Phantom Eastern Series Open at Creeksea Sailing Club

The weekend started early for those that arrived on Friday evening with a BBQ and the chance to sample the free beer that was very generously on offer from the members of Creeksea Sailing Club. This also played into the hands of those that arrived on Saturday, or those that took it easy in readiness for Burnham-on-Crouch Parkrun Saturday morning!

Saturday dawned with a light breeze and a few heavy heads, having polished a box of the lovely Wibblers Dengie Gold. With a South West wind forecasted for the Saturday, not the best direct for Creeksea, and increasing strength over Saturday and Sunday, the standard course of Cliff Canewdon was set by PRO Edwin Buckley with a quick dash down river towards Burnham to get an upwind start.

With a flood tide for the first start, there was a battle to be windward boat but also staying out of the main channel of the river, as the fleet set of for Navigation Buoy No.11. The gusty condition caught some napping with a few capsizes on the way and a few notable fallers at No.11 for the bear away up river. A fleet of Royal Burnham One Designs, also on the famous Cliff Canewdon course, didn't help on the long reach down to Cliff, with some constant place changing as the fleet moved passed the RB's. Current Eastern Series Champion made the best of the conditions with a first, with local sailor Bill Taylor and Roger Smith taking second and third.

Race 2 followed the same course as race one, but tactics had changed following a turn of the tide. This race included an extra loop around the top of the course taking in Tony Glaze and Bridgemarsh Buoys, which also meant a gybe mark and some more place changing as people inspected the underside of their phantoms! The wind continued to increase during the race and left a difficult and long fetch to the finish line with continuous gusts and shifts of the south back of the Crouch. Bill Taylor was loving the conditions and left the rest of the fleet in his wake for an infatic win and his first Phantom open race win, Titch Wayling returned to form with a second place followed by Clive Morley in third, thanks to capsizes from Bob Portway and Terry Crook as they approached the finish

The standard, excellent Creeksea lunch was served and then a depleted fleet return to the water for the third race of the day. The same course was followed as race 2, I am sure that lots happened during the race, but I was quite tired by this point and don't really remember. Bill took another win followed by Terry and then Roger.

The rest of the day was then spent talking about fetching, capsizing and how much we all like Wibblers Dengie Gold, followed by a stroll into Burnham and an Indian at The Polash, who also happen to sponsor Creeksea Sailing Club!

Sunday dawned and the forecast wind was already starting to build. An even smaller fleet took to the water for three back to back races over a new course, with the windward buoy now Tony Glaze, but then a downwind leg and gybe at Cliff, returning to Tony Glaze and a final dash back to the club line. When the small and selective fleet got to Cliff for the first time of the day, the upwind leg to Tony Glaze was looking very daunting with standing waves and large gusts that challenged the complete fleet. Everyone really enjoyed the gybe at Cliff with the increased wind from Saturday, with a few sailors checking their centre boards for weed. Titch found his normal form and won race 4 of the weekend and was followed home by Terry and Warren Martin, who were sailing well in the conditions, however overnight leader Bill was not having such a good day, with problems rounding Cliff.

Race 5 took a similar pattern with Titch out the front, with just Terry to keep him company and taking second place. Following a bad start, Clive made his way from the back to take a well-deserved third place. Local hero Bill, was not enjoying the conditions as much as yesterday and retired following another problem at Cliff.

The sixth and final race of the weekend, got under way with rain clouds gathering over the windward mark! Titch nailed the start and resumed his normal position at the front of the pack, he was closely followed by local sailors Warren and Roger. With the rain, came the gusts and the inevitable capsizes on the upwind leg and the gybe mark. Titch secured his clean sweep for the day and thus taking the event from a disappointed Bill.

Lunch was served in the marquee, with much talk about Cliff Buoy and capsizing. Creeksea member Graham Dale-Jones was tasked with prize giving duties, Bill Taylor was congratulated with a well-earned second place and a large cheer from the crowd. Titch was awarded the overall win and presented with an ironic bottle of 'Taylors' Port! During the winner speech, Titch thanked Creeksea Sailing club for another excellent event, Edwin the PRO and safety boat crews. Titch also mentioned the un-touchable Bill for his two race wins on Saturday.

The Eastern Series circus now moves onto Royal Harwich for another two day event over the weekend 20-21 July.

Overall Results: