lightning 368

   Great story, and welcome to the world of sailing and of boat ownership.
It all goes to show that entering the sailing world needn't cost a fortune.

HOWEVER! now that you have started with just that small hole in the water, it will very soon start to suck in more money!

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ChrisJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 337	Post Options Post Reply Quote ChrisJ Report Post Quote Reply Topic: lightning 368 Posted: 09 Apr 09 at 11:52am
	Great story, and welcome to the world of sailing and of boat ownership. It all goes to show that entering the sailing world needn't cost a fortune. HOWEVER! now that you have started with just that small hole in the water, it will very soon start to suck in more money!

fleaberto Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Jan 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 302	Post Options Post Reply Quote fleaberto Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 09 at 11:41am
	How fantastic! ...just found this thread - the week after buying an old Lightning myself!! Was hoping to find info somewhere...its a bit thin on the ground about the 368. Sailed my clubs hire laser for a while, want to get my own boat, reasearched all the "Skinny lightweights" boats (i'm 5foot 11 & bang on 11stone) ... so, all the usual suspects appeared. However, with a VERY small budget, things were tricky. Lasers too expensive & wary of mast step issue on older ones....anyway, found a Lightning on ebay - outbid by £3. Told my commodore who said: "Hmmn, good boat for you, i'm sure we have a club one!" Took a look amidst the fleet, lo & behold, a Lightning! Rigged it up, took it out.....yeah, a tricky but rewarding little blighter - FAR more comfy to hike out on than the laser (at 42 the knees are getting passed it lol) .... not seen at the club before (potentially hadn't been sailed for 3 years!) so half the club went out in it that morning! Put it away before one of the old-timers reminded us that no, it wasn't a club boat at all, it was a members' boat!! Oops! However, he wants to sell it as he can't get under the boom anymore - it's basically the same rig as the Europe and almost as low. What a coincidence.... £250 later, its all mine!!!! Old - Hull 21!!! but perfectly sailable straight out from under the cover. So, a few of my own tweaks this weekend before i take 'Ginger' (she's red) out for her first proper go over our lake. My first boat since only taking up sailing last September. Sorry for the long story BUT, i guess the point is that there are more boats out there than the laser. Lightning is fitted with quality parts. PROPER centreboard & a halyard lifted sail - ace and easy to drop on those crazy lee-shore landings! I liked it. As much fun as a laser but with a tad more comfort and no 'sheets round the transom' capsizes
	Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays'

marcus1116 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote marcus1116 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr 09 at 8:16pm
	you are the prefect size for one. i have had three of them when i was younger and lighter, they are a cracking boat and perform well, they are great at tacking so are ideal if you sail at a place where there is a short tacking. the sail is quite large compared to others boats simular to it (comet, byte, streaker. etc...) they perform really well in light wind due to the slightly larger sail, but in windy weather obviously are a handful but great fun, they are also bullet proof and the older ones are as quick as the later ones, they also keep the value year in and year out, if you spent a little time and effort maintaining and improving it you can make money on it when you sell. in a nutshell for me the were a great boat to learn to sail in and every now and then i go for a spin in my mates one.

Pierre Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pierre Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Apr 09 at 5:17pm
	Still are a few at Weirwood John. A couple in the hire fleet as well. I believe one of the Princes was the national champ one year. Seem like nice little boats to me. My youngest sailed one after Oppies and prior to getting a Laser.

Jon Emmett Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 988	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jon Emmett Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Apr 09 at 4:41pm
	There used to be quite a few Lightnings in Weir Wood back in the late ninies they performed well to handicap certainly against the Lasers until you got up to flat out planning conditions. In very light winds they used to beat the Lasers over the water. I haven't seen them race recently.
	Be Your Own Tactics Coach

ex laser Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 25 Mar 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 725	Post Options Post Reply Quote ex laser Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Apr 09 at 2:28am
	thanks for that. thats just the sort of information i am after. duncan

radixon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407	Post Options Post Reply Quote radixon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Apr 09 at 10:49pm
	I have sailed one. As an ex Laser sailor they are good fun and a handful at the same time. I took one out but managed to turtle the thing, I am sure they would be great to pimp, the one i took out was older but still good fun.

ex laser Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 25 Mar 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 725	Post Options Post Reply Quote ex laser Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Apr 09 at 9:08pm
	i know leamington is in warwickshire, i was trying to give a general area. also i live in coventry which is in the west midlands. thanks for information. Edited by ex laser

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Apr 09 at 8:25pm
	Leamington is in Warwickshire. I'm fairly sure there was a thread in Dinghy Development last year about the Lightning.
	the same, but different...

ex laser Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 25 Mar 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 725	Post Options Post Reply Quote ex laser Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Apr 09 at 2:04am
	thanks for all the posts so far. has anybody out there sailed a lightning? and if they have, can they tell me what they think of it.