Noble Marine Insurance 2022 Lightning 368 Travellers Trophy Series

Lightning 368 Travellers Series 2022 © Sue Cornes

Jeremy Cooper, 6th in the Lightning 368 Travellers Series 2022 © Stephen Hodgeson

Caroline Hollier, 5th in the Lightning 368 Travellers Series 2022 © Stephen Hodgeson

The Noble Marine Insurance 2022 Lightning 368 Travellers Trophy Series took place over 49 qualifying races at 14 locations, with the 12 best results to count for the series (only the best 3 races from any one location).

• Aldridge SC - Open Meeting
• Bala SC - Easter Regatta
• Up River YC - Southern Championships
• Sutton-in-Ashield SC - Open Meeting (Last ever event here due to club closure)
• Shotwick Lake SC - Northern Championships
• Ullswater YC - Lord Birkett Trophy
• Royal Lymington YC - Sea Championships
• Cookham Reach SC - Open Meeting
• Oxford SC - Inland Championships
• Hunts SC - Open Meeting
• Chase SC - National Championships
• Bartley SC - Open Meeting
• Haversham SC - Open Meeting
• West Oxford SC - Rum & Mince Pie Open Meeting... and Travellers Series finale, plus prize-giving.

The usual culprits Penny Yarwood and Simon Hopkins logged some early wins in the first two events, before Robbie Claridge joined the party at Up River YC. Although critically for the overall traveller's series, Penny did manage to stop Robbie from taking all the wins at Up-River.

Meanwhile Tony Jacks, Caroline Hollier, Bryan Westley, Jeremy Cooper and Duncan Cheshire were logging some decent places on the scorecard.

Tony managed his 1st Open win at Sutton-in-Ashfield SC, the final time Lightnings will be visiting this club due to its closure following the Council changes to its lease. John Butler will be moving to pastures new (with new and improved eyesight... look out competitors next season he'll be able to see where the marks are!).

Strong winds at the Shotwick SC Northern Championship saw the heavy weights Simon and Duncan doing well along with local talent Jeremy Cooper, Ceri James and Mark Heaton. Newcomer to the Lightning fleet, Judith Stratton was enthusiastic enough to be first off the beach... and first one for a swim, to great applause from those yet to launch!

Seven Lightnings joined the fun at the annual Birkett Trophy, Ullswater SC. Very windy and cold conditions didn't fare well for our Lightning 368 secretary, Caroline Hollier with a near call to emergency services after a long swim in very cold water! Tony and Jeremy both logged 1st places for the Lightnings in the event, and with Tony wining the second race... that gave him his second event win of the season, on count back!

Seven boats enjoyed sunny and breezy conditions for the Sea Championships at Lymington, with local boy Robbie Claridge wining all races... even if he did head to the wrong windward mark in the 1st race. (Note-to-self: Next time let Robbie get further off course before calling to him!).

Four travellers and eight locals enjoyed light and shifty conditions on the upper Thames at Cookham Reach, with John Claridge returning to winning ways. (Thereby persuading Simon it was time to invest in the full carbon mast that John was using for the first time).

Pennie Yarwood, 4th in the Lightning 368 Travellers Series 2022 - photo © Ian Marshal

Breezy conditions at the Oxford Inland Championships saw Simon continue his winning ways, with Penny keeping close to his transom. Ben Twist, Ian Ranson and John Butler logged some good results here too.

Next up was Hunts SC Open meeting but with this event being sandwiched between the Inlands and the Nationals it looked like many people were saving fuel costs for the flagship events. Seven boats competed and Caroline logged her 1st open win of the season, followed by Tony and Ian and local sailor Gary Tompkins.

Tony Jacks, 3rd in the Lightning 368 Travellers Series 2022 - photo © Ian Marshal

The National Championships at Chase Water SC in the midlands saw a great turnout of 23 boats. Saturday's event was shared with a Solo open meeting to keep the race officers busy. Lighter shifty winds helped Penny, Caroline and Tony to keep up with National Champion 2022, Robbie Claridge. Newcomer to the Lightning fleet in a Mk1 one boat Andy Mcivor took the prize for the 1st Giles (Mk1) boat. Perhaps other foiling boat sailors need a Lightning 368 for when there's not enough wind to be foiling!

Low attendance due to fuel costs for the Bartley and Haversham events, but more wins and 2nd places for Simon, Caroline, Tony and Ian.

Robbie Claridge, 2nd in the Lightning 368 Travellers Series 2022 - photo © Sue Cornes

The final event of the traveller's series, the ever-popular Rum & Mince Pie Open at West Oxford SC saw 19 boats competing in breezy but sunny November weather. Warm enough that the overnight campers didn't need their beer blankets... although no risk was taken and enough beer, red wine and rum was consumed in the "Après-sail" to ensure comfortable sleeping.

For the traveller's series, Simon (1st) had managed to log enough race wins throughout the season that even 3 bullets from Robbie (2nd) meant he couldn't be beaten for the Travellers Trophy. (Simon needs to thank Penny for keeping Robbie from a clean sweep of wins at Up-River SC.). However, Robbie's 3 bullets at the event allowed him to sneak into second place. An impressive 3rd place overall and Silver fleet winner Tony (3rd) stayed one point ahead of Penny (4th) who was followed by Caroline (5th) and Jeremy (6th).

Simon Hopkins wins the Lightning 368 Travellers Series 2022 - photo © John Hunter

Bryan Westley and Duncan fought a very close battle for 2nd place Silver fleet and were equal on series points, but with a couple of extra 2nd place finishes at Bala, Lymington and Cookham, Duncan grabbed the 2nd place for the Silver fleet.

Great, friendly competition throughout the season. We hope to see the regular travellers and some new talent at next seasons events.

Overall Results: