Phantom National Championship at Minnis Bay Sailing Club

Phantom Nationals at Minnis Bay © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Phantom Nationals at Minnis Bay © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Sponsored by The Morton Partnership, P&B, Selden, Spinlock & A Glaze

The "Early bird" arrivals eagerly awaited the calendar to clock over to the 3rd September to start their travels "Over the Bridge" to sunny Minnis Bay, just up the coast from Margate in North Kent. They were treated to a brisk F4 on shore breeze and the rising tide so not much beach left. Those who got rigged early managed to get a couple of hrs sailing in to find out how to get over the waves upwind and how to get down them down wind, unfortunately for the later arrivals or those with borrowed boats which required extra "Bimbling" the tide had completely removed all chance of launching but the returning pair who did get a sail were glad to see them standing on the slipway ready to catch them, especially as they had fixed rudders. Both boats were recovered without drama and carried up the slip onto waiting trolleys, 61Kg hulls making it an easy job!

Friday dawned with the same on shore breeze although it had moderated to F3, more than 45 were expected and as they rolled up rapid rigging, Bimbling and Tuning commenced, those who arrived the day before greeted there old mates and new alike but were probably a bit quite due to the "Doom Bar" effect. Declarations were signed and event polo shirts collected. The briefing was held on time and the PRO ran off to set his Course A – Sausage/ Triangle course, Ian Sullivan the Class Events Secretary handed the Spinlock Sponsored life jackets to those who had gained enough points to qualify and a very nice jacket they are too, with the new logo on the back, everybody launched and the warning signal for Race 1 was sounded.

Race 1 – wind F3-4 Northerly, Course A and the tide pretty slack on the start line

With a clean start the sprint off the line and the desire to get onto port tack to get to deeper water and the Flood tide deep channel saw people guessing which was the best way. Those who had done the homework, or followed Clive M. came out with a smile and it was clear that Team Northampton had got the pace over other clubs, the 0.9 mile beat saw the fleet drawing out and Charlie C. was mixing it up in his borrowed boat, Harry was regretting not spending more time on the water and wondering how such on old, short & fat bloke and old, tall & fat guy could go so quickly, still not sure if he has found the answer to that question? The top five finishers were Will G., Charlie C., John W., Mike W. & Harry B., with Charlie C. being reminded he had missed the spreader mark on the Triangle leg it promoted 3, 4 and John N. up to 5th. This gave Northampton SC the 1,2,3...

Phantom Nationals at Minnis Bay - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Race 2 – Wind F3-4 Northerly, Course A and Flood tide now running

With a Clean start the race track was set with what was a steady breeze but it was forecast to get some Westerly in it, did this play into anybody's thinking or would the fleet track out into the deep water, the fleet split with the middle ground playing off the shifts and those who went hard left getting some lee bow from the tide as it actually runs at an angle to the shore. Those who plugged out to the channel were rewarded for their faith in Clive M., the run was another challenge of which way to go, with some big gains and losses made, all part of the Minnis Bay lesson. Charlie C. managed to take the bullet closely followed by Will G., Harry B., Mike T. & Mike W.

Everybody returned to shore to wait for their turn to be caught and get back to the clubhouse to see if the "Doom Bar" was as good as last night, lots of "Banter" ensued, the AGM was a quite affair with a New Chairman being voted on (Thanks Phil Longly for stepping up) to replace the retiring Ian Miller who has stood for seven years, Thanks to Ian Miller and also to the "Morton Partnership" for the generous sponsorship. Friday night was also "Fish & Chips" night with a mobile van turning up and everybody enjoying a good portion as part of the entry fee.

Saturday was "ground hog day" same as Friday Wind F3-4 Northerly with a promise of some Westerly and an Ebbing tide giving plenty of beach to launch off.

Race 3 - Wind F3-4 Northerly but not so steady, Ebb tide still running making an easy start line but the choice of end quite difficult

With yet another clean start the fleet set off, those who had spotted the shift with 3 mins to go plugged out against the tide but with the wind clocking left and the tide helping some fetched the windward mark, those who pulled of the start of the century were only to have their hopes dashed as after having completed a complete Sausage & two legs of the Triangle the race was Abandoned.

Race 3 – Restart – F4 NNW, Course A, Slack tide or had it started to Flood?, Clean start

With the course re-set to take into the wind and tide into account we were off again, with the indecision about the state of tide and the thought the wind might veer back the fleet was spread across the course making lanes difficult to find, the usual suspects popped out and the top mark with a new face, well actually old face returning to the fleet, Nick O. who was remembering how to sail Phantoms, the leader's held their places on the downwind leg with the waves building as the wind over tide started to build, Will G. took his second bullet followed by Charlie C., Nick O. Harry B. & Mike T.

Phantom Nationals at Minnis Bay - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Race 4 – F4 NNW, Course A, Flooding tide

With everybody keen to get away following a bit of a wait, the first general recall was sounded, and then another but then the "Black Nickers" came out and everybody paid attention and at the third asking we were away with only 2 casualties to the BFD, Mike W. & Neil F. The Flood tide was not having such a big effect with the wind having a tad more westerly in it, but this made a big difference on the first run with some brilliant surfing being available if you could catch the train... this also generated a few Capsizes as the moving water was catching a few of the pond sailors out, Charlie C. grabbed his second bullet, followed home by Harry B. with his best place yet, was he to become the new "Nico"? third by the ever improving Nick O., in 4th another new comer to the top five Bob P. and just scraping a 5th Will G.

Race 5 – F4 NNNNNW, Flooding Tide, "Black Nicker" Start, Course B WW-LW

Tired legs, arms and brains testing the fleet with another short beat due to the tide helping, meaning the downwind would be longer still. Charlie C. and Will G. were having a battle royal, with Harry B. playing a watching brief and trying to remember he was not sailing a Finn so he couldn't pump as much as he was used too!, the runs were a big overtaking opportunity or somewhere to park if the bow buried. Charlie C. managed his third Bullet, with Will G., Harry B., Nick O. & Mike T. following him home, This left it all to play for although the "Bimbling" opportunities on Charlies boat were becoming challenging, with a slot gasket being priority No.1!

Phantom Nationals at Minnis Bay - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Saturday night was chilli con carne night, oh and also time to run out of "Doom Bar" having got rid of 3 barrels in 2 nights, some were seen to leave early to bathe the aching limbs while others believed the best National Champions are those who can sing and shout along to the live band, tomorrow would tell. The evidence is on Facebook!

Race 6 - F4 N forecast to drop to F3 and less, Ebbing tide, Course A

The start was a very tight affair with several races within a race taking place, would Will G. attack Charlie C. or Vis versa, would Harry B. get his 1st Bullet, as it turns out Will G. got a really good start and Charlie C. was struggling with a poor one, the racing with the fleet was close, everybody knew who they wanted to beat but the breeze was dropping turning the scales on those of like more v those who like less, the Gun sounded and Will G. took his 3rd Bullet, Harry "Nico" B. followed in with yet another 2nd and Bob P. in 3rd, Nick O. and John W. taking the remaining top 5 slot.

Phantom Nationals at Minnis Bay - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Race 7 - F2-3 N and dropping, Ebb tide, Course A

With everything to play for the top slot was up for grabs, although the odds were with Will G., Charlie C. needed to beat Will G. and Will G. get a bad result, the start was another busy affair with the tide pushing up to the line, Will G. and Charlie C. were always going to be close, Charlie C. pushed Will G. up, was he over, the gun fired and Will G. sped off, Charlie C. prayed for the second gun but all that was heard was the sound of a kicker breaking, really bad luck Charlie C., Will G. couldn't help but cheer and sailed on to take the victory, for others it was a very different race with 3 days of F3-4 at least it had now gone really light, and much place changing was seen with, Will G. took his 4th Bullet and was followed home by Harry "Nico" B. and the new face of John N. in 3rd, Then Mike W. and just catching the last top spot Tewkesbury's very own Olly H. All returned to shore with lots of beach to land on the long haul back upto the dinghy lawn gave people legs time to rest!

Phantom Nationals at Minnis Bay - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Prizes were handed out for 1st in each race with 2 committee prizes awarded. Every competitor was awarded a prize from the table for stopping to the end and the top ten awards were presented.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Phantom nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here