Thanks for this info from Pat Tollin. It appears that there have been instances of problems in downloading the pdf's from the site when you are running Windows 7 & Adobe Acrobat 9. At the moment there doesn't appear to be a resolution for some people so all we can suggest is that you download the free and excellent Foxit reader. The download can be found here  - http://download.cnet.com/Foxit-Reader/3000-10743_4-10313206.html?part=dl-116442&subj=dl&tag=button

Details of the Summer youth training have been added to the training section. Club members have priority from the date of this posting for two weeks. Click the icon below to download the booking form.

A number of photos of the "action?" from the recent Phantom open at SBSC are posted in the gallery

2010 Sutton Bingham SC Phantom Open

The 2010 running of the Phantom open at Sutton Bingham resulted in some bizarre events. Before the event even commenced a travelling sailor managed to miss the club turning, decided to turn around in the nearby picnic area and completely missed the low height barrier on the entrance. Unfortunately for him his lovely shiny carbon didn't and ended up in two pieces. On the plus side the lack of any wind whatsoever meant he had time to borrow a tin mast and re-rig his boat.

A slight puff of wind allowed the race officer to set a short course in the middle of the lake after lunch and the 13 sailors took to the water with some enthusiasm. Roger Battersby, back in a Phantom for the first time since his defection to the Slowlo's gave everyone a laugh by promptly falling in practicing a roll tack. For the race itself Ian Jay picked up the wind before everyone else and zoomed off in the gentle zephyr soon picking up a 150 yard lead. Simon Hawkes and Tom Abbott fought continuously behind. It was those sort of conditions that any lead could be lost and Jay proved it by sitting still for 5 minutes until Hawkes & Abbott caught him. Hawkes got past but Abbott couldn't, and this time it was his turn to sit in a hole while everyone behind caught up. Eventually Hawkes took the win, Jay second and Abbott fell back to 7^th. Phil Wheeler sporting a lovely borrowed tin rig ghosted past for 3^rd with the Battersby in 4^th.

A similar course was used for the 2^nd race and this time Battersby decided to wait until the start itself to provide the merriment of the other helms by diving head first into the water just as the gun went. It didn't hold him up too much as the wind had died yet again. Jay & Hawkes went left, Wheeler and the majority right. It appeared that Wheeler would get to the windward mark first but the wind swung and filled slightly from the left and Jay got there first. The next leg was nominally a reach but the leaders had to beat to the mark, tacking up to 8 times without really changing the direction of the boat. The next leg again turned in to a beat for some of it before returning to the expected run and Hawkes sailed past Jay to take the lead. At the last mark a wind shift allowed Jay to overtake Hawkes. Within 10 yards of the finish though the wind was dying and the windward boat of Jay slowed allowing the leeward boat to eke out what was left of the wind and the leeward most one of Pete Barnstable took the wind with Paul Kerley only a fraction behind. Jay took third. Hawkes ended up in 7^th.

The best wind of the day appeared for the last race and in fact some competitors nearly sat on the side of the boat. Hawkes sailed well and lead from start to finish taking the line honours and the open win with it. Battersby decided now was the time to stop messing around and sailed well battling with Jay & a fast improving Chris Bottomley. Bottomley got confused on the rounding of the leeward mark and tangled with Jay resulting in a 720° penalty turn which relegated him to 5^th. Battersby & Jay continued with Kerley closing them down all of the time. Jay eventually took second despite having to return a missed out mark and Battersby in third. Kerley couldn't quite get there and took forth.

Overall Results

1^st Simon Hawkes Wimbleball SC

2^nd Ian Jay Sutton Bingham SC

3^rd Paul Kerley Castle Cove SC

4^th Pete Barnstable Castle Cove SC

5^th Roger Battersby Sutton Bingham SC

6^th Phil Wheeler Spinnaker SC

7^th Chris Bottomley Sutton Bingham SC

8^th Simon Hare Oxford SC

9^th John Bower Plymouth Corinthian YC

10^th Nigel Leveridge Sutton Bingham SC

11^th Tom Abbott Sutton Bingham SC

12^th Steve Joyce Sutton Bingham SC

13^th Richard Cumberbatch Sutton Bingham SC

Its only two weeks to the Phantom Open at Sutton Bingham. The start time has been put back to 11.30am to save travellers having to get up at stupid o'clock. Last years winner, Gavin Young, cannot make it this year so is it your chance to win the event? Who knows? You will if you come along and have a go. The Notice of Race can be found by clicking on the pdf icon below -

The latest galley rota can be read by clicking the link.