HD Sails Phantom South East Series Open at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Saturday 28th March saw the HD Sails South East Series kick off at Bough Beech Sailing Club in Kent. Ten boats turned up to be welcomed by, not only a very friendly host team, but bright sunshine and 5 knots of wind from the West.

It turns out that Westerly direction isn't the best at this venue and the 15 knots steadily increased through the day and produced gusts touching the high 20's at times. Ther race team did well to get 4 races away for both the Phantoms and the Finns who shared the event. They set a trapezoid course of about a mile in length and stuck with it through the day. Some great reaches but a few shifty beats!

Rich during the HD Sails Phantom South-East Series at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Race 1

With a little uncertainty where the next shift would come from there was a fairly even spread along the line to start. Richard Nurse and Jeremy Deacon took the Committee Boat end and nailed the start only for Jez to get hit by a gust and fill his dropped cockpit up for the first beat. Rich looked to have got away clean only to get blown flat on the first tack! That left Paddy Denby, Bill Taylor, Nick Mason and Chris Shelton through to get to the windward mark first. Paddy and Bill left the rest of the fleet behind and went on to finish in that order. Rich and Jez fought back through with some epic reaches and close beats with Rich taking 3rd and Jez 4th followed by Nick and Chris. Tim Denby was the first casualty of the day with an injury putting him out for the rest of the meeting.

Nick during the HD Sails Phantom South-East Series at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Race 2

Another even start with Paddy looking to make it first to the mark. However, an unplanned dip right in front of Chris, Rich and Jez caused chaos and Chris nipped through with Rich and Jez taking the long route round Paddy's rig. This let the pack close up and what followed was some fast and furious runs and reaches with Bill taking the lead and the rest battling it out and letting him inch away. Rich broke free to chase Bill down and Chris dropped away leaving Nick and Jez to fight for 3rd (a theme for the day it seems). On the final tack of the race, Bill got himself in irons and Rich pounced to snatch the win followed by a distraught Bill. Jeremy Held Nick for 3rd and Chris held Paddy for 5th. Further back Justin Phillips and Dave Patrick were fighting the wind and came home 7th and 8th and Mark Spruce was heading for shore after his 3rd dip of the day and a big lump of clay on his mast top.

Dave during the HD Sails Phantom South-East Series at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

We broke for lunch at this point which was a welcome break but proved a show stopped for some. As we came back out to launch again the wind had stepped up and 4 boats thought better of it and hit the showers. Lesson learnt, don't come off the water until its done!

Race 3

So, just 5 boats set off at the gun for race 3 with Jez leading round the windward mark this time (we were taking it in turns!). He held this down the reach only to go too far right on the run and let the rest through underneath him. This proceeded another 3 laps of very tight racing with 4 boats overlapped almost the whole time. Chris had dropped back by now and was finished a lap early to take 5th. Paddy managed to eke out a small lead to take his second win followed by Rich with Jez just holding off Nick again for 3rd.

Top 4 during the HD Sails Phantom South-East Series at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Race 4

With Chris heading for the shore, it was down to 4 boats. The open was between Paddy and Rich with winner takes all and the last step on the podium was between Jez and Nick with Jez just needing to follow him home. The start was as close as it had been all day and the beat was so close you couldn't call it. This continued for a couple of laps until Rich smashed the beat and built a lead he would hold to the end to take the win and the Open. Jez tacked out of the dirty wind and got the beat totally wrong falling way back leaving Nick in second and Paddy third. However, that would hand Nick 3rd overall and so drawing the reserves of energy he didn't have, Jez pulled off a flying final run and reach to get over the top of Paddy at the last make and sail him beyond the committee boat. Paddy luffed and made Jez tack for the line only for a massive header to put them both back about and tip Paddy in just before the line securing 3rd for Jez and the last step on the podium (Sorry Paddy!).

Richard Nurse wins the HD Sails Phantom South-East Series at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

What an epic day's racing and a great way to start the Series. May thanks to Sarah and the team at Bough Beech SC for hosting us.

On to Oxford SC next on 11th/12th April for more HD Sails South East Phantom Action!

Overall Results: