Phantom Midland Travellers Open at Burton Sailing Club
by Richard Nurse 14 Oct 2023 02:45 AEDT
8 October 2023
The morning of October 8th saw the keen Phantom sailors start arriving at Foremark reservoir for the 2023 Burton Sailing Club, the final event of the Phantom Midland Travellers Trophy.
Unfortunately the wind was not as keen as the sailors. Race Officer Ian Merryfield matched the enthusiasm of the sailors and held his briefing in the sunshine outside the club house at 10:15 as scheduled, but the weather still had not provided the sought after wind, so the decision was taken to hold the fleet ashore until at least one o'clock after lunch.
So the order of the morning was tea and chat. Midday came and went and the fleet enjoyed the lunch. At one o'clock the fleet reconvened and decided to wait just a little longer. At 1:45pm Ian made the call for the fleet to go afloat. At 2:30pm the fleet would be ready for the first start, with most of the fleet assembled at the starboard end, trying not to be over the line in the very light breeze. It would be Adam Froggatt of Chase SC who lead the way round the course, with the breeze building and dropping fairly evenly across the lake.
After a quick reposition of the committee boat the second race would get underway cleanly, and once again it would be Adam that would lead the fleet this time on the windward leeward course.
Unfortunately the wind all but disappeared on the third downwind leg, so the fleet returned for more local hospitality and the prize giving where Adam not only collected the win on the day but the Midland Travellers Series to boot.