Lightning368 Open Meeting at Hunstanton Sailing Club

Lee Bratley prepares for Lightning368 action at Hunstanton © Emma Dodd

Sailing within the Allcomers 2nd fleet during the first weekend of the infamous North West Norfolk Week, this was the inaugural Lightning 368 Hunstanton Open.

7 boats arrived, 4 of whom would stay to compete over the whole week, to a glorious summers day ,a good breeze and lumpy sea that would be a real test.

On Saturday in race one, with the tide in full ebb, the fleet were fighting to be the furthest inshore and take the long starboard tack up the beach to stay out of the tide. Simon Hopkins was first off the line, however, it was Matt Hopkins who - showing that his recent successful week at Weymouth in the NSSA championships had not been a waste - did a crafty short tack into the middle of the track early and sailed over the top the lead round the first mark ahead of Hopkins Sr and Paul White. Paul used his now customary speed downwind to pass Simon on the first reach and Matt on the second to take the lead. Although Matt and Simon kept him honest this was the order over the line followed by Penny Yarwood, Lee Bratley and Caroline Key.

In race two, the fleet spread evenly down the line with Paul, Caroline and Lee offshore, Matt in the middle, and Simon and Penny on the beach. Once again it was Matt in the middle who pulled out the lead into clear air to once again lead at the first mark, this time followed by Paul, Caroline and Simon. At the leeward mark Matt still held the lead from Paul with Simon having pulled through to third, before Matt discovered the problem of handicap racing getting caught below other boats whilst Paul tacked off and slipped through to the lead. Once again the order stayed the same for a repeat of race one but behind, Lee held off Penny and Caroline to record a memorable race result and his best of his season so far to end the first day, in the bar with Paul White leading the way.

Sunday dawned Sunny, with light winds, but there were ominous clouds on the horizon. As the start guns went it was like a signal for the squall to hit and wind got up, the hail stones arrived and the sea went from mild to huge all in about 10 minutes, decimating the whole fleet as boats capsized, broke or took the 'better part of valour' route back to the beach - but the little Lightnings toughed it out.

As expected it was Simon who arrived at the windward mark first ahead of Paul, Lee, Penny, Caroline with Matt having rudder downhaul issues following behind. The bear away onto the reach was exciting to say the least and there was much screaming from Simon and Paul for the next two legs, whilst a huge gust took out Caroline, Lee and Matt – pretty much in the same place on the course - but Penny survived. Caroline and Allan retired and Matt, having cut his fingers on the (new) slot gasket, was retired to the beach by the rescue boat on the ‘blood rule’ with his boat sailed in by a rescue boat volunteer.

Simon stayed ahead for the next beat and reach when the wind decided to stop and left the final reach as a windless run. Much to Simon’s despair Paul bobbed through to take the win (again) by a boat length. Penny followed home sometime later having given her new stiff Superspar mast a good test closely followed by the recovering Lee, who was having a terrifically consistent weekend.

With the new wind, much time was taken to set a new course, giving Matt time to get his boat back, sort out his rudder downhaul and sail back out to the start. Caroline and Allan having already decided enough was enough, leaving 5 boats to contend the last race. After the first beat it was once again Matt who led convincingly round the first mark followed by Simon, Paul, Lee and Penny. Matt extended his lead down the reaches whilst (for once) Simon held Paul off for the same order up the next beat with Lee still holding Penny off.

Normal business was resumed on the second reach when Paul went below Simon to round just ahead and then the dice was rolled. Being a biased beat Matt had tacked early whilst Paul and Simon stood on for a short distance. Those 50 yards proved to be decisive with Simon rolling over the top of Matt followed by Paul. So down the reach the order had been reversed and it stayed close until a friendly Fireball decided to cover Simon down the first reach allowing Paul to plane over the top (yes, over a Fireball!) to the lead once again. At the finish it was Paul, Simon, Matt and Lee, having held off Penny for the whole race.

So the decisive final race had confirmed Paul as the winner but leapfrogged Simon ahead of Matt for second with Penny and Lee tied on 12 points – Penny winning 4th place by dint of her 3rd place in the first race of Sunday.

An absolutely fantastic weekend was had by all – perhaps overly so on the Friday in the ‘Castle Hopkins’ caravan! Super organisation, a friendly and sociable atmosphere – definitely one to put on the calendar for next season.

A massive thankyou must go to all at Hunstanton Sailing Club for an absolutely fantastic event.

Next up is our National Championships at Northampton on Sat/Sun the 18th & 19th of August. For more info, head to www.lightning368.org/lnwp/

Overall Results: