Phantom East Coast Championship at Royal Harwich Yacht Club

Phantom East Coast Championship © Anthony Cullen / www.photographicday.com

Phantom East Coast Championship © Anthony Cullen / www.photographicday.com

This year the East Coast Championship was held at Royal Harwich Yacht Club, who had kindly invited the Phantom Fleet to attend as part of their annual Smugglers Trophy Event.

A number of the fleet arrived early on the Friday evening to join some of the PSYCO members (Phantom Sailors Yacht Cruising Organisation) aboard yachts moored at both Royal Harwich and Woolvestone Marina. Following much merriment, a diet of beer, cupcakes and the odd rum and coke, the fleet turned in remarkable early to gain much needed rest before the day ahead.

Saturday brought bright sunshine, a gentle force 3 from the south east, and 11 fit sailors and 1 recovering from a bad back, apparently as a result of his toil during the week. At the briefing the race officer Gordon indicated that he had arranged to set 2 separate race areas, one for the Wayfarers and Handicap fleets and the other for the Phantoms and National 12s. He also warned of the local rule of racing being prohibited within the launching area, this was later to catch some victims from the Phantom's.

Race one started on a trapezoid course with the windward mark set just off the Butt and Oyster pub at Pin Mill this was obviously done to encourage the Phantoms to get away early, drawn in by the smell of the beer also exuding directly to windward. Initially it looked as though the pin end of the line would pay as Bob Portway and Ian (Windy) Miller looked to pull away and cross the fleet, however John (Titch) Wayling had also had a good beat on the opposite side of the track, and Matt House had got some good fortune and was lifted into the mark having been crossed by the previously mentioned. At the mark, Titch led Matt and Windy around and on to the first reach. Down the next 3 legs odd positions changed, though Matt appeared to be the quickest of all down the reaches. On the second beat Windy managed to sail himself down the pan while Ian Pavey and Paul Church picked the left side of the course and put themselves in contention for a podium finish. By the final leg and to the finish it was Matt 1st, Titch 2nd and Paul 3rd.

By race 2 the wind had built to a force 4 with significant gusts coming through to catch out the unwary. The RO had also changed the course to a Triangle, Sausage course to provide a little variety and some excellent reaches for the Phantoms. This time the fleet spread evenly across the line, leading to the bunch arriving at the top mark together. Warren (Thumper) Martin was in the mix with Matt leading, Thumper 2nd with Titch and Paul in close attendance. On the second lap Paul unfortunately suffered a kicker failure, that took him out of the race, Bob Portway had taken the opportunity to pull past Thumper, leaving a 1.2.3, of Titch, Matt and Bob. There had been a number of capsizes due to the gusty conditions and hence by race 3 a depletion of the fleet.

Race 3 was on the same Triangle, Sausage course though the tide was due to turn part way through the race. It was down to who could judge where and when the tide that would gain the best advantage. It appeared the local Matt House had used his knowledge to push for the front, but this would evaporate as he tripped up at the gybe mark, to let Titch, Paul and most of the remainder of the fleet through. On the second lap, a late capsize by Nick let both Thumper and Windy through leaving the podium spots to Paul 1st, Titch 2nd, and Bob 3rd. It was going to make the second day of racing interesting having had 3 different jockies in 1st place. The fleet retired to the shore for well earned sustenance.

Joined by the PHWAGs the fleet triumphed in the smugglers quiz, particularly assisted by Radio 4 listener Thumper. We were then provided an excellent meal by Royal Harwich before returning to the PYSCO yachts for a nightcap before bed.

Sunday dawned bright, having had heavy rain overnight (according to Nick and Thumper who had spent a restless night in the back of their cars). The wind had died to nothing and the forecast did not promise much more. The first race of the morning was to be a pursuit race (not part of the series) followed by 2 further races. What wind there was came from the East with a flooding tide. Windy had decided to retire from the pursuit race before getting on the water, as he had predicted this would be a bit of a drifter. The Phantoms started last in the pursuit and it was a matter of who drifted fastest down to the first mark. On rounding the mark on to a beat against the tide the inevitable was going to happen, Yes.... boats started sailing backwards. There were a number of retirements, though 3 intrepid Phantomers decided to stay on for a chance to win the Sail Medic sponsored gillet. Bob and Paul appeared to have read wind conditions correctly by coming over to the south shore and picking their way between the pontoons, while Titch had gone over to the north shore hoping for the wind to build. Though both Bob and Paul had some distance over Titch on the water they had both fallen foul of the local rule not to sail with the landing area and were hence disqualified, leaving Titch as the winner.

With the likelihood of the wind dropping further and the tide increasing the RO abandoned the racing, so people could get home in good time.

Thanks go to RHYC for their hospitality and holding the event, to Sail Medic for their sponsorship, and to Seamark Nunn who also sponsored some prizes. To Gordon the RO and Matt House for co-ordinating the event.

Overall Results:

Sail Medic Pursuit Race
1st Phantom 1346 John Wayling