Lightning368 Open at Bristol Avon Sailing Club

Four visitors arrived to join the seven local boats for the Lightning's first trip to Bristol Avon Sailing Club. We were met by mirror like conditions, with the local wildlife and the local paddle boarders making it look very easy paddling up and down the river.

With 11 boats out on the water, Margaret our race officer of the day decided it would be best to start in two flights, 4 minutes apart. There was no strategy in her choice of who started first, choosing the 6 oldest (lowest boat numbers) to go first and the newer (higher numbered) ones in the second fleet. This would be reversed in the next race.

Sailing a sausage course leaving the marks to starboard, the first race got under way. With local lady Christine Higham showing us all how it was done, leading the first fleet from father and son duo Andy and Matt Cooper from BASC and Alex Baxter from West Oxfordshire not too far behind. Gradually the second flight lead by Chris Abela, closely followed by Caroline Key, caught up and over took some of the first flight boats, meaning that the lead boats had to finish in excess of four minutes ahead of them to win. On the last rounding of the windward mark, a sudden change in wind direction meant that Caroline overtook Chris and was steadily catching up the time difference on Christine. Although Christine did finish on the water first, Caroline some 2 and half minutes behind was close enough to win race one, with Christine second and Matt third.

After a very filling lunch of chilli, rice, garlic bread and a desert of apple pie and custard was served race two got underway, with the 5 newer boats starting first. There seemed to be a pattern emerging that whoever started second, caught the first flight up and it was not too long before Alex Baxter took the lead and then went on to win race two, followed by Matt and Andy Cooper in second and third.

After a short break race three took place. With only 8 boats going out, Margaret decided to have just the one start. Yet again young Alex took the lead, he was certainly getting to grips with river sailing and a loaned boat from Mark Godden. He went on to win the race and overall victory with two race wins, with Andy Cooper coming second and Chris Abela third in the final race.

I would like to give a huge thanks to Bristol Avon for holding their first Lightning event. They made all the visitors very welcome, an extremely friendly club. Lets hope the next time we visit, there will be just a bit more than a puff of wind!

Overall Results:

1st Alex Baxter (West Oxfordshire Sailing Club)
2nd Caroline Key (West Oxfordshire Sailing Club)
3rd Matthew Cooper (Bristol Avon S.C)
4th Andy Cooper (Bristol Avon S.C)
5th Christine Higham (BASC)
6th Chris Abela (WOSC)
7th Wayne Jenner (Abbey Sailing Club)
8th Rob Crabb (BASC)
9th Mike Eaton (BASC)
10th Colin Carle (BASC)
11th Trevor Langdon (BASC)