20 Questions with the reigning champion ahead of the P&B Phantom Nationals 2025

Jamie Morgan wins the Allen Phantom Nationals at Sunderland © Chris Roberts

The 2025 P&B Phantom Nationals start this Friday at Hooe Point SC in Plymouth. For the first time the class is utilising on the water umpiring with two international judges afloat all three days.

This is an interview I did with Jamie Morgan, the current National Champion, shortly after his win at Sunderland in September 2024.

He has some interesting comments about downwind sailing that I think will be of interest to all sailors and not just the 60+ entrants for this year's event in Plymouth.

1. Tell me your name, your age, and if you are prepared to, your weight?

   Jamie Morgan, 34. Weight - 86/87kg at the Nationals (haven't sailed since the Nationals).

2. Where do you live and what sailing club?

   I live in Stamford but moving to a village 1 mile away from Rutland. Lots of renovation and extension work to do. Member of Northampton and Rutland Sailing Clubs.

3. How long have you been sailing? How did you start and a brief sailing history? What boats have you owned or sailed in the past?

   Started about 12 in an after-school club, ended up in lasers at Grafham. There were lots of good youngsters there like Giles Scott and his brothers. We had 30—40 boats racing every Sunday.

   I have sailed most of the RS classes, the Musto skiff worlds, foiling Moth worlds a long time ago before stopping for 10 years and coming back in the Solo for 3 seasons.

   (ed. Why Phantom over a Solo?)

   I always knew this year was going to be a tough year (in the Solo), especially keeping the weight down (I was running 40miles a week). Weight control. In the Phantom, I could sail slightly less and a bigger boat carried my weight. My sister-in-law also lives 5-10 miles from Sunderland YC so the decision was easy.

4. What's your highest sailing "High" and your lowest sailing "Low"?

   Highs:

   1. Phantom Nationals - first National Champs I've ever won!
   2. Fourth in Medemblik, Holland in the Solo class Nations Cup.
   3. Second at the Inlands same year behind Gillie. (Tom Gillard). I did 20-30 opens that year - a bit burnt out.
   Lows:
   2023 Solo Nationals - came 13th which was below my expectations. I dropped down from 4th overall and didn't sail well.

5. Tell me about your scariest moment in the Phantom?

   Inlands at Northampton - between races sailing downwind in a squall wondering if I could ever get upwind again; never been so fast downwind in a single-handed boat!

6. What are your sailing targets for this season?

   None at the moment - focussing on work and have sold the Phantom (ed. A little bird tells me to one S. Hawkes of the parish of Taunton!) May buy another but I also sail an OK and the 2025 worlds are at Lake Garda.

7. What's your boat number and type? (Woodie / Vandercraft / Ovington / JJ boats or other builder, dropped cockpit or flooding side tanks)

   #1467 - Ovington - standard floor.

8. What Mast and Sail?

   CST Mast with plastic track - original mast that came with the boat. Sail - P&B Max.

9. Is there anything that you do that is markedly different to the majority of the Phantom Fleet? Why?

   I don't know the rest of the Phantom fleet that much. I work really hard on getting my centre board up upwind. After that, it's work rate. I move the mainsheet constantly and I adjust the main controls (kicker and cunningham) every 20-30 seconds.

10. Any top tips for aspiring racers in our fleet - what tips worked for you when you first joined the class?

    Do more but less of it. Adjust your controls a lot / regularly but smaller adjustments. Most people react too late and they have to make big adjustments when its too late and the boat is over healed etc. Even in lighter winds. Be realistic with what can be achieved with your available time and cost to achieve it.

11. Is there anything you are specifically working on to improve this season? (Rig set up, studying tactics, improve starting, improve boat handling, physical fitness, gain or lose weight, mental preparation?)

    Fitness and technique - sailing in a straight line - are always the most important. More so than tacking etc. They say that boat speed makes you a tactical genius - this is especially true in the first 5-10 minutes as it gives you the speed and space to make decisions. Physically kill yourself off the start line!

12. Gym / outdoor activities / just sail or the sofa?

    Running and cycling - cycling when I feel fat. It's the best way to lose mass, running for more general fitness. I do Zwift (ed. Indoor cycling app) on the indoor bike. When I'm on the trainer I do a mental tasks at the same time - sit on WhatsApp with a mate and message, doing spelling challenges. I'm dyslexic so that helps me mentally - it's a challenge.

13. What other sports or hobbies do you do outside of sailing?

    I play touch rugby but have to juggle that with child care. I play on a pool team - good for mentally getting in front!

14. Tea or coffee, Beer, wine or spirits?

    Member of a coffee club. I get beans delivered and try lots of different types.

15. When it comes to posh, fancy, Phantom food - Indian, Chinese, Pizza or bacon & sausage butty?

    Bacon & sausage butty definitely, but pizza and curry mainly. Must be something spicy. I like chillies as well.

16. Favourite Movie? Favourite TV - Eastenders or Coronation Street?

    None of the above. I watch YouTube a lot. Engineering, finance, numbers or sailing stuff. I like fact-based stuff a lot.

17. Favourite band and favourite track or album?

    I now have a record player - indie music, Mr Brightside, Sultans of Swing, stuff like that comes over on vinyl.

18. Do you put the bins out at home?

    No, our neighbour does! We are the youngest people in our close and the rest are retired and very helpful!

19. Your nemesis on the race course?

    Ollie Davenport in the Solo - always good to beat him but rare. Tom Gillard - also great to do in the odd race.

20. And, finally, how can I (Sprucey) get faster downwind? (Forget losing weight - that's been advised - what are your top downwind techniques tips?)

    Most people don't understand what to do with the sail - when to pump and when not to (pump). Every time you pump you disrupt the flow. Spread your feet across the boat and steer with your feet - stop using the rudder. Where is your centreboard - ¾ max, not too high - if it's too high the boat slides sideways.

    (ed.) One 2 one or through the centre block?

    If you're planning, you're not allowed to pump - one pump to promote planning or surfing only - so more through the centre block. When hit by gust - move back to lift the blow and sheet on a little bit. People are obsessed about pumping and most don't do it well.

Thanks for answering "The Twenty Jamie" - Good luck for next season.

As always, please support our event and class sponsors and use their services: P&B, HD Sails, Ovington Boats, Allspars, Allen, Vicky's Embroidery, Liftech Solutions.