Allen Brothers Phantom Nationals at Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club - Runners & Riders

by Gordon Kingston-Minnis 30 Aug 2019 15:03 BST 6-8 September 2019

The Allen Brothers Phantom Nationals from the 6th to the 8th September has 52 entries to date and a few names missing who are supposed to be coming along. Here we see who is in the running for the top spots...

• Harry Briddon - last year;s winner and very fast especially in the breezy stuff. With the Solent chop he is a strong bet.

• Andy Couch - runner-up last year and multi-time champion in the past. You would be foolish not to believe he will do it again.

• Will Gulliver - another past champion who also likes a bit of breeze. He will have been having missing training with Titch for a few weeks, will that make him slower or quicker?

• Ian Stone - the bearded wonder but showed up at POSH earlier in the year clean shaven and 5 stone lighter, this might stop him pulling his boat apart. After being in the running last year he has the bit between his teeth for this year.

• Nick Orman - (not entered yet but supposed to becoming) always in the running just needs more consistency to put it together.

• Martin Watts - he's had more time on the water this year and with a newer ship should be quick.

• Alistair Morley - another not yet entered, but he is late for everything except around the course in anything below a force 5. If it's a light wind event a real flyer. Winner of POSH fast handicap and he was last to arrive.

• Titch Wayling - recently been resting due to back problems but is going to see how it goes. Good luck mate.

• Ivan Walsh - texted your correspondent to say if it's light in his new ship Bruce he is flying, so I have taken him at his word and included him in the list.

Welcome to visitors to the fleet

• Steve Bolland - RS300 God and D-Zero previous winner - it took him a few days last year to work out how to make it go. If his memory hasn't faltered he should be quick.

• Fernando Gamboa - a local Aero 9 sailor from Portugal knows the local tide and chop.

• Richard Le Mare - another top RS300 sailor aboard the Ollie Hopkins fast ship. Is he here to check up on what Steve's up to prior to the 300 nationals?