Phantom Winter Championship at Oxford Sailing Club

Sponsored by Advanced Safety

37 helms were greeted by Oxford Sailing Club with a surprisingly steady force 3 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 1st 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. 1st Andy Couch, 2nd Nick Craig, 3rd 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”, 1st John Wayling, 2nd Nick Craig, 3rd 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. 1st Nick Craig, 2nd Andrew Wilde, 3rd 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 5th Placed Simon Hawkes for helping with the report.

Overall Results: