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Despite the forecast of strong winds, 15 visitors joined six club boats in contesting the Creeksea Sailing Club Phantom Class Open Meeting.

The club event was awarded Super Series status this year and formed a part of a National Series of events for the class. It also formed a part of the Eastern Series of events sponsored by Tempra-tec.

The first race saw the fleet head up river with dark clouds bringing strong gusts of force six and more making the long beat a real test of skill and strength. A real taster for what was to be the pattern for the whole weekend as it transpired.

Making a great start, Simon Cowood, from Northampton, looked set to lead to the first mark but his first tack in the waves, building in the wind over tide conditions, saw him founder and the fleet quickly sailed past him to his evident chagrin.

The fast fetch to Canewdon was followed by a difficult gybe and very fast downwind leg to the finish with John Wayling, also from Northampton, pulling through to stay ahead of Daren Pike, from Rollesby Broad.

The start of the second race was delayed as the wind built but by timing the race start between running repairs to competitors and safety boats, the fleet set off close to high water for a race over a shorter course of two laps. This time gybes were avoided in the setting of the course and the fleet put on a fine demonstration of the offwind speed that these boats are capable of, with a huge grin factor being evident on those that took part. The result of this race showed a clear pattern with Wayling again taking the gun ahead of Pike. Third place went to Rod Thorpe from Creeksea. The planned third race of the day was abandoned as it was deemed too much to expect of the already exhausted competitors, who instead set off to enjoy a spendid dinner at the Crouch Yacht Club.

Sunday's racing saw no let-up in the strong winds that swung further to the north to allow standing waves to develop in the river.

Again the fleet set off on an up-river course that led to a difficult choice between beating through waves with the benefit of a strong tide or the advantage of smoother water in less tidal margins.

Upon reaching the cliff mark the fleet was able to close reach at speed to the up river mark at Canewdon and again flew back to the club line on a very fast downwind leg that saw some place changing as capsizes occurred and some boats wore round for safety rather than risk gybing.

Wayling again showed his mettle by taking another win, this time followed home by James Case, from Wells-next-the Sea.

A fourth race was run over the now proven safe shorter course and a reduced number of competitors took to the water as the wind had again built beneath rolling grey clouds. Wayling again took the gun with Simon Fielden being unlucky to hold his lead at times due to rudder problems. The spectators cheered the returning sailors for their display of sailing skills in extreme conditions.

The event was convincingly won by Wayling with Case taking second and Pike third. The first local boat was Chris Roberts in fifth, narrowly beating John Torrance on countback.

5:21pm Monday 28th July 2008

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