Andy Couch is Phantom UK Nationals Champion for 2007

by PR on 13 Sep 2007 Andy Couch comfortably retained his Phantom UK National title, beating 70 other Phantom helms who raced for the championship at Highcliffe SC near Christchurch over 7 – 9 September. Al Burrell grabbed another runners-up position on his return to the fleet, by 1 point from Will Gulliver.

Wind-guru was predicting 0-5 knots for the weekend from the North so the 'skimmers' arrived in an optimistic frame of mind for the Phantom Nationals held in association with Seabrook Developments. Two races were held Friday afternoon, in a Force 2 - 2.5 breeze, which was more than expected.

Henry Ayres got the fleet away from the beach with his usual fixed-rudder demonstration – sailing straight into the shallows, surrounded by swans, then paddling his way out.

Race 1 saw reigning champion Andy Couch and Will Gulliver start well and lead round the course with Al Burrell. Couch extended downwind while Gulliver and Burrell swapped places a number of times around the course, before Burrell grabbed second, Nick Beloe and Simon Childs rounded out the top 5.

Race 2 saw Childs off to a good start, however Couch and Gulliver worked the right to round just ahead. Couch used his off-wind speed to sail away into a comfortable lead, while Childs, Gulliver, Beloe fought for second. At the finish the order was Gulliver, Beloe, Childs and Burrell. Top 5 containing the same helms both races, two wins to Couch.

Saturday had three races scheduled, the forecast was light, the conditions not giving much hope of a sea breeze. After some sail changes amongst the leaders they headed out in not much more than a Force 1.5.

Race 3 and Paul Childs creamed the start tacking straight on to Port and easily clearing the fleet, Childs senior didn’t quite make it and ended up hitting the start mark doing turns. With the left looking good the wind went right and Tyler Harmsworth and Gavin Young appeared out in front.

Tyler looked good for the win but the last beat was full of shifts and holes, one of which had his name on! Couch again worked through into the lead, followed by Burrell and Young. Harmsworth having to make do with 4th, James Jarvey 5th.

Race 4 started in little wind, Paul Childs and Andy Brooks used their weight advantage to pull well out from the fleet. Childs led by 50yards + at the windward mark. Downwind however the holes appeared and Couch joined these 2 to have a real battle for the top spot, well ahead of the rest of the fleet, with place changes aplenty. Brooks went right on the final beat and found enough to win followed by Couch and Childs. Harmsworth and Roger Battersby rounded out the top 5.

Sailing was then abandoned for the day, losing race 5, and the breeze near the shore gave the best sailing of the day home for many !

Sunday – light again! Not looking good to catch up with the seven scheduled races. Many hangovers after a splendid evenings socialising, and a hot humid day. Force 1 ish.

Race 6, a patchy first beat looked good for Gulliver, Couch and Young, but another right shift brought in Burrell again from the right. Couch again got through to lead from Burrell and Young, with John Pryer a splendid 4th , Gulliver 5th.

At this point the wind shut off and started to swing to the South West. With time against us Race 7 was started as the wind appeared to be filling in. Battersby led at the windward mark with Chris Sallis and Gulliver just behind. The wind disappeared on at the wing mark, allowing Andy Brooks to join the front-runners taking the scenic route.

Gulliver and Sallis were nip and tuck finishing overlapped, on the shortened course, Sallis snatching a victory to retain the race trophy he won last year. Battersby held 3rd followed by Couch and Brooks.

The re-run of race 5 was not possible and the fleet headed ashore, led by Andy Couch having comfortably retained his title.

Al Burrell grabbed another runners-up position on his return to the fleet, by 1 point from Will Gulliver. Tyler Harmsworth was 4th from Nick Beloe in 5th and first Youth Andy Brooks in 6th.

Phantom - Final overall positions

1 1277 Andrew Couch Rudyard Lake SC 1 1 1 -2 1 -4 10 4pts
2 1193 Allen Burrell Thorpe Bay YC 2 5 2 -20 2 -10 41 11
3 1216 Will Gulliver Northampton SC 3 2 -15 -7 5 2 34 12
4 1174 Tyler Harmsworth Shoreham SC -10 7 4 4 6 -19 50 21
5 1170 Nick Beloe Northampton SC 4 3 6 -15 9 -18 55 22
6 1229 Andy Brooks Elton SC 8 -9 9 1 -10 5 42 23
7 1274 Simon Childs Northampton SC 5 4 7 -14 -19 8 57 24
8 1116 Chris Sallis Gt. Yarmouth & Gorleston SC 9 11 -17 9 -30 1 77 30
9 1275 Simon Heusen Lyme Regis SC 6 8 -38 -19 7 14 92 35
10 1201 Gavin Young Cotswold SC -31 22 3 8 3 (72.0 OCS) 139 36
11 1194 Paul Childs Solent Uni SC 16 (72.0 DNF) 8 3 -31 16 146 43
12 1189 Tony Thresher West Oxfordshire SC 11 10 10 -35 13 -32 111 44
13 1210 Roger Battersby Sutton Bingham SC 19 -25 -41 5 20 3 113 47
14 1209 James Jarvey Hickling Broad SC 20 17 5 -55 -23 9 129 51
15 1225 Henry Ayres West Oxford SC 7 6 18 21 -25 -27 104 52
16 1278 Chris Roberts Creeksea SC -37 19 11 16 12 -25 120 58
17 1279 Neil Fulcher Stone SC 13 12 14 -25 -38 23 125 62
18 1243 Paul Lester Chase SC 15 15 -39 12 21 -24 126 63
19 1119 Simon Cowood Northampton SC 12 14 12 30 (72.0 BFD) (72.0 OCS) 212 68
20 1255 James Case Wells SC 30 18 -48 6 -33 15 150 69
21 1184 Simon Feilden Hickling Broad SC 14 13 22 -39 -34 22 144 71
22 1258 John Pryer Dee SC -36 28 32 -56 4 11 167 75
23 1177 Russell Smith Bowmoor SC 29 -30 -31 13 22 13 138 77
24 1112 Tony Fastnedge Lyme Regis SC 32 -43 21 11 18 (72.0 OCS) 197 82
25 1147 Pete Evans Rudyard Lake SC 18 23 -35 22 (72.0 BFD) 20 190 83
26 1211 Chris Shelton Downs SC -38 29 -49 26 14 21 177 90
27 1280 George Odling Burghfield SC 24 20 -64 -31 16 31 186 91
28 1169 Ed Dixon Rudyard Lake SC 17 26 24 24 (72.0 DNS) (72.0 DNS) 235 91
29 1256 Rod Thorpe Creeksea SC -39 (72.0 DNF) 23 37 32 7 210 99
30 1136 Colin Walters Lyme Regis SC -40 -38 26 33 24 17 178 100
31 1264 Jeremy Shinton Bartley SC 28 -45 36 10 27 -42 188 101
32 1269 Kevin Clark Seafarers SC 33 21 30 17 -50 (72.0 DNS) 223 101
33 1183 Daren Pike Rollesby Broad SC 27 -39 20 27 -47 28 188 102
34 1165 Roger Beavis Blakeney SC -59 -60 33 32 17 29 230 111
35 1130 Peter Bennett Shoreham SC -44 (72.0 DNF) 42 28 40 6 232 116
36 1221 Neil Fraser Sutton Bingham SC -48 -48 28 34 26 30 214 118
37 1293 Robin Hobson Shoreham SC 23 16 50 -66 -55 33 243 122
38 979 Alan Husk Creeksea SC 21 42 19 -50 42 (72.0 DNS) 246 124
39 1131 Chas Hammond Shoreham SC -51 36 43 36 11 (72.0 OCS) 249 126
40 1202 Paul Beasley Thorpe Bay YC 22 32 29 43 (72.0 BFD) (72.0 OCS) 270 126
41 127 Nick Orman Castle Cove SC 25 31 44 -46 28 (72.0 OCS) 246 128
42 0 Jeff Vander Borght Lyme Regis SC (72.0 DNS) (72.0 DNS) 16 29 15 72.0 DNS 276 132
43 1267 Bill Whitney Shoreham SC -43 33 27 40 -45 36 224 136
44 1151 Philip Worth Delph SC 35 (72.0 DNF) 13 18 (72.0 DNS) 72.0 DNS 282 138
45 1160 Pete Barnstaple Sutton Bingham SC -52 37 34 38 29 -39 229 138
46 1252 Dave Guthrie Lyme Regis SC 26 34 25 57 (72.0 DNS) (72.0 DNS) 286 142
47 1288 Douglas Conway Paxton Lakes SC 34 27 37 -58 -53 44 253 142
48 1096 Ivan Walsh Shoreham SC 42 -46 (72.0 DNS) 41 36 26 263 145
49 909 Mike Potter Blithefield SC 41 24 46 -53 39 (72.0 OCS) 275 150
50 1139 Chris Bottomley Sutton Bingham SC -56 54 -57 23 41 34 265 152
51 1261 Brian Glen Lyme Regis (72.0 DNS) (72.0 DNS) 72.0 DNS 72.0 DNS 8 12 308 164
52 1214 Bob Larder Frensham Pond 46 44 45 -48 -49 37 269 172
53 1289 Paul Kerley Sutton Bingham SC 49 -51 47 42 -52 41 282 179
54 1164 Mike Tustin Bowmoor SC 45 41 40 60 (72.0 DNS) (72.0 DNS) 330 186
55 1155 Ian Miller Alton Water SC -58 53 -60 45 54 35 305 187
56 1270 John Bower Mayflower SC 53 35 53 -62 46 (72.0 DNS) 321 187
57 1111 Jez Taylor Southwold SC 50 -52 52 44 43 (72.0 DNS) 313 189
58 1231 Ron Chivers Weston SC 54 -55 -61 54 44 38 306 190
59 1163 Robin Sanders Chase SC 47 40 56 49 (72.0 BFD) (72.0