Lightning 368 Sea Championships at Saundersfoot Sailing Club

5-6 July 2008
By Mal Hartland 08 Jul 2008 14:51

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A forecast of gales in the Bristol channel greeted the visitors to the Lightning 368 Sea Championships on the weekend of the 5th & 6th July and the Race Officer promptly abandoned racing for the Saturday, with the intention of an early start on the Sunday morning and 4 short races.

Sunday morning brought slightly calmer conditions and the fleet ventured out through the swell, which despite a number of helpers still managed to claim one victim as Alex Jones broke his rudder fittings and was forced to take an early retirement from proceedings.

Race 1 got away with the Lightning class following some 8-10 minutes after the Supernova fleet and Mal Hartland taking the preferred committee boat end of the line to lead the fleet to the windward mark. Jonathon Packes tracked Hartland up the beat closely followed by Tracy Hartland, with Alice Walton in 4th.

On the 1st reach Hartland managed to extend his lead as Packes went high allowing Tracy Hartland to close in him at the gybe mark. Following another exciting reach, where the waves could be used to good effect, Tracy Hartland managed to stay on the favoured side of the course on the run whilst Packes attempted to fight the tide into the leeward mark for the 1st time.

Tracy Hartland suffered gear failure and allowed Packes to sail away whilst she effected a repair, in turn missing the windward gate and having to unwind. Packes sailed a good beat up the favoured right hand side of the course and closed down on Hartland. Hartland held the lead down both reaches, but Packes managed to catch him on the run and the two boats were side by side heading into the windward mark.

Packes gybed earlier for the mark, allowing Hartland to take the inside line approaching the final beat to the finish. Packes footed off for more speed to escape from Hartland, but passed just to his stern. Hartland tacked twice before the finish line taking the gun ahead of Packes, leaving Simon Styles to take 3rd as Tracy capsized following her makeshift repair to her mainsheet block.

Race 2 saw Hartland head towards the pin end of the line, only to be beaten by a sizeable windshift after the start, allowing Packes to take a small lead into the windward mark. Hartland closed in on the following 2 reaches to repeat the close battle from the end of the 1st race. Packes led round the leeward mark and extended his lead further up the 2nd beat into what appeared an unassailable lead. Unfortunately, Packes capsized on the final run allowing Hartland through to an easy win, with Packes recovering to finish in 2nd. Adam Styles held 3rd until the final windward mark, where he also capsized allowing his Dad, Simon through beat him.

As the breeze increased further, the majority of the fleet headed for shore. However, Hartland led the 3rd race from the gun sitting to windward of Packes, pulling out a comfortable lead by the windward mark. After two exhilarating reaches, Hartland had extended his lead and sailed a conservative run in the increasing swell, rounding the leeward mark with a considerable lead only to see Packes capsize again on the run. As Hartland extended his lead further, Packes retired giving Hartland the championship win.

Overall Results:

1st Mal Hartland (Dovestone SC) 3pts
2nd Jonathon Packes (Haversham SC) 7pts
3rd Simon Styles (Evesham SC) 15pts
4th Adam Styles (Evesham SC) 24pts
5th Tracy Hartland (Dovestone SC) 26pts

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Lightning 368 Page

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