Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Phantom Open at Walton and Frinton Yacht Club

by Bob Portway 5 Oct 2020 21:26 BST 3-4 October 2020
Phantoms at Walton & Frinton © Dave Rayfield

Walton and Frinton Yacht Club agreed to hold the event, in these unusual times, on the basis of a limited entry. In the event the weather forecast ensured that we did not reach that limit, with 7 boats coming to the line, shared with seven local H2s. The racing was held off Stone point, where Hamford Water meets Dovercourt Bay.

Race 1: Matt House executed a perfect port flyer, to lead round the windward mark. Bob Portway passed him downwind, but Matt was able to hold off John 'Titch' Wayling. This was the order until Portway led the fleet round the ODM, mistaking it in very grey weather for the wing mark, on the 2nd triangle. Local sailor James Oxley spotted the wing mark first and headed up for it. Matt realised Bob's mistake early on, James Sparkes benefitted by following Oxley, the finishing order being Oxley, House and Sparkes.

Race 2: A short opening beat and a turning tide led to early leaders badly overstanding the windward mark. Once again the two James's took the correct line and had a useful lead on the 1st triangle. James Sparkes was forced to retire with a failing shroud, Oxley went on to win, with Portway just holding 2nd despite a quick capsize at the 2nd gybe mark. Matt House just held 3rd in a very close finish with Titch.

Race 3: This race was to be the 'Sailing home up the Twizzle' race. Some of the fleet thought they had sailed far enough after triangle + sausage and headed for home without sailing the final triangle. Only 2 boats completed the race, with Titch leading Portway home, after a very tight race before entering the Twizzle.

Sunday's racing was cancelled with a force 6 gusting 8 forecast on every weather forecast available. In the event, James Oakley's two 1st's were enough to clinch overall honours, while Titch's final race win put him ahead of House, and Portway had to settle for 4th.

Phantoms in the Eastern Area are planning one more open meeting, to be in November at Ardleigh SC, in order to find a winner of the Travellers trophy.

Overall Results:

1st James Oxley (W&F YC)
2nd John Wayling (Northampton SC)
3rd Matt House Royal Harwich YC)
4th Bob Portway (Royal Harwich YC)

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