Phantom training and Craftinsure Super Series event at Northampton Sailing Club

Phantom training and Craftinsure Super Series event at Northampton © Olivia Joyce

On Friday 12th the Class association offered a free coaching session to class members, run by class stalwart, John "Titch" Wayling, with the help of Legend - Will Gulliver and Class Chair Rob Cook.

An onshore session was held first discussing rig set up for the windy day ahead; several boats needed some minor adjustments to the base setting and kickers having all the slack removed. The plan was to do 3 off - 3min starts in quick succession, sailing for 20 seconds of the beat then returning for the next start, on the third start the 10 helms sailed a WW/LW course being filmed in preparation of the debrief later. After an hour or so with the wind increasing a triangular course was set to improve the reaching abilities, unfortunately the coach was busy rescuing a disabled Phantom with a broken tiller following a spectacular bear away and capsize, well done Richard!

Phantom training and Craftinsure Super Series event at Northampton - photo © Olivia Joyce

The sailors returned to shore for banana bread (thank you Vicky) and Beers from the Sundance Bar and then onto the clubhouse to watch the Rugby and enjoy a ChIndian collected by the brilliant Bar man Ricky, who continued to serve up excellent Butcombe ale and Madri larger with the odd Aspels cider for the more discerning... which did then lead to a few Spiced Rum n Cokes... as we watched Saints beat Tigers 45-31, I think the rum was to drown Mike's sorrows being a Tiger supporter quite outnumbered at Northampton.

Saturday dawned with a fresh forecast, 20 - 24 mph with a few stronger gusts to keep everyone on their toes. The race officer Iain Carpenter did a thorough briefing on shore warning of the P, U & Black flag he would use if we didn't behave ourselves, a Sausage Triangle course was set using the large orange P&B sponsored inflatables.

Race 1 - Amazingly the first start was clean away, the wind was blowing 20 + and shifting 20 degs in some spots but also the pressure was less at the WW mark and needed a gear change as you got closer, it was obvious by the first beat that Magic Mike Webster has been coached by the Castle Cove team to come and upset the Northampton posse! Mike sailed an expert race showing his years of experience and picked every shift to perfection, never crunched the gears and took his first bullet of the day, the hard chasing Rob Cook, who was carrying an injury from the previous days capsize recovery of a hurty rib, came in second and Andy Pyett showing great boat speed in third.

Race 2 - Another clean start and Mike was off again, but this time Local legend Will Gulliver was trading blows with Mike but after a couple of laps Mike managed to sneak a solid lead and take the 2nd Bullet, with Will coming in a close second and the ever present Rob Cook 3rd.

Race 3 - With the wind building slightly and a good bias on the line the inevitable happened and a General recall was sounded, after a quick reset of the line to allow for the shift which had kicked in 30 seconds before the previous start we were away cleanly on the "U", This time Paddy Denby from Broadstairs has remembered how to sail on flat water and cruised to a solid victory, with Will coming in 2nd and Mike 3rd, this left Mike as the overall leader for the night but the fleet stuck on the "U" for the rest of the event.

A tired fleet came ashore for rehydration and Pizza supper, recounting many stories of the now famous Northampton "Cats Paws" gusts which have about five different wind directions contained with the double strength puff!! Ricky and team worked hard providing the fluids and the Pizzas disappeared very quickly. Jess sang a few songs for us providing some very nice evening entertainment.

Phantom training and Craftinsure Super Series event at Northampton - photo © Olivia Joyce

Sunday arrived with the forecast being optimistic, the race officer Iain set off to find the best breeze, after a tour of the lake by the fleet, we do like to show everyone the wonderful scenery at Northampton, including the Causeway at the other end of the "Dog leg", finally we returned to the main body of the lake where a WW/LW course was set.

Race 4 - With the "U" flying and not a great deal of wind available, Will was trying to get back over the line but got caught out about 5m the wrong side as the 1min horn sounded. There were quite a few helms pointing out the fact and Will carried this race as his discard.. The actual start was clean away and Rob Cook, Hurty rib n all, managed to sneak away and pick the shifts to climb into the lead, in the pack it was very tight and at the final LW mark there were 5 or was it 6 helms who could have got 2nd, Titch rounded on the outside of at least 4 and hit the afterburners to accelerate away in his own personal breeze to squeak into 2nd place with Jez Deacon Heading for the other end of the line being pipped to 3rd.

Race 5 - The wind was just not playing ball, with a few grey cloud's driving inconsistent pressure it was difficult to set the line, but finally we got a start going and the beat to the WW mark was slow, Following his OCS Will was keen to make amends and the personal breeze he had booked and paid for greeted him first enabling him to creep across the line following a Beat to the WW mark and then a beat to the LW mark as the wind swung through 180 deg. Jez had sniffed out his own breeze and crept into 2nd with Rob in 3rd.

Race 6 - With very little to no wind available PRO Iain made the right decision to Abandon for the day and the fleet pumped their way into the shore to get packed away and ready for the prize-giving.

This final bullet gave Will Gulliver the win on count back from Rob Cook in 2nd both on 9 points, with Magic Mike feeling he was stitched up by Team NSC in 3rd on 10 points, the Fat Lady had sung!, Paddy Denby came in 4th as a Birthday treat and yours truly "Titch" in 5th and now writing this report, again reminding myself I need to either try harder our let Jez beat me so I don't have to do this again!!

The prize-giving got under way and the generous prize of an Optimum Time watch for first place along with a superb wooden cut out of a Phantom presented to Will Gulliver who thanked the team from Northampton, galley crew, bar man supreme Ricky and Iain Carpenter the PRO who had a tough job and made it look easy.

The next and final 2026 event in the Craftinsure Super Series is at Lee-on-Solent on the weekend of 25th & 26th of July with yet another training session being offered FOC to association members on the Friday.

Will Gulliver, overall winner - Phantom training and Craftinsure Super Series event at Northampton - photo © Mike Webster

Overall Results: