Phantoms at Gorleston – a view from the back
by Nick Crickmore 1 Jul 13:22 BST
27-28 June 2026
Phantom Eastern Region Event at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Sailing Club © Bob Girling
Four visitors joined 5 locals from Gorleston and surrounding broads clubs for the Phantom open meeting at Gorleston this weekend. The fleet made a fair proportion of entries to the annual beach regatta highlight of the club calendar.
The program was Two days of racing 3 races per day on windward leeward course. The race team managed things superbly starting us first followed by the solutions and the mixed fleet giving an efficient turnaround between races and nice separation between fleets on the race course.
The tide with wind flattened the sea nicely for launching and recovery and with a moderate breeze we had a full turn out on the start line Saturday.
Beating into the tide with a fresh breeze was challenging for the local pond sailors but we all completed race 1. There were some place changes in the early part of the race but ultimately the visitors showed us how it should be done taking then1st 4 places. With a reasonable start and finding a clear lane I was making good progress to round the top mark cleanly and well placed until I came together with a port hand chancer and we both went back in the tide for another go.
In race 2 we all started again with much the same conditions but 2 locals dropped out before the finish, Same top 5. There was a slight switch in the wind to start and by luck I found myself alone at the port end to capitalise. This time I remained well placed for a whole lap before misjudging the tide and losing a place,
In race 3 another local retired before the start so I was pretty much guaranteed my usual 6th place just for attending, unfortunately my tiller extension had other ideas and parted company with its UJ shortly into the first beat so I joined the walk of shame for an early shower.
Day 2 we still had good launching conditions but the breeze was up a bit and the other retirees from Saturday decided not to venture out along with two of the visitors for their own reasons so for race 4 we only had 4 on the start line, I had high hopes for a top 4 finish and completed the course within one leg of the other 3 so I considered that a job well done. The last lap turned into a bit of a fetch up and a nice broad reach down so we had a little delay after while the wind settled.
Race 5 the wind picked up again and the others left me a nice gap at the committee boat end to start at speed so after tacking inshore I was quite pleased with my initial progress then I capsized in a shift/gust I wasn't ready for (my first of the event) I had quite a speedy recovery but seeing the other now some way ahead and the conditions worsening I decided to retire for another early shower.
In other news John Wayling showed everyone how it's done with 5 firsts before leaving the other 2 front runners with their permission to match race the last race for 2nd overall. I understand he showed good speed on day 1 with his unique mastery of footing off for speed and better lea bowing the tide but was given more of a challenge from the others in the fresher conditions day 2 when local hero Nick Favell and regular visitor Warren Martin both led at times Nick showing good tide judgement and Warren having impressive off-wind speed.
The first loser honours were claimed by Nick F in a nip and tuck race courtesy of an uncharacteristic Warren capsize to windward and lengthy attempted water start.
Next event on the Eastern Circuit is the ever-popular Creeksea Sailing Club open on the beautiful River Crouch in Essex on the 11th and 12th of July.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 1504 | John Wayling | Northampton | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | 5 |
| 2nd | 1394 | Nick Favell | GYGSC | ‑5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| 3rd | 1433 | Martin Warren | Creeksea | 4 | 2 | ‑5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 4th | 1370 | Nick Thorpe | | 3 | 3 | 3 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 31 |
| 5th | 1458 | A Husk | Creeksea | 2 | 4 | 4 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 32 |
| 6th | 1297 | Nick Crickmore | WOBYC | 6 | 6 | (DNF) | 4 | DNC | DNC | 38 |
| 7th | 1152 | Phil Harlow | GYGSC | 7 | 7 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 47 |
| 8th | RW | Roger Watson | GYGSC | 8 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 52 |
| 9th | 1281 | Clive Wells | GYGSC | 9 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 53 |
| 10th | 1351 | Nick Thorp | Ardleigh Reservoir | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 55 |