Hunts Open meeting report

Well, I waited but it looks like the club aren't going to do a report. I thought Daren and others deserved better so I've penned one as follows. It is of course also on the class website / forum etc.

Hunts Open Meeting.

Seventeen Phantoms entered the third round of the JJ boats / Tempera-Tec Eastern Series on Saturday 25th April at Hunts Sailing Club.

Race Office Richard Christmas set the fleet an extended figure of eight course to every corner of the Lake to make the best of sparkling conditions with a good force two to three wind swinging from the far end of the water.

The first race saw an overly eager fleet pushing the line resulting in the inevitable recall. The next start was better as the sailors adjusted their technique to the short biased line. Local hero Richard Parkin managed to catch an impressive looking Marcus Ingram and these two had a good race ahead of the fleet. Whilst place changing was taking place behind them it looked like a personal battle between these two who enjoyed a good lead ahead of new boy Norman Byrd from Draycote. Ingram succeeded in reeling Parkin back in upwind after having been overhauled to clinch another Open Meeting race win.

The second race was over a tweaked course with a slightly stronger wind. The favourite had to be Ingram but he failed to get through the fleet, leaving Parkin looking comfortable until his kicker broke, resulting in a retirement and an end to his challenge. This served Daren Pike and Norman Byrd well as they succeeded in close racing to pull through the fleet and finish ahead of James Case.

The last race looked like a decider for the top places with several contenders for a win. Having had a subdued two races Ian Miller seemed to hit top gear and acted as the hare for Chris Roberts, Daren Pike and Norman Byrd in leading the fleet around. Miller was very unlucky not to earn a well-deserved win though as the wind swung around on the penultimate beat to let Pike and Byrd through to finish in that order ahead of Roberts.

Daren Pike thus won the open meeting with Norman Byrd taking second and Ingram third. Dave Clarke was the first of five club boats in 8th place.

At the prize giving proud parents Pike and Byrd (could they be a stage act?) were accompanied by their respective offspring in their arms. Young man of the fleet Ingram was fortunately able to co-opt a spare infant into the role of offspring and a very paternal scene was thus created.