Virtual Rigger Phantom Nationals at Sunderland Yacht Club

by Simon Childs & John Wayling 11 Sep 2012 14:31 BST 7-10 September 2012

VR Phantom nationals at Sunderland © Paul Nicholson

The Phantom fleet headed well north over a long weekend 7th to 10th September for their 'Virtual Rigger' sponsored National Championships at Sunderland Yacht Club. With a decent breeze forecast all weekend it looked to be a cracking event and 49 boats made the trip, some getting into the spirit a little early on Wednesday to warm themselves up.

Day 1 was a breezy one to start with; Will Gulliver led the fleet away only to have a little trouble finding the wing mark which was nearer the leeward mark than expected. As the fleet compressed Chris Turner took the lead and Andy Wilde tested the North Sea temperature, a little chilly. Eventually Simon Childs pulled through to lead from local buoy Chris Turner. Some confusion over the finishing procedure and correct flags to fly meant Childs started the final lap, while the rest of the fleet finished. Redress was awarded and Childs/Turner/Simon Potts rounded out the top 3.

Race 2 started in a moderating breeze, and this time after a big shift on the start meaning many couldn't make the pin "VR" Gulliver led the fleet away to win easily, the fleet soon spread out enjoying some great reaches. Wilde took a safe second; the only late drama was Childs sampling the sea, still chilly, while trying to chase down Nick Orman for third on the last run into the finish, recovering to finish sixth.

So Will "I'm not bothered" Gulliver led the fleet after Day 1.

Day 2 and the forecast breeze failed to appear. The fleet drifted around for a couple of hours before heading in for lunch, and headed out later in the day in a 5-8 knot breeze to try and rescue the 3 races planned. Race 3 was a real tussle at the front. Orman and Childs led initially before Gulliver worked through to lead again. However on the last beat, Childs and Turner escaped to the left while Gulliver and Orman opted right. Childs took the lead, and "SS" Simon Hawkes continued his "catch up" game plan with great pace. On a close last run. Childs held on to win from Hawkes and Gulliver.

Surprisingly the remaining races were canned and the fleet sailed in, in the best conditions of the day with the Race Team unable to set a start line to handle the 40 deg shifts and course to their satisfaction.

Will "I'm now officially bothered" Gulliver led the fleet after Day 2, chasing a first Phantom title, and went to bed early, most of the rest of the fleet emptied the rest of the bar stock, including the "Tramps Toe Nails", "Funny Rum" and "Mad Apple", Andy Wilde tried to mend his broken body (back) and the hard core hit the local hostelries and beaches until the early (or fairly late) hours.

Day 3 looked set for decent winds and the showdown between Gulliver, Childs, Hawkes and Wilde for the 2012 title. In the event the winds were fairly light and fickle. The black flag was in from the start of Race 6, and after a recall and big stack up at the pin end, Gulliver, Turner & Potts being notable casualties. On the restart Childs and Wilde escaped to lead, Webster sneaking in at the windward to round 1st, but Wild's downwind speed allowed him to sail away to win comfortably from Childs and Mike Webster (1/2 Tonn) taking an excellent third.

Race 7 (under the Black flag) was sailed on a very small course in light winds. Childs and Wilde again smashed the start and led round the first mark from Ormon, Wilde came through at the gybe mark, Hawkes was on a catch up mode again and crept into 3rd these 3 held form all the way home to keep Orman & Pots at bay.

This meant that the championship was a 2-way shootout between Wilde and Childs in the last race, with Gulliver having spoilt his chances in the lighter conditions.

The final race (Race 5) started on a biased pin against the tide and black flag. Surprisingly the start was declared clean with boats rafted up on the pin end rib, including Wilde, and Childs in the mix too. As the carnage unravelled Wilde managed to escape through the fleet to the right hand side of the course, while Childs got bounced to the left. Left was looking good until another 25 degree shift on new breeze appeared, and Hawkes led round from Paul "Harken" Davis and Andy Wilde. Childs was in good company round the windward mark in the mid 30's – game over. Wilde continued his day's dominance and pulled through to win from Hawkes with Davis in very good 3rd at his first Phantom Nationals, So the Chocolates went to Wild, giving him his maiden championship win – after a dominant day 3 performance. Made all the more impressive after almost missing the event through a back injury, perhaps he learnt something from Mr Ainslie's affliction...?

The Phantom class would like to thank Sundeland Yacht Club, Galley, Bar & Race Team and our sponsors; Virtual Rigger, Seabrooke Developments & North One Design. No doubt we will be talking for some time about the excellent venue, we are looking forward to next year's event in Shoreham and planning for a record turnout.

Prize Winners:

1st Overall – Andrew Wilde
2nd Overall and 1st Two Score – Simon Childs
3rd Overall – Simon Hawkes
1st Under 21 – Ben Crossdale
1st ½ Tonn – Mike Webster
1st Three Score and 1st "Woody" John Torrence
Endeavour Trophy – Ollie Shaw

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Phantom nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Sail No	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R6	R7	R5	Pts
1	1291	Andrew Wilde	6	2	4	1	1	1	9
2	1376	Simon Childs	1	7	1	2	2	11	13
3	55	Simon Hawkes	4	5	2	5	3	2	16
4	1346	Will Gulliver	3	1	3	50	9	9	25
5	1383	Nick Orman	7	3	8	4	5	20	27
6	1412	Chris Turner	1	21	7	50	7	4	40
7	1248	Mike Webster	10	8	14	3	14	7	42
8	1403	Simon Potts	2	6	17	50	4	14	43
9	1175	John Wayling	50	4	13	6	8	18	49
10	1408	James Dawson	8	11	9	14	11	13	52
11	1359	Ben Falat	11	31	11	10	6	16	54
12	1395	Chris Roberts	16	14	6	12	12	10	54
13	1318	Paul Davis	20	23	5	50	13	3	64
14	1334	Nigel Pybus	25	24	10	8	18	6	66
15	1342	Ed Thomas	14	20	15	11	10	23	70
16	1414	Neil Fulcher	18	9	12	7	25	50	71
17	1332	Adam Ellery	12	15	50	9	19	22	77
18	1280	George Odling	9	33	21	15	31	5	81
19	1243	Paul Lester	13	17	27	13	20	21	84
20	1349	Daren Pike	21	19	22	17	17	12	86
21	1355	Matthew House	17	12	23	50	23	19	94
22	1128	Ben Crossdale	30	30	31	18	15	8	101
23	1386	Nick Mason	29	13	18	50	26	17	103
24	1064	Peter Snowdon	50	26	26	26	29	15	122
25	1407	William McTurk	31	18	37	25	30	25	129
26	1388	Michael Alexander	22	32	38	24	22	29	129
27	1409	Alex Dawson	23	27	36	27	33	28	138
28	1305	Ian Miller	24	16	16	50	35	50	141
29	1373	Tim Harper	28	29	35	23	28	50	143
30	1275	Donald Maclean	50	50	28	19	21	26	144
31	1320	Cliff English	26	39	29	50	27	24	145
32	1390	Richard Sims	50	10	20	16	50	50	146
33	1144	Jason Riby	27	35	34	20	36	31	147
34	1135	Jon Shaw	50	34	33	22	32	30	151
35	1281	Adam Perry	33	50	32	50	16	27	158
36	1382	Philip Worth	15	25	19	50	50	50	159
37	1111	Ollie Shaw	32	38	43	29	34	32	165
38	1415	James Jarvey	19	22	25	50	50	50	166
39	1381	Jeff Vander-Borght	50	50	24	50	24	50	198
40	1330	Duncan Stuart McCorkindale	50	37	42	28	50	50	207
41	955	John Torrance	50	50	41	21	50	50	212
42	1270	John Bower	50	28	40	50	50	50	218
43	1404	Ian Sullivan	50	50	30	50	50	50	230
44	1362	Phil Longly	50	36	44	50	50	50	230
45	1312	Paul Beasley	50	50	39	50	50	50	239
46	785	Stephen Brunning	50	50	50	50	50	50	250
46	1142	Ian Judd	50	50	50	50	50	50	250
46	1162	Paul Long	50	50	50	50	50	50	250
46	1209	Simon Clark	50	50	50	50	50	50	250