Allen Phantom UK National Championship at Sunderland Yacht Club - Day 1

Launching on day 1 of the Allen Phantom Nationals at Sunderland © Dave Scrimger

Or 'what I did on my holidays at Sunderland Yacht Club by Sprucey, age 62.5'

It's been an "interesting" few days! Seven hours driving from the deep south and I hit the Wall where the Night Watch directed me to the city, past the Stadium of Light to Roker and Sunderland YC. At least, that's where they told me I was - the fog was so thick I could have been in Westeros. Don't hit the dolphins they said - Dolphins? The pea souper was so thick I couldn't even see the bow of my boat and it was still hitched to the back of my van!

It takes a lot to scare a Phantom sailor, but not one ventured on to the water to train in the scary conditions yesterday - thick fog, howling wind and horizontal rain. A day of relaxation watching the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series and sampling the delights of the yacht club bar and Gail's Galley.

Day One - Friday and the weather finally improved. No rain, 18-22 knots of NNE with a 1.7 - 2m swell off shore and a big shore break inside the break-water arms. It made launching a challenge. I'm glad I had my grown-up pants on! 46 boats entered - 39 took to the water with nine (sensibly?) deciding that discretion was called for.

I don't think I was alone in taking time to get the boat set up for the conditions. No wind in the bottom of the troughs - a screaming gale on the crests. At least the flooding tide smoothed the overlying chop and made the conditions raceable.

Race One, a windward - leeward course set, and possibly a hint of what was to come for the regatta?

Small port bias on the line with adverse tide holding the fleet back - it was a clean start. Current Champion Harry Briddon came of the starboard end in clear wind, tacked and powered up the beat to reach the windward mark with what seemed like an unsurmountable lead. It was not to be however. Man-mountain, Martin Watts from Netley SC hauled him back on the downwind and extended to take the win.

Jamie Morgan, Jon Rickard and Rob Cook filled the rest of the top 5.

Race Two and it was more of the same. The wind went left about 15 degrees for most of the race and sailors were getting to grips with their set-up and technique. The port tack was glorious with most of the fleet coming ashore saying they had planed upwind on port and struggled on Starboard.

A building adverse tide, lots of port-end bias and sausage-triangle course set by Howard Stephenson, the RO. Many didn't lay the starting pin but Harry Briddon and Jamie Morgan nailed it. Martin Watts started somewhere up the line behind me but I didn't see where. I was too busy going backwards stuck in irons and getting spat out the back. Your humble scribe was dead last, eventually able to bear away and sheet in on port and crossed astern of the entire fleet to the unfavoured right side. I put the leeward foil down, encouraged (shouted at) my cyclors, pulled the bow off and planned all the way to the starboard lay line. Big bad Ben was whispering in my ear - "you don't want to make me angry and I'm very angry now!" It put me back into the low teens and back in contention - phew but you're not interested in my holiday tales so back to the big boy's race!

Jamie Morgan had started just to windward of Harry Briddon. The two fought all the way round the first sausage and down to the port gate mark of the triangle except that Harry didn't! He was so engrossed in the duel that he rounded the starboard gate to start the third beat and by the time he realised his error he was too far up the leg to come back and re-round. This meant Jamie Morgan took the race and elevated Martin Watts to a well deserved second. Ben Dancer from Llandegfedd took third, Jon Rickard fourth and Class Chairman Rob Cook took fifth. There is definitely a pattern forming here with those 5 provisionally filling the top of the result sheet overall. Oh, wait, not Harry - he's now used his discard so that really opens the Championship up!

(Ed. note - Harry had just invested a considerable sum with a, well known, midlands chandlery to upgrade his boat for this event. Top tip Harry - when P&B offer "Sailing Rules Brain V. 3.3.24 - Sunderland YC SI edition" - as a, cheap, optional extra, buy it!) So far, that bookie I met in the public bar of the Muzzle & Leash Pub next to the adult shop in Walthamstow has called it right - shame I didn't believe him and I didn't put any of my hard-earned down! There are some, totally unfounded rumours going round that I he enjoyed the spare room at a local club member's house but I he completely refutes that scurrilous accusation!

What a day. The whole fleet enjoyed a post-race pie & pint care of Ovington Boats and Vaux Brewery and everyone shared big tales of derring-do from the day. I saw one regular class sailor with the biggest grin I have ever seen on his face, Dave Patrick from Broadwater SC. "That was (expletive deleted) awesome! (Not like a Sunday morning at Broadwater then Dave?)

Day 2 tomorrow has 3 races scheduled and the forecast is for lighter winds but still cold polar continental air from the north / north-north east. It will be a big opportunity for the light wind specialists to show their skills and may crack this event wide-open? Watch this space!

As always, we rely on our sponsors to run these competitive championships. So, a big hand to:

• Allen Brothers - Manufacturers and suppliers of quality performance sailing hardware. We are very proud to have Allen as our headline sponsor this year.

• Ovington Boats - Ovington made most of the boats in the competition - they continue to support our class.

• Optimum Time - Designers and manufacturers of great sailing and sport watches.

• HD Sails - A long-time supporter of the Phantom Class

• P&B - Another long-term supporter of the Phantom Class

• Vaux Brewery & Taproom - Suppliers of great beer to a great class!

Results after Day 1: