Please select your home edition
Edition
GP Watercraft

Phantom Northern Travellers' Series at Crosby Sailing Club

by I Middleton 19 Oct 2014 08:13 BST 12 October 2014
Phantoms at Crosby © A Middleton

The final round of the Northern Travellers' Series was held at Crosby SC on Sunday 12th October. Champagne sailing conditions with uninterupted blue skies and a gentle breeze.

After a relaxed rigging session, the first race saw the fleet being taken to the far end of the lake for a full length beat. The lead boats of Matt Harris, Ed Thomas and Martin Knott pushing each other to the max, local boy Tim Mercer leading the second wave of boats. Thomas had led for over half the race but relaxed and went to the wrong mark, he couldn't quite take back his lead. With just under an hour of hard racing the race committee hoisted the shorten course flag, which saw Knott take the win from Harris and Thomas. Lunch was served in brilliant sunshine and several toned bodies were unleashed onto the Crosby members who took quickly to the water for their racing.

Races 2 and 3 were held back to back, the wind dropping slightly causing concern that it may disappear completely. Up to the far end of the lake for another gladiatorial event. Thomas the reigning travellers champion desparate to show who was the boss, shot off after the lead powerboat and was not headed. Knott was second, with Oli Shaw showing great form to take a third.

With all to play for in the final race, Thomas with 3, 1 and Knott 1, 2, the wind decided to play hide and seek. The line was set and then reset and again as the wind swung through 180 degrees for the next 15 minutes. Finally taking a chance the race team set a very short beat, and sound the five minute. It looked like it could be a fetch for 30 yards to the mark, but a slight heading saw the far end of the line starters sneak around the mark. What should have been a reach to the next mark changed to a challenging beat. To go to the shore or stay out in the centre of the lake, neither had an advantage at the end. To a killer of a run to the next, remembering the quote of one of the racers, who stated, "I hope the OD knows phantoms don't like dead runs". Well he took up the challenge and gave them one. Dropping wind saw yet another full length lake beat, and a shorten course flag. The two leaders played cat and mouse and the race finished with both only inches apart. A trusty Go Pro was checked to finalise the result. Knott took the win by about 3 inches from Thomas to take the open win and Matt Nield took third place.

Overall Results:

1st 1198, Martin Knott (Ribble SC) 2pts
2nd 1342, Ed Thomas (TBA) 3pts
3rd 1175, Matt Harris (Southport SC) 7pts
4th 1309, Matt Nield, 8pts

Related Articles

Phantom Open at Bowmoor
Conditions vary widely over the four races Bowmoor SC hosted a joint Hadron and Phantom Open on 12 April with the Phantoms taking the first start. The Phantoms comprised four home boats and four visitors. Posted on 19 Apr
Phantoms at Northampton Preview
P&B Open, GJW Direct Super Series and Training Day! Northampton Sailing Club host the P&B Phantom two day open, GJW Direct Super Series event and training day over the weekend of 26th/27th April with training taking place on Friday 25th. Posted on 17 Apr
Phantom Midland Series Round 1 at Shustoke
Five visitors and five locals squared up for a full day's racing Five visitors and five locals squared up at Shustoke, sharing the day with the Laser fleet, ready for a full day's racing with the promise of the (apparently) settled westerly breeze steadily building through the day. Posted on 15 Apr
Welsh Phantom Championships at Llandegfedd
The plan was simple, put on an event to maximise the fun stuff Born from a chat over a few pints at the Sunderland Nationals, we found ourselves seven months later looking out over Llandegfedd reservoir, the home of a fledgling Phantom fleet at the venue for the first ever Welsh Phantom Championships. Posted on 11 Apr
Phantoms at Stone
Super Series and Eastern Series event Eighteen sailors descended on Stone Sailing Club for Round 2 of the Eastern Series, part of the hotly contested Phantom Super Series. Posted on 10 Apr
Vintage Phantom Open at Fishers Green preview
Bring your 'woodie' along to the stunning Holyfield Lake this May Join us on Saturday 3rd May 2025 for the Wooden Phantom Open Meeting at Fishers Green Sailing Club, set on the stunning Holyfield Lake within the Lee Valley Regional Park. Posted on 9 Apr
Stone to kick off GJW Direct Phantom Super Series
Series begins on the River Blackwater this weekend Just a few days before Stone SC host the first of the 2025 Super Series to be held in the eastern region. The two day event consisting of a six race series over the weekend of the 5th/6th April will be sailed on the waters of the River Blackwater. Posted on 2 Apr
Ovington Inland Championships at Grafham
110 sailors spread across 83 boats and 6 classes attended It was great to see over 110 sailors spread across 83 boats and six classes for the Ovington Inland championship. This regatta has become a season opener for our classes over the years and whilst the sun was out, the temperatures stayed down. Posted on 20 Mar
Phantom class at the Ovington Inlands
One sailor declared he was a broken man Grafham Water hosted the Ovington Inlands event over the weekend of Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th March. The event was shared with the OKs, Fireflys, Flying Fifteens, 505s and Musto Skiffs on two separate courses. Posted on 19 Mar
Phantom Eastern Series at Ardleigh
Spring finally appears to have sprung Spring finally appeared to have sprung at Ardleigh Sailing Club as 17 Phantoms arrived for the first event of the ever-popular Phantom Class Eastern Series. Posted on 11 Mar