Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby Sailing Club

Clayton Parker, Junior Northern Champion and 1st Mk1 boat - Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby © Aidrian Hollier

A fantastic turnout of 24 boats arrived to contest the two-day Northern Champs held on the marine lake at West Kirby SC over the weekend of 20-21st July 2024, including 17 visitors from as far away as Kent and Essex.

Day one was forecast for a light to medium wind day and the Race Officer set a trapezoid course which was to be used for all four races so the elderly wouldn't have to remember two courses!

Off a very biased starboard line it was a fight to start bang on the pin and race one had all the usual contenders fighting for this spot. Duncan Cheshire won it, closely followed by Jeremy Cooper and Simon Hopkins. Duncan went left, Jeremy and Simon went right, and it was these two who led after mark one and positions stayed the same for the whole race. Tony Jacks and Penny Yarwood came through the pack for third and fourth.

Liz Potter, 5th - Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby - photo © Aidrian Hollier

Race two and this time Jeremy won the pin from Simon, who immediately tacked off to the right, but they rounded in this order again with Jason Galagher and Tony Jacks close behind. The next lap the wind became tricky and opened up some overtaking opportunities. Penny sailed through for the win and Simon took second. Liz Potter from West Kirby sailing a borrowed boat relegated early leader Jeremy to fourth.

Race three and it was Simon's turn to get the pin and except for a mainsheet and tiller entanglement would have been first at the windward mark. It was hard to see to exactly what happened as I untangled myself but, Tony, Jason, Liz, Ben Twist looked to have got clear. As the race unfolded Simon and Penny had worked their way through to third and fourth behind Jason and their private battle left Tony clear for an easy win ahead of Jason.

Tony Jacks, 3rd place - Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby - photo © Aidrian Hollier

Race four and the sea breeze kicked in. Arriving at the pin very late on port Duncan miraculously found a hole to tack into and a hit the line at speed above Liz and forcing Simon to tack off. Duncan led down the first run from the pack until he unfortunately hit the mark and had to do turns. Up the next beat Simon took the lead and held it to the line. Jeremy and Tony worked their way through to second and third ahead of Penny.

At the end of the day there had been a different winner in each race, but Simon was on top due to his consistent set of results. The competitors then retired to the club and a very nice evening was had in an English Summer of rain and hailstorms! West Kirby didn't let us down though and quickly moved the barbecue inside.

Penny Yarwood, 4th Place and 1st Lady - Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby - photo © Aidrian Hollier

Day 2 started early with the campers deciding to walk round the marine lake at 7am to clear their heads before breakfast. The wind had swung 180deg and picked up a bit to make it a perfect days sailing.

Race 5 started with a biased port line and it was a case of finding a position to get onto port as soon as possible. Most boats got a clean start and it became a long port tack up the lake except Simon who was over at the pin but in gybing round quickly and dipping the starboard boats found a perfect lane and rounded first. Soon Jeremy, Tony and local Liz were in hot pursuit. Jeremy got inside Simon at then next mark to take the lead and held on to finish with Simon right on his transom.

Tony decided to have a morning swim on the second lap which left Liz unchallenged for third ahead of Ben Twist who was enjoying the stronger breeze.

Simon Hopkins, 2nd place - Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby - photo © Aidrian Hollier

Race 6 and Simon held a one-point lead over Jeremy and was trying not to remember how it was the same scenario last year when Jeremy took the win and the title. The fleet all got away evenly across the start line, getting onto port as soon as possible. This time Jeremy was ahead and held on until downwind Simon got mark room and led up the next beat. On the final windward mark Jeremy start heading for the wrong mark, until Simon in a display of sportsmanship corrected him, so he retained his lead.

These positions were then held to the line to give Simon and Jeremy equal points. Jeremy won the Northern Champs title (again) on the last race and Simon was left to wonder what could have been. Tony came home third in the race to secure third place. Penny finished fourth and was awarded the prizes for first lady.

In the battle for the first Mark 1 boat it was also close between Clayton Parker and Paul Beven. Clayton held on to win by one point and also retain his junior title.

The fleet gets a breather now until the 17 August when the Travellers Trophy moves to Oxford SC for the Inland Championships.

Jeremy Cooper, Northern Champion - Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby - photo © Aidrian Hollier

Overall Results:

Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Northern Championship at West Kirby - photo © Aidrian Hollier