Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M600

Phantom class in the Gorleston Beach Regatta 2024 at Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Sailing Club

by Ben Falat 25 Jun 2024 09:18 UTC 22-23 June 2024
Great Yarmouth & Gorleston SC 75th Anniversary Beach Regatta © GYGSC

Great Yarmouth & Gorleston SC's Phantom open meeting, the most easterly event on the national class programme, just about made 'quorum', which for a clash of events with Shoreham nevertheless meant some high-teens turnout between the two.

This Open was run as part of the mid-summer Gorleston Beach Regatta over 22/23-June, now probably in its 75th year; there was a sizeable parallel fleet of Vareos as well as a good crowd of Solutions.

Three races were scheduled each day, and the fleet set off on Saturday in a brisk southerly Force-4; Nick Favell (1384) proved very fast to windward (after a mid-week tweaking visit to JJ-Boats!) and because wind & tide paralleled, this made the beats disproportionately long against runs conversely quite short. The tactic was to head inshore to cheat current, then gauge how far 'apparently' to overstand Mark 1... in order to just about lay it on the tack out to sea into increasing northerly current.

Ben Falat (1266) chased, but Nick simply increased his distance whole race; third Warren Martin (1433), fourth Philip Harlow (1185).

Ben had some issue at start of Race 2 and got away late, unable to catch-up and the finish order was Nick, Warren, Ben.

Middle of Race 3 the wind briefly faded as black clouds arrived with a deluge of rain. The day ended in Nick holding three extremely convincing 'Golds' and looking untouchable.

Sunday's wind proved considerably lighter, but still a very sailable ESE Force-2/3 and plenty of pre-race splosh of suntan-lotion needed. Race 4 and Ben laid down his intentions to Nick with his first bullet; this perhaps tactically trickiest race called for careful thought over the last of the flood, with inshore turn of current occurring before offshore.

Warren led Race 5 at Mark 1 with Ben in very close pursuit and Nick languishing; due to the current-shear across the course the downwind leg became one-sided and Ben spotting this first, gybed earliest, overtook and pulled clear of Warren, therewith securing a serious challenge to Nick's previous clean sweep.

Sure enough the event ended with equal 1,1,1,2,3,2 to Nick and 2,3,2,1,1,1 to Ben, with Ben winning on double-countback by beating Nick in their last race.

Cracking champagne-sailing, excellent Norfolk catering at the club and wholly congenial atmosphere, Gorleston Beach now boasts a massive sandy beach and is a families' summertime honeypot; the local Beach-Guard team worked closely with the club to manage the crowds of swimmers who might possess potential death wish should they get in the way of launching or recovering dinghies as they bucked-'n-broncoed through onshore breaking waves; all passed in happy controlled manner without further incident.

Next Eastern Phantom event is at Royal Harwich YC over 6/7 July. To celebrate the club's 75th anniversary there is a very special offer for the 2024 season to new members... 1st year membership £75 with no joining fees.

Overall Results, counting towards the Eastern Series:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st1266Ben FalatWOBYC‑2‑321115
2nd1394Nick FavellGYGSC111‑22‑35
3rd1433Warren MartinCreeksea SC‑3233‑4210
4th1152Phil HarlowGYGSC‑4‑4DNC43415

Related Articles

Burnham Week preview
All comers invited to join in the fun at this premier east coast regatta With one month to go to the start of Burnham Week 2025, preparations are well under way for this premier east coast regatta. The buzz around town and news of entries gives a good indication that this event is gearing up to be a classic edition. Posted today at 1:12 pm
Phantom Super Series at Lee-on-the-Solent
Magic Mike gave his top tips to the sailors The weekend kicked off with a successful training day on Friday, led by the one and only "Magic" Mike Webster. Twelve Phantom sailors benefited from top tips, rig tuning advice, and a glorious 12-15 knot south-westerly breeze. Posted on 22 Jul
Phantom sailing is hotting up in the south west
After two great events, the Nationals at Plymouth beckons Two more Phantom events just completed at Castle Cove and Lee-on-Solent in idyllic conditions, as a precursor to the P&B Phantom National Championships in Plymouth. Posted on 21 Jul
Phantom Eastern Series at Great Yarmouth
Class dominates at annual Gorleston Beach Regatta Gorleston Sailing Club hosted its annual Beach Regatta over the weekend of June 28th and 29th, welcoming a mix of visiting classes including the Phantom fleet, several Vareos, and a variety of club boats. Posted on 9 Jul
Phantoms at Hollingworth Lake
Third event in the Northern Series sailed alongside the Solos Three visitors joined two boats from the home club for the Northern Series Phantom Open at Hollingworth Lake SC on Sunday 6th July. This was the third event in the Northern Series and was once again shared with the Solos for their Northern Championship. Posted on 8 Jul
Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Beach Regatta
A good test for competitors over a range of sailing conditions This year's GYGSC Beach Regatta was held over the weekend of the 28th and 29th June. It was a weekend of contrasting weather, very warm and windy on Saturday, cooler and a calmer on Sunday (but still warm). Posted on 2 Jul
Rudyard Lake Phantom Open
Some competitors opt for gardening over gusts Rudyard Lake Sailing Club once again played host to a joint Phantom and ILCA open meeting on the 28th of June. Five Phantoms returned, buoyed by fond memories of last year's long beats and endless reaches. Posted on 30 Jun
Phantoms at Queen Mary
11 Phantoms walk into a reservoir... Eleven bold (some say foolish) Phantoms descended upon QMSC, riding in on a fresh breeze — though some were fresher than others, thanks to last week's unfortunate wildlife encounter. But I digress. Posted on 19 Jun
P&B Phantom Inland Championships at Burton
Including training on Friday offering some really solid tips Burton Sailing Club was our host for this year's P&B sponsored Phantom Inland Championships, including training on Friday offering some really solid tips for those keen to be at the front, with Titch, Rob and Rich sharing their trade secrets. Posted on 13 Jun
Coppet Week Regatta 2025 at Saundersfoot
Disrupted by strong winds after the amazing spring weather After one of the longest stretches of Spring sunshine in West Wales for a long time the opening Sunday of Saundersfoot Sailing Club's Coppet Week Regatta saw a noticeable change in the weather. Posted on 13 Jun
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo S Series