” reduced the number racing by 2 (Crossdale & Cowood) and by the time the leaders Mark Weston and Simon Childs reached the windward mark the skies had cleared and we were into drifting conditions. This mixed the fleet up a bit with usually higher placed sailors stuck in mid fleet and having to concentrate hard to catch the “Drifting Titch”, 1^st John Wayling, 2^nd Nick Craig, 3^rd Andy Couch

Race 3. Again another big wind shift and a complete reset of the course:- (if there had been a fourth race I’m sure we could have used the remaining unused compass point). During the sequence the wind shifted making for an interesting start with a big bunch at the committee boat, with nowhere to go for some they were caught out by the now dreaded “Black Flag” and another 4 headed ashore for an early shower in the warm clubhouse, the remain fleet raced away in a settled f2. First to the windward mark was Nick Craig followed by Mark Weston and Simon Hawkes. Again the leaders stretched the field leaving the rest to hang onto their tails and fight own individual battles. 1^st Nick Craig, 2^nd Andrew Wilde, 3^rd Simon Hawkes.

Thanks go to Mark Weston and Advanced Safety Ltd for their sponsorship, every one at Oxford Sailing Club, and as is now tradition 5^th Placed Simon Hawkes for helping with the report.

Simon Hare 1189

Oxford SC

These are the placings that Phantoms have taken in the big winter events of 2010. I have only listed those in the top 5 so apologies to anyone who finished 6th (except the BM) or below, there are just too many of you to mention. As you can see the class did rather well over the last couple of months

Shustoke Gauntlet

2nd - Andy Couch

Tiger Trophy

3rd - Andrew Wild
5th - Simon Hawkes

Steve Nicholson (Single Hander Fleet)

1st - Andy Couch
2nd - Simon Hawkes
4th - Simon Cowood

Starcross Steamer

1st - Simon Heuson
5th - Simon Hawkes

Bloody Mary

6th - Nick Craig