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Savvy Navvy 2024

Phantom Inland Championship and Midland Super Series Event at Northampton Sailing Club

by Mike Webster 26 Jun 18:49 UTC 14-16 June 2024
Training day ahead of the Phantom Inlands and Midland Super Series at Northampton © Mike Webster

Over the weekend of the 14th, 15th & 16th June Northampton Sailing Club hosted the P&B Phantom training day and the Inland Championships which also formed part of the National Super Series.

Nine enthusiastic sailors attended the training on the Friday, keen to expand their knowledge and improve their sailing technique. Many attended the previous evening's club racing to make a "Long weekend" of fun sailing.

Coaching was provided by 3 sailors - all with a wealth of experience and performances in the class. John 'Titch' Wayling, 2023 Inland Champion, Class Chairman Rob Cook and 'Magic' Mike Webster. Training began with onshore boat set up and tuning tips, looking at individual boat set up - many requiring more mast rake!

Questions and answers throughout the session provided plenty of opportunity for the students to improve their knowledge.

The afternoon on the water session consisted of requested areas to work on including beating and tacking and downwind technique. Lots of sprint races provided short start lines and starting practice. A full debrief session followed with beer & curry with video footage that proved far more entertaining than England football Euros games!

The Championship weekend kicked o on Saturday light morning but by the time racing started it had increased to a fresh & fruity westerly!

Twenty-five competitors took to the water - with 3, back-to-back, races planned for the day it was going to be a test of stamina and in some cases survival.

The fleet bristled with skill and experience showing extremely close racing across the fleet. Jon Rickard, Jamie Morgan and Rob Cook each had a lead at the windward mark and revelled in the breeze.

Given the extreme conditions it was difficult to remember all the race details - they all seem to merge into one, with spray, spectacular capsizes and races that seem to go on forever. However, one fact did stick in mind as an exhausted daze closed in. Race one was abandoned after three laps due to the windward mark drifting in 30 knot gusts. So many boats capsized that the committee boat having to reinforce the safety team. The second race was the dominated at the front by Jamie Morgan and Rob Cook. Jamie finished race 3 with no spreaders and Rob completed the day with a 2nd and 2 bullets!

The evening was spent recovering & replenishing with a full roast dinner and liquid fuel in the form of Timmy Taylor's Landlord beer. Discussion focussed around Top Trumps - comparing breakages, looking through the spectacular photos of the day and watching England beat Serbia in the Euros!

Sunday was greeted by the beautiful smell of full English breakfasts being prepared by the galley and the moans & groans of aching, stiff sailors.

Sunday's forecast looked promising but there were less sailors with many retirees due to broken boats and broken sailors. Jamie Morgan was sadly not able to sail day 2. Would this leave Rob Cook in the best position to retain his Inland Championship title?

Racing commenced with plenty of general recalls but the all-important first beat saw a different set of sailors leading the pack with Rich Nurse, Titch Wayling and Sam Coxon all leading at the windward mark. Duncan Adam's showed his skill by winning races four and five. The Championship title would be decided on the final race with three contenders in the running. Reigning Champion Rob Cook, Duncan Adam's on a roll an "Mr Consistency" Adam Froggatt.

The final race was lead by Sam Coxon, increasing his lead with Rich and Mike in 2nd and third. At half-way, Adam was closing in 4th place but needed to pass both Northampton boats to take the title from Rob - both he and Duncan looked to be out of contention. With some skilful down-wind tactics Adam passed Mike then Rich on the final leg before crossing the line in second. This was the result he needed to take the Inland Championship title.

A tight and exciting event right up to the last leg and thankfully, tie-break Penalties were not required! It's amazing to see the depth of sailing skills right down through the Phantom fleet and the class now has a third New Inland Champion in a row.

Congratulations to Adam Froggatt from Chase Water SC - P&B Phantom Inland Champion 2024.

Many thanks to the race and safety team and all volunteers at Northampton SC together with a huge thankyou to Pinnell & Bax (Chandlery and Sailmakers) for sponsoring they event.

A few words from the Champion: "Winning the Phantom Inland's means the world to me, I have spent 20+ years as a crew, so to win a major event as a helm is something special. I'm still getting my head round it at the moment!

The Phantom is such a great boat, I would recommend it to anyone."

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st1449Adam FroggattChase SC‑53223212
2nd1496Rob CookNorthampton SC21145(DNC)13
3rd1370Duncan AdamsBurton SC‑64411515
4th1504Titch WaylingNorthampton SC8‑9352826
5th1440Mike WebsterNorthampton SC466‑116426
6th1472Jon RickardHooe Point SC7556‑15629
7th1450Sam CoxonChase SC3710‑1211132
8th1447Richard SimsBurton SC9‑128871244
9th1301Matthew PritchardBurton SC1011(DNC)1381153
10th1492Jim HoptonShustoke SC(DNC)8DNC104755
11th1485Clive HarriesYorkshire Dales SC(DNC)1479131558
12th1267Dean SaxtonMaylandsea Bay SC111011‑19141460
13th1500Richard NurseP&B(DNC)DNCDNC39367
14th1439Simon LennaneLlandegfedd SC(DNC)13914181367
15th1467Jamie MorganRutland SC12(DNC)DNCDNCDNC81
16th1456Andrew PotterWest Kirby SC12(DNC)DNC7191781
17th1488Andy PyettCombs SC(DNC)DNCDNC1512988
18th1482Andrew HuntRoyal Thames SC(DNC)DNCDNC20101092
19th1345Karl MorleyBurton SC(DNC)DNCDNC181720107
20th1364Tony CookDowns SC(DNC)DNCDNC212116110
21st1405Andy SmithBowmoor(DNC)DNCDNC1716UFD111
22nd1498Gordon HalfacreNorthampton SC(DNC)DNCDNC1620DNC114
23rd1425Stephen PatesRoyal Harwich YC(DNC)DNCDNC222219115
24th1494Simon EvanceMaylandsea Bay SC(DNC)DNCDNC232318116
25th1347Brian WebleyShustoke SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC130

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