2026 Phantom Eastern Series Opener and Craftinsure Super Series at Stone Sailing Club

The opening event of the 2026 Phantom Eastern Series also doubled as a Craftinsure Super Series event and attracted a strong fleet of fifteen boats to Stone Sailing Club over the weekend of 9th-10th May.

Competitors travelled from across the Eastern region and beyond, with a particularly strong turnout from the "Creeksea Massive" representing Creeksea Sailing Club. Three boats also made the journey from Northampton Sailing Club, proving once again that sailors are more than willing to travel for the famous Eastern circuit hospitality.

A number of visitors arrived on Friday evening and enjoyed a local curry before the rest of the fleet descended on Stone on Saturday morning ahead of the 11:30 briefing. Race Officer Neil Fulcher, a Phantom legend, outlined plans for a reverse Olympic sausage-triangle course and a much appreciated schedule of three races back-to-back in a freshening easterly breeze.

Saturday dawned bright with an easterly of around 12-16 knots, building steadily throughout the day. With wind over tide and the flood running, conditions delivered relatively flat water with just enough swell to create rewarding downwind surfing opportunities. As one sailor described it afterwards, it was simply "champagne sailing".

Race one saw an eager but well-behaved fleet get away cleanly with nobody over the line. The tactical picture quickly developed with most sailors diving inshore to escape the tide, while a few elected to work the middle of the course searching for shifts. Richard Nurse rounded the weather mark first ahead of Rob Cook, John Wayling and local Creeksea favourite Bill Taylor.

1395 during the Phantom Eastern Series Opener at Stone Sailing Club - photo © Stone Sailing Club

Taylor, however, was clearly in fine form and gradually worked his way through to take the win, with Cook also finding a way past Nurse by the finish. A strong showing from local Stone sailor and former class chairman Phil Longley secured fourth, followed by Wayling.

There was barely time to catch breath before Fulcher and his race team had the fleet turned around and into the next sequence. The efficiency of the Stone team throughout the weekend was exceptional, with rapid mark adjustments and slick race management keeping the event flowing seamlessly despite the strengthening conditions.

Race two produced one of the moments of the weekend. While much of the fleet once again crowded towards the committee boat end planning an escape route to the right-hand shore, Wayling had other ideas. Starting near the pin, "Titch" launched a spectacular port-tack flyer, crossed the entire fleet cleanly and disappeared into the distance. It was a move that would have looked optimistic in the bar afterwards, but on the water it was executed with complete conviction and devastating effect.

By now the breeze had built enough for some white horses to appear across the course and the runs and reaches became full of joy. Tim Denby from Broadstairs sailed an excellent race to finish fourth, while Wayling never looked back to secure a commanding victory.

Race three saw another major tactical split develop. Warren Martin, Taylor and Wayling all committed hard left into open water while the majority of the fleet again headed right seeking tidal relief inshore. As the race developed, it became increasingly apparent that the left-hand trio had judged the shifts beautifully and when the fleet reconvened only Cook and Nurse remained in contention.

Cook rounded first from Nurse and Martin, but positions continued to change rapidly. Martin managed to work through Nurse on the run to claim second at the leeward gate, only for Nurse to respond immediately on the following beat, footing for speed and reclaiming the place before the next weather mark. Meanwhile Taylor — "Slayer" to many in the fleet — demonstrated excellent tactical judgement and superior boat speed to overhaul Martin during the latter stages.

The race finished with Cook taking the win from Nurse, Taylor, Martin and Wayling close behind.

Race Officer Neil Fulcher at large during the Phantom Eastern Series Opener at Stone Sailing Club - photo © Stone Sailing Club

The quality of the racing throughout the fleet was exceptional. Numerous private battles developed across the course and the competitiveness of the fleet was perhaps best illustrated in race three, where all fifteen boats finished within three minutes of each other in a race lasting around 35-40 minutes.

Back ashore, the weary fleet retired to the bar where chef Mark produced an excellent evening meal while Chelsea kept everybody well supplied from behind the bar. While some sailors wisely headed home for recovery, the campervan contingent continued long into the evening. Subsequent photographic evidence suggested enthusiastic in-betweener dancing, a highly competitive cardboard-box game and at least one ambitious Dirty Dancing-style lift — featuring Chelsea herself — may have occurred.

Sunday morning, however, brought a very different mood.

The fleet walked over the seawall to inspect conditions greeted by a strong north-north-easterly, gusting well into the twenties over an ebb tide. Large standing waves had formed mid-course and conversations around the dinghy park became notably quieter. Discussions followed between competitors, Eastern Series representatives and Fulcher, who felt conditions were right at the upper limit for running a quality open meeting.

With the Inland Championships due the following weekend, concerns about damage to both sailors and equipment understandably entered the equation. Although the Stone race team remained fully prepared to race, the fleet ultimately "voted with their feet" and the decision was taken to abandon Sunday racing.

The sailors packed away before reconvening for an 11am prize-giving.

Fifth overall - and therefore awarded the quill and responsibility for writing this report - was Warren Martin. Third place went to Taylor after an excellent and consistently quick weekend, second to Nurse, and overall victory to Cook.

Rob Cook wins the Phantom Eastern Series Opener at Stone Sailing Club - photo © Warren Martin

During the prize-giving, Cook thanked the race committee, rescue crews, Chef Mark and his team in the galley, Chelsea and the bar team, and everyone at Stone Sailing Club for putting on such an outstanding event. He also joked that he intends to keep returning to Stone until he finally manages to complete a full two-day event there, after several recent visits have lost a day to the weather.

The Phantom fleet now looks ahead to the Optimum Time 2026 Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club on the 16th-17th May. That is followed by the Northampton Sailing Club open meeting on 12th-14th June, featuring a Friday training day and two days of racing, before the Eastern Series reconvenes for the always-popular Phantom Eastern Series at Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Sailing Club on 27th-28th June — one of the standout sea-sailing events on the calendar.

Overall Results: