Phantom Winter Championships at Grafham Water Sailing Club

The Phantoms were kindly invited to the Ovington Boats Inland Championships, sailing on Course B with the OKs and Flying Fifteens, while Course A hosted the Musto Skiffs and 505s. Four races were scheduled for Saturday and three for Sunday, all back-to-back....

Upon arrival the lake was like a shaving mirror but the forecast promised more, fortunately by the time we had rigged and hit the water there was a steady 5-7 mph across the whole lake. Course B was set in the middle of the lake, sailing a trapezoid course with onner and outer loops.

Race 1

Twelve Phantoms watched the fifteen OKs set off, giving us a good clue as to which end of the line to start, 4 mins later the Phantoms started. Titch was caught out with 5 seconds to go by the acceleration of the Phantom compared with the OK he had been sailing all last year and had to gybe back round and cross the fleet on port as the last starter. It was Phloosie's first outing since the Dinghy Show!

Jamie Morgan made a lot better start along with Richard Nurse, Olly Hopkins and Matin Watts setting the pace on the LHS of the track. As the race progressed the breeze built a little and everybody was in full hiking mode. The to reach of the outer loop was not quite planning mode and down the run Jamie made some good move to take the lead, followed by two beats and a reach to the finish line. The finishing order was Jamie, Richard and Martin.

Race 2

With the course set for three laps on the outer loop, the fleet started cleanly, the shifty beat was difficult to read with the breeze flicking right but only briefly, these quick shift changes caught out some of the sea sailors and left the puddle plodders to make some ground.

Phloosie was keen to make amends and found some speed and Titch remembered how to count rounding the last leeward mark to port while Adam Froggatt and Jamie headed for the starboard mark, realising there error they chased Titch down but Phloosie managed to bag her first bullet followed in by Adam and Jamie.

Race 3

With the wind still building slightly around the 10 mph mark the sails were now flapping well on the start line, Adam nailed the start with Richard pushing hard. Another three laps of very close racing and quite a few place changes, Adam managed to turn his good start into a bullet with Jamie close behind and Richard bringing in the third place.

Race 4

It had been a long day on the water but all twelve Phantoms remained out and set off with the best breeze of the day, the top half of the fleet were again all very close and it was anybody's race, but is seemed to be a photocopy of the previous battle with an Adam and Jamie 1-2 and Martin pipping Richard to third.

Sunday - Race 5

The wind was in a similar direction but was forecast to go right and build if the rain held off? After waiting around for the OKs to get going the Phantoms set of in a good 12 mph, with legs being stretched and the aching muscles of yesterday's four races fading away.

The racing was close again and place changes up the beats a plenty, Adam managed to creep away giving himself some breathing space but the following pack were all very close, Adam crossed first followed by Jamie and Martin.

Race 6

With some slight drizzle the wind seemed a bit less and was going to go right, I knew this following a discussion with the RO, so why did I end up on the left when half way up the beat? Joshua Harbut had decided to escape early and avoid packing away in the rain so eleven Phantoms made the start, a very close start and the top mark was anybody's except mine as I was on the outside of the banana!

With a bit of a mix up of the top half of the fleet Jamie's consistency of reading the shifting breeze gave him the win followed in by Jon Rickard who had sail the inside of the banana! And Adam completed the top three.

Final Race 7

With Olly Hopkins doing fifth place avoidance the fleet was down to ten. Another really close start by the committee boat saw Jon get rolled out the end and Adam absolutely cracking the timing and advancing up the beat, Jamie was buried and needed to climb out, not helped by having a drag race with Titch who was finding his speed and height settings... Adam converted his good start into a solid win with Martin second and Richard third.

Summary

1st Jamie Morgan - Rutland SC - I was always overpowered!
2nd Adam Froggatt- Chase SC - Waters just like Chase but bigger!
3rd Martin Watts - Netley SC - Even I was overpowered at times!
4th Richard Nurse - Northampton SC - Two capsizes but stayed dry..
5th John "Titch" Wayling - Northampton SC - Writing the blooming report!

A great event kindly sponsored by Ovington Boats, the wind turned out to be slightly better than as forecast and we all look forward to the next Phantom Championship events at Northampton on 14th, 15th & 16th June (training day is the Friday).

Overall Results: