lightning 368

   I'd exchanged forum messages with Duncan on another, less active (and never to be mentioned) forum and, for what it's worth post it here too to pass on my experiences after 18-months in a Lightning at Haversham.  Most of it reinforces what's already been said, but it's great to see the boat getting the attention it deserves and so couldn't resist ...
The Lightning has a good size sail (same as a Laser) on a shorter, planing hull but is fully centre-sheeted and has a proper kicker and control lines led to both sides.

It turns on a sixpence and has a proper centreboard … both useful on small lakes.

It sails really well to handicap in light winds (especially at your weight) and is fabulous fun in a blow, when the aluminium / carbon fibre mast twists off to spill wind … but the mast is set well forward, so remember to sit well aft to avoid submarining. The hull is completely self-draining if you do go for a swim.

John Claridge is now building the new boats with an updated look, including a mylar sail – second hand boats come up on the various websites and shift quickly.

There are opens at Hillingdon, West Oxon, Haversham in Milton Keynes, Oxford, Cotswolds SC, Bolton and Dovestones in the Pennines … see the (some small) lake connection? - and at Cookham Reach on the Thames. The Nationals this year are at Pitsford in August and there is a Sea Champs at Mayflower in July.

So. Small lake + 11-stone + Lightning 368 = great combination.

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
LN#282 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote LN#282 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: lightning 368 Posted: 17 Apr 09 at 5:48pm
	I'd exchanged forum messages with Duncan on another, less active (and never to be mentioned) forum and, for what it's worth post it here too to pass on my experiences after 18-months in a Lightning at Haversham. Most of it reinforces what's already been said, but it's great to see the boat getting the attention it deserves and so couldn't resist ... The Lightning has a good size sail (same as a Laser) on a shorter, planing hull but is fully centre-sheeted and has a proper kicker and control lines led to both sides. It turns on a sixpence and has a proper centreboard … both useful on small lakes. It sails really well to handicap in light winds (especially at your weight) and is fabulous fun in a blow, when the aluminium / carbon fibre mast twists off to spill wind … but the mast is set well forward, so remember to sit well aft to avoid submarining. The hull is completely self-draining if you do go for a swim. John Claridge is now building the new boats with an updated look, including a mylar sail – second hand boats come up on the various websites and shift quickly. There are opens at Hillingdon, West Oxon, Haversham in Milton Keynes, Oxford, Cotswolds SC, Bolton and Dovestones in the Pennines … see the (some small) lake connection? - and at Cookham Reach on the Thames. The Nationals this year are at Pitsford in August and there is a Sea Champs at Mayflower in July. So. Small lake + 11-stone + Lightning 368 = great combination.

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: 17 Apr 09 at 4:24pm
	if anyone out there, knows of a good lightning for sale at their club could they please post me the details. cheers

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: 15 Apr 09 at 3:22pm
	do not mind the beige hull its the beige deck! would not have to think of a new name for it. everybody at my club would call it the floating t**d ! could cope with the colour, but not the micky taking. Edited by ex laser

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: 15 Apr 09 at 7:18am
	dont knock that one, it may be no oil painting in colour, but that won the nationals around the year 2000. was very quick

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: 15 Apr 09 at 1:56am
	thanks but already tried it. one sold. one not replying to e mail. one beige !

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: 14 Apr 09 at 5:43pm
	http://www.lightning368.co.uk/L368B4Sale/index.html Try that...there's a couple of boats available on the class association site. By the way, despite coming last in my race on Sunday - virtually non existent 'wind', On the first beat, i actually had the beating of a laser, an Enterprise and a Topaz Uno....only held back by a becalming around the 2nd bouy by my crap technique. The point is, though, that upwind in absolutely nowt, the Lightning had the measure of almost every boat in the mixed fleet. Now, if only i could get better....or fit torpedo tubes......
	Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays'

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: 14 Apr 09 at 9:40am
	had test sail in a lightning over the weekend. loved it. what a great little boat! now the hard bit, finding a good second hand one to buy! duncan

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: 09 Apr 09 at 4:55pm
	no 21 thats prob almost 30years old. bullet proof..... good luck mate hope you enjoy it as mush as i did.

Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 09 at 3:04pm
	Don't Worry about being crap, i have been sailing for 23 years now and I'm still crap! Good luck with the boat, sounds like you got yourself a bargain. We used to have a fleet of about 4 at Tewkesbury, I always fancied on as a kid, in the end i bought a Byte (wish i hadn't) then moved onto Lasers. Good luck, keep us all posted on your progression throughout the sport and with how you get on with the lightning

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 12:19pm
	Aint that the truth! ... first arrived at my club in shorts and t-shirt. After sailing through the winter (we have a Saturday morning 'Development group' for newbies/beginners) i seem to have amassed a bagful of gear that a marine would be proud of! Every weekend my girlfriends' conservatory resembles a chandlery! ....and of course, the boat needs those 'essential' tweaks hahahahaha! Thanks for the welcome, sailing rocks! such a shame i'm so crap at it!
	Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays'