Lightnings at full charge

Lightning nationals at Northampton in 2013 © Emma Dodd

2013 turned out to be a vintage year for the Lightning368's. With more competitors, larger fleets, several new faces and more new venues, the Lightning Grand Prix circuit provided closer racing than ever, competition all the way from first to 'not first' and all wrapped up in an ambience of friendliness that the class is renowned for.

When the season started with 23 boats on the water at Manor Park, the omens were good and fleets of 20-plus soon became the norm for the bulk of events through the year, with twenty five at the Nationals held at Northampton SC and peaking at twenty nine boats on the lake at West Oxfordshire SC to finish off the Season, which was truly impressive, if not a little bit scary too!

All this led to a Grand Prix series that saw twenty helms completing enough events to qualify which is the highest number we have seen for a long time, showing a great commitment from an expanding strong core of sailors - and the fleet can only continue to grow.

However, numbers aren't the only measure of success. The Lightnings place a high emphasis on the fleet remaining one of the friendliest and open out there. Remembering that, first and foremost, our sailing is meant to be fun. This ethos goes a long way to explaining why we're seeing a steady number of juniors taking their first steps into Open level class racing with us, as well as more ladies and more families combinations - with four or five regular 'Father / Son' combinations out on the racecourse, there are even more bragging rights to race for!

Fantastic support from our builder John Claridge has also seen more developments to the boat itself. The latest being a superb new two-piece mast system, built in house by John himself to ensure standardisation across the board. This will also push forward the smaller 'SR' rig as the mast also comes with an option of section length to suit either the full or small sail.

We'll have this new mast on display at the dinghy show next year, so come down and just say Hi and take a look around.

Always on hand to help and advise all Lightning owners on tweaks, modifications or equipment, we must thank John and his team down in Lymington wholeheartedly for continuing to remain an enthusiastic and very active part of the Lightning family.

Thanks also to Noble Marine for their continued support of our Inland championships, as well as all at 'Yachts and Yachting' for always lending a friendly ear to our news and ideas.

Further thanks have to go to all the clubs that have hosted us through 2013. We're well aware of the hard-work that goes on behind the scenes to allow a few dozen weekend warriors to indulge their hobby on your turf - so a huge huge thankyou to all the OD teams, all the trolley slaves, all the galley teams and all at the various club members that have made this year a very memorable one for us indeed.

In fact, thanks to all sailors in all classes all over the UK and beyond for keeping the enthusiasm for our sport alive and well. We may sail different boats but the goal is always the same: Have fun, get wet - and smile!

So, after an absolutely fantastic year for the Lightnings, it just remains for us to say Happy Christmas to you all and here's to a fantastic New Year!