Phantom Open at Bowmoor Sailing Club

Phantom Open at Bowmoor © David Fewings

Bowmoor SC hosted a joint Hadron and Phantom Open on 12 April with the Phantoms taking the first start. The Phantoms comprised four home boats and four visitors.

Four races were staged with conditions varying widely race to race, minute by minute with a fickle wind building during the first race and abating in the latter stages of the final race.

The first race saw the fleet split left and right up the first beat in search of pressure. Lured by a lift, Mike Tustin and Tom Whittingham headed right only to be stranded as the wind died right and built left. The split persisted with 5 boats in close order vying leg by leg to the finish. Chris Jenkins just held on despite close challenges from Mike Webster with Andy Smith and Phil White. By Race two there was more wind but still shifty. Chris Jenkins, Mike Webster and Tom Whittingham mastered the shift pattern to break clear of the chasing pack to secure one-two three respectively.

Race Three remained close with mid-fleet places change lap by lap. Local knowledge and willingness to tack on every small shift benefited the Bowmoor sailors as David Patrick and Stephen McDonald dropped off the pace. As in the previous races it was a one-two for Chris Jenkins and Mike Webster again with Chris just keeping ahead claiming water at the last few marks. In the Final race, Mike headed for the shore having found an enormous hole in the wind leaving Chris Tom, and Phil in the top spots until the last lap. Mike Smith found a great wind lane at the windward mark to slide by Tom and then Phil for a solid second place.

The event results were first place to Chris Jenkins with four bullets, Mike Webster solidly in second place and Andy Smith taking third (from Phil White) on countback. Thanks to Bowmoor SC for running a successful event in challenging conditions and getting all four races completed.

Overall Results: