Phantom Northern Travellers' Series at Crosby Sailing Club

Phantoms at Crosby © A Middleton

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