Phantom Northern Travellers at Crosby Sailing Club

Phantom Northern Travellers at Crosby © D Mercer

Sunday 13th October saw Crosby SC hosting the final round of the Phantom Northern Travellers' series for 2013. Forecasts had varied on the lead up to the event, but a hardy group turned up for a slightly overcast day but with a good breeze blowing down the full length of the lake. The race officers, Andy Fox and Paul Heath made sure all knew the sailing instructions and buoy locations.

Race 1, saw local boy Tim Mercer lead the fleet around the first lap, to be pushed hard by another local Ian Middleton, Ed Thomas and Phil Worth. The next laps were led by Middleton and finally Thomas took the gun from Middleton, Worth and Mercer. Lunch was then taken ashore.

Races 2 saw Mercer again lead Thomas at the windward mark, followed by Worth, Middleton and Martin Knott from Ribble. The places changed by the moment as the gusts took some planning and others sat in flat calms. The beats were shifting through 10 –20 degrees, which saw the gun taken again by Thomas, Knott, Worth and Middleton.

Race 3 was sailed back to back, the wind picked up and saw the fleet fly off up the beat. The same faces were at the front again, no-one apart from Thomas dominating. No one person stayed in the same position for more than one leg at a time. The finish saw Thomas finish first again, but the next 4 places separated by a boat length. Worth and Middleton came in from the left on a starboard reach and Knott and Mercer from the right on port. In the last few meters, a big gust saw Knott have to pull out of the finish line, as there was no room at the finish mark. Choice words were heard, better than crunching of boats. Mercer took 4th, as he broached through the line, followed by an unfortunate Knott in 5th.

Thomas took a well deserved first overall, followed by Worth and Middleton.

The prize giving for the whole series took place, with Thomas taking the crown, from Worth and Knott. A massive thanks go to Ollie Shaw who organised the whole series.

Overall Results: