Noble Marine Lightning 368 Travellers Trophy Series 2022 at Aldridge Sailing Club

A difference in light air technique between Simon Hopkins (428) and Bryan Westley (407) during the Noble Marine Lightning 368 2022 Travellers Series at Aldridge © Diane Hodgson

A familiar sight for the fleet - Penny Yarwood's transom during the Noble Marine Lightning 368 2022 Travellers Series at Aldridge © Diane Hodgson

On Saturday 2nd April, 11 ultra keen sailors gathered for the first Open Meeting of the Lightning 368 2022 Noble Marine Insurance Travellers Trophy Series at Aldridge SC in the West Midlands,

In the light & fluky winds that prevailed throughout the day, the conditions favoured those with the technique and skill to excel in those conditions.

In the 1st race Penny Yarwood got a clean start and rounded the top mark clear of local Bryan Westley and John Butler. Bryan hit the 3rd mark, and had to take his penalty, briefly letting John through into second, but by the end of the first lap John was devoured by the chasing pack, and faded away down the fleet. Meanwhile, Simon Hopkins, who was dead last at the third mark, worked his way up second place closely followed by Tony Jacks.

This order was maintained for a couple of laps until Bryan recovered back to 3rd place, and Caroline Hollier and Jeremy Cooper were able to burst through into 4th & 5th. Penny was so far ahead at this stage that she lapped three of the tail-enders by the finish, with Simon 2nd.

After a short break for lunch, the fleet returned to the water in an even lighter breeze. This time, Simon made no mistakes and led by a considerable margin for the first 4 laps of the short course. Penny, meanwhile, was gradually reeling Simon in, eventually getting past him on the penultimate lap.

Simon retook the lead on the last lap, but when approaching the final windward mark he was headed by a big windshift that put him in irons, and Penny sailed through to take the gun and her second win of the day. Bryan was a distant third, with Tony behind him in fourth and Jeremy 5th.

To the amazement of everybody, Bryan got an absolute peach of a start in the 3rd race and was well clear by the windward mark. Second at this point was Stephen Hodgson, but he parked his boat at the buoy and Penny sailed past him.

Bryan then proceeded to build up what appeared to be an unassailable lead, whilst all the action was taking place behind him. Simon again recovered from an average start to put Stephen under pressure on the downwind legs, eventually getting past, and set off after Bryan & Penny.

The inevitable happened, and the superior light wind skill of Penny allowed her to catch & relegate Bryan into 2nd on the final lap, meanwhile Simon sailed into a patch of weed that got wrapped around his centreboard, stopping him dead and allowing Caroline & Tony through, but he cleared the weed in time to hold off Jeremy at the finish.

So after relinquishing her 2019 Travellers Trophy Winner title to Simon in 2021, (2020 was not declared due to Covid) Penny posted a clear intent to win it again with her 3 bullets in the opening event of the series.

Report by John Butler

Overall Results:

Penny Yarwood wins the Noble Marine Lightning 368 2022 Travellers Series at Aldridge - photo © John Butler