Lightning368 open meeting at Up River Yacht Club
by Simon Hopkins 13 May 2016 23:19 BST
7-8 May 2016
Simon Hopkins in his new Claridge Lightning 368 at Up River © URYC
The now regular visit to Up River YC in Essex for a training and open weekend coincided with the brief arrival of summer! Seven boats took up the offer of some training on the river and learn the tides. Saturday evening once again lived up to the hype and ended as usual on the jetty at Penny's house in the early hours of the morning. Nobody was lost during the drunken walk along the river bank.
Sunday dawned even hotter with a nice easterly breeze coming straight up the river. The late start gave time for hangovers to recover and people to arrive and 14 boats took to the water for the first race. Keeping with the tradition started at Manor Park, with Robbie Claridge still without a new boat Lightning number 39 was loaned for the weekend. New compared to LN21 he had sailed at Manor Park and no holes in the hull!
On the first start Simon Hopkins obviously not realising how quick his new Claridge boat is was well over and had to return. The fleet split to the north and south bank for the 2 mile beat up the river against the tide. The charge on the North bank was a mix of Paul White, Paul Beven and Penny Yarwood. South Bank was lead by Spike Daniels and Robbie Claridge and a chasing Simon. Half way down the river the fleet converged on the north bank which on hindsight was the right way to go. The recovering Simon slotted into second just ahead of Paul Beven and Penny. After a nice reach at Brandy Hole Simon had caught Paul W and on the beat to Stow Post slipped passed to take the win with Paul Beven coming in third.
Race 2 started down the river with a beat to Stow Post and this time Spike decided Simon's advice from the first race was no good and shot off the line into a clear lead followed by Penny and Robbie. Simon found the mud and was out of contention at the start and Paul W recovered from a bad start to be in contention by the first mark back. As they headed back down the river it was Spike ahead of Penny, Paul W but not knowing the river Paul and Penny passed spike to finish in that order.
After tea and cakes the fleet set up for the final race Up the river this time and anyone could still win the meeting. Starting upwind with the falling tide it was a quick sprint to the first mark. Simon, obviously recovered from his exertions in the first race was hot off the line and lead by a considerable margin at the first mark. The fleet rounded together and in the attempt to stay as close to the bank as possible let Simon extend his lead. As the fleet got 'up river' Penny and Robbie had broken clear and both briefly challenged Simon but the lead was too much and Simon took the last race ahead of Robbie and the fast finishing Spike.
Overall Simon Hopkins, racing his new Claridge boat for the first time, took the win ahead of Paul White and Robbie Claridge. As usual Up River YC had put on a fantastic event and everyone headed home promising to return in 2017! Next event stays in Essex for the fleet's first visit to Thorpe Bay YC for the Se Champs on 28th -29th May.