Phantom Open at Sutton Bingham Sailing Club

Phantoms at Sutton Bingham © Dave Hill

Phantoms at Sutton Bingham © Dave Hill

The day started misty or foggy with no wind as forecast. The mist did clear quickly to give a bright sunny day with occasional cloud; but the wind still failed to show for the morning. A couple of Phantoms did venture out to test the conditions, and the wind did rise enough to allow near displacement speeds for a spell.

An early lunch was taken, and the first race planned for 13:00 hours. The course set was using the club shore start line (as the wind was correct for this) with windward mark 2 to starboard, 3s, 4p, leeward mark 8s and Fs.

Race 1

By the time the start sequence was under way, the wind died away to a whisper again. The start was clean as the boats were struggling to make the line. After about 90 seconds, the wind slowly filled again from the east and the race was on. Chris Jones (in borrowed Phantom 1105) led for some time, but lost out at the end of the leg to Chris Bottomley and Nick Craig. Chris immediately lost out by tacking from starboard to port and, infringing Nick, had to take a penalty. This released Nick from close competition, and he slowly stretched out a lead by the windward mark on the second lap of 85 seconds. The close battling boats behind were Ian Jay, Nick Orman, Chris Jones, Gavin Young and Chris Bottomley. A lap later, the lead had extended to 135 seconds with the same group chasing. The race was shortened at the end of three laps and the second race started nearly back to back after the last boat had finished.

Race 2 (start 14:00 hours)

The wind was much the same as the first race, and Chris Jones and Nick Craig were in close competition up most of the beat, though Nick managed to pull out 25 seconds in the final 200 metres. Young, Jay, Tony Fastnedge, Bottomley, Barnstable and Orman made up the afterguard. By the leeward mark, Nick had a lead of 75 seconds over Jones & Young with Jay further behind again at 130 seconds. On the next beat, the wind went very light and Craig extended the advantage even further, seeming to have the wind fill in just when he needed it. On the run Craig led by 3-400 metres and was near 8 when a good gust was observed to hit the water with vigour half way between him and the chasing boats. No boats were in a position to take advantage of the wind unfortunately and it may have been a small whirlwind that we get occasionally. A third lap was sailed which gave Young time to get clear of Jones on the last run and Jay close the gap in 4th place.

Race 3 (start 15:00 hours)

Most boats stayed out on the water hoping for another back to back while the wind held. A couple came ashore for sun hats and minor repairs, and then the start sequence started again. Typically, the wind was best between races, and the died again as the time counted down. Nick Orman was deemed over the line and had to restart. Chris Jones again made a cracking start with Craig some way back. The speed of the boats was very slow until the wind gently filled from the southeast. Jones led followed by Gordon Keyworth, Jay, Craig and Orman recovering from his restart. The changed wind then made the leg from 2 to 3 another beat which some helms handled better than others. By the leeward mark Craig trailed Jones by 60 seconds followed by Jay, Orman and Keyworth. The lead two boats stayed within a minute of each other, but the variable wind left those behind them with nothing to work with and they were 3 min 30 sec behind the leader at the top of the third beat. During the last run, the wind went around to the south and then west, making the run a beat with a short run to the finish of a shortened race. Young, in 3rd place, was 6 minutes behind and the places behind him changed dramatically with the different wind direction.

Overall Results:

1st Nick Craig, P1318 (Frensham Pond SC)
2nd Chris Jones, P1105 (Sutton Bingham SC)
3rd Gavin Young, P1285 (Cotswold SC)
4th Ian Jay, P1194 (Sutton Bingham SC)
5th Chris Bottomley, P1348 (Sutton Bingham SC)