Blustery at Bewl Valley

The Phantom fleet had a long, hard day during their Bewl Valley Open Meeting

The second event in the Phantom Tempra-tech Eastern series attracted 17 boats to a blustery Bewl Valley on Sunday 20th April.

Three races were planned with two back to back races before lunch. Simon Childs looked set to dominate the first race from the start and pulled out a good lead by the first offwind mark only to watch the fleet sail on to the correct second mark that he had overlooked. James Case took the lead but miscounted laps and marks to surrender his significant lead and allow Russell Smith into the lead. Simon Childs gradually hunted Smith down to win. Russell Smith took second place with 'new boy' Andy Gregory from Blym taking third, Case couldn't recover finishing eighth.

The second race was a more spread out affair as the fleet developed the art of negotiating the Solo fleet over the short windward / leeward section of the course. Daren Pike took an early bath whilst in second place leaving Chris Roberts ahead of Case to follow Simon Childs. Russell Smith sailed well to pull through to second place again with Roberts in third and Case in fourth.

Following a splendid lunch the fleet took to the water in a stiffening breeze to settle the minor places after Childs. Smith and Jez Taylor were too enthusiastic on the start and had to return allowing Case and Childs to lead followed by newcomer Greg Eaton. Russell Smith however sealed his second place record with a charge through the fleet with Childs who got through Case upwind, yet again showing the fleet the quick way round the course and Gregory taking third. By now the fleet was showing signs of tiring with a few swims and dodgy tacks in the shifty breeze.

Overall the results were tight with equal scores for fourth and fifth with countback king Pike again pipping James Case. Of the three club boats racing Peter Cour won the bitter battle ahead of class stalwarts Roger Brown and Bob Barris. It was a pleasure to see more new faces in the class and the return of past aces to the class bodes well for the next class events. After the prizegiving the new very desirable Eastern Series Polo shirts were handed out to all entrants by Rod "Brucie" Thorpe.

Results:

Pos	Helm	R1	R2	R3	Tot	Net
1	Simon Childs	-1	1	1	3	2
2	Russell Smith	-2	2	2	6	4
3	Andy Gregory	4	-8	3	15	7
4	Daren Pike	3	-7	5	15	8
5	James Case	-8	4	4	16	8
6	Chris Roberts	9	3	-10	22	12
7	Marcus Ingram	7	5	(DNC)	30	12
8	Chris Shelton	-11	6	6	23	12
9	Greg Eaton	6	-9	7	22	13
10	Rod Thorpe	5	11	(DNC)	34	16
11	Ian Miller	-12	10	8	30	18
12	Jez Taylor	10	-12	9	31	19
13	Phill Cobby	-14	14	11	39	25
14	Dave Hawkins	13	13	(DNC)	44	26
15	Peter Cour	-17	17	12	46	29
16	Roger Brown	16	15	(DNF)	49	31
17	Bob Barris	15	16	(DNF)	49	31