• "Alan. Congratulations on another fine win at this year’s PAA Championships. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into sailing?"

A friend who came to Westcliff as a probationer, where I was then serving introduced me to sailing. He taught me in his father's Mirror in return for me teaching him to play squash. He tried to scare me by dipping the gunwale into the water but just succeeded in getting me hooked on my first outing, so I loved it from the beginning.

I have now been sailing for fifteen years starting in a Mirror, Solo's, 505, Fireball, International 14, RS400, RS600, Dart 18 and more recently my Phantom, No. 999.

• "Besides the two PAA wins, what other (enjoyable) experiences have you had?"

I've competed at PAA offshore sailing on 4 occasions. 3 were on the south coast and one on the Solent. These were very enjoyable occasions for me, as I never knew there were so many good pubs and eateries to be visited on the Isle of Wight. On the 4th occasion I helmed a Sigma 33 around the Western Isles of Scotland and saw the fantastic view of the Mull of Kintyre coming out of the mist during a night race to Northern Ireland. On arrival we sat on the foredeck and watched the sun rise, eating cheese and drinking red wine. It just cannot be beaten as a memorable moment in my sailing career.

Also I took part in a night sail in a gale 6-7 in a dead run from EC1, Mid-channel mark to Boulogne in one of the South Coast PAA events. I was sick as a dog during the crossing and would not recommend such. I did race back the next day despite the fact that the ferry terminal was not too far away.

Another most memorable performance to note was the Solo world championships in 1995 where I achieved a 4th place in Holland on the Ijsselmeer. In 1998 at Stone on the River Crouch I won the Phantom Nationals. As you are aware, in 2000 I won the PAA Nationals at Rutland Water and at Southampton this year; both enjoyable experiences.

• "You now sail a Phantom. What made you decide on that particular class?"

I had been sailing a Solo for 10 years and getting more generous in proportions each year which led me to look for a dinghy to accommodate the more heavier build. I decided on a Phantom and found myself at the baby end of the fleet at 15 and a half stone, which progressed as high as 18 stone. However there are some lighter competitors who also compete in the Phantoms at 12 stone.

• "Would you recommend the Phantom for the beginner/ prospective sailor and why?"

I would recommend Phantoms for the beginner if generously proportioned as it carries weight so well. Solos are limited to between 10 -14 stone realistically to compete but if you are young and prepared to work hard, a Phantom is the ideal dinghy. They plane early in a breeze and go to windward well if you push them hard

• "You might as well plug the class at this point. Any info about Phantoms?"
  

  Start of Race 3, Phantom Nationals, 2000, Plymouth

  The Phantom Association chairman and treasurer is Roger Brown who resides at 'LIMANAKI', Straight Half Mile, Maresfield, UCKFIELD, East Sussex, TN22 2HH

• "Back to this year’s PAA. This is the second time you’ve won it. How did you find the venue?"

I have sailed at Netley 4 times now and the water is excellent for tight, close racing. They cannot put out long beats due to restrictions imposed by shipping channels. It improves tactics and manoeuvres but and not everyone wants to sail mile-long beats. I have sailed worse and I would be happy to go back there.

• "What about the races?"

I find all the races a blur of concentration and effort and hardly know where I am on a course at times through looking for the wind shifts and tidal flows. I am continually trying for clear air yet still considering the back eddies and wave patterns sailing trim at all times. All races seem short to me with so much going on there is not time to sit still or be bored although I do like varied courses. Olympic Trapezoid, Reverse P's and Triangular courses make it more of a challenge and fairer as one course may suit one type of boat better.

• "Apart from the day for the Laser Nationals which take place on the first day, the PAA dinghy sailing is handicap racing. From your experience and expertise, can you say what the main advantage there was in sailing the Phantom, compared with other classes?"
  The advantages of a Phantom are its weight and size. A hull minimum of 60 kilos and a sail the same as a fireball mainsail makes a very good combination especially in light to moderate winds. The Phantom gets powered up early whereas the Boss and trapeze boats take longer to reach their optimum performance. In a blow the Phantom can get overpowered which is when it gets really exciting. If you can hang on with spray flying everywhere, unable to see, so scared that capsizing would be a treat, then it becomes interesting.

• "Many years ago when anything up to 60/70 boats sailed in the PAA, I can remember Essex holding the PAA Championships at Southend. What’s the current state of Police Sailing in Essex?"
  Essex at the moment does not have any club boats, which is a shame, as I know there are lots of people who would take up the challenge. Practicalities of maintenance, repair and storage make this difficult so there are only 3 of us who privately own dinghies who compete. I think it is a shame because sailing promotes companionship and friendship as well as competitiveness.

• "Is there anything you’d like to see in PAA Sailing/Police Sailing?"
  I'd like to see a record of 60-70 boats in PAA events but with restrictions on time-off, it is more and more difficult to hold events. It is the same people who know how good it is who keep attending each time. If everyone brought a colleague to next year's event we would reach this target.

Barnacle Bill, 2001

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