Noble Marine Lightning 368 Southern Championship at Up River Yacht Club

Jack Gore during the Training Day ahead of the Lightning Southern Championship © Adrian Hollier

Penny Yarwood during the Training Day ahead of the Lightning Southern Championship © Adrian Hollier

The latest event of the Noble Marine Lightning Travellers, took the fleet to Up River Yacht Club, for the Southern Championships.

This was a two day event, with the first day being a training day, under the tuition of the current Lightning National Champion, Robbie Claridge. He sat us all down for a briefing of what we were going to cover during the afternoon. First of all, we were just to sail an upwind, downwind course, so that Robbie could see how our sails were set. Next we all got into a line, following Robbie in the rib, to test our boat handling skills, slowing down, speeding up appropriately, then on the blast of the whistle, we all headed upwind and then subsequently tacked on each blow of the whistle. We then did the reverse downwind, gybing on the whistle. After doing this a few times, we then did some small races, to test what we had learned, before retiring for the day, all totally exhausted, for a debrief on what we had covered, followed by a take-out meal and drinks at the bar!!

Day 2, the open meeting. 14 Lightnings were joined by the Comet fleet for their joint open. The forecast, hot and light and shifty winds, not ideal conditions when sailing against an incoming tide. Matt Picket, our Race Officer for the day, set the three back to back courses, before we all launched.

Race One, saw the wind shift a complete 180 degrees before the start, meaning that we had a downwind start, instead of the usual beat. Penny's niece, Rosie Gore, Caroline Hollier and Paul Beven opted for the south bank, while the rest of the fleet took the north bank, led by Penny Yarwood. Rosie and co did wonder if they had made the right choice, but as they crossed the tide, the fell in behind Penny. Penny was subsequently first round the mark, followed by Rosie, John Claridge, Jeremy Cooper and Caroline. It was then a beat back up the river to the next mark and in the dying wind, Matt decided to shorten the race. Penny took the lead, but the next four chopped and changed positions to the finish. Penny secured her first win, next John, Jeremy Caroline and Rosie.

In Race Two the fleet headed off against the tide down river again, all opting for the south bank this time. Penny again took an early lead closely followed by Caroline, with Robbie Claridge and John in the mix. Penny rounded first followed by Robbie. By this time, half the lightning fleet and the comets had barely crossed the start line, as they got caught up in the tide taking them back up the river. This being the case, Matt decided to finish the leading Lightnings. Penny secured her second win, followed by John, Robbie and Caroline, keeping just ahead of Jeremy.

Once all the boats had finished Race three got under way. This time Matt had set the course up the river, so that we could then sail back to the club finish line on the tide. Robbie took an early lead, closely followed by Caroline and Penny's nephew Jack Gore, who all sailed close to the north bank and were pulling away from the rest of the fleet. Then Steve Hodges, who had taken the south bank had a huge lift to overtake Jack and Caroline for second, but then fell into a dead patch. But then Penny's brother, Ben Harris came through the fleet, after finally getting to grips with sailing a Mark 3, which he had borrowed from Simon Hopkins, for the weekend. First to the mark was eventually Robbie, who had gained a great lead and in the dying wind, Ben followed ahead of Jeremy and Caroline. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet, including Penny and John, had got a puff of wind to catch up the leaders. Penny gained water on Caroline at the gybe mark, but Caroline was still able to keep ahead. As we all rounded the bend in the river, we could see Robbie stalling ahead. It then became a drag race to the finish between Penny, John, Caroline, Ben and Jeremy, all of them catching Robbie. After a few tactical gybes, Robbie came in first, Penny second and Caroline third, just ahead of John.

Overall Results:

Juniors
1st Rosie Gore
2nd Jack Gore
3rd Elanwy Hopkins.

Next events in the Noble Marine Travellers Series. A few of our sailings are heading off to do the Lord Birkett Memorial Race on Ullswater on 6 and 7 July, followed a week later at Cookham Reach on the River Thames.

Noble Marine Lightning 368 Sea Championship 2024 - photo © John Butler