Noble Marine Lightning 368 Open at Bartley Sailing Club

Competitors in the Bartley Lightning 368 Open © John Butler

Bartley Lightning 368 Open third race start with Caroline Hollier in prime position © Mark Reddington

Eleven Lightnings competed at Bartley SC in the penultimate event of the 2023 Noble Marine Insurance Lightning 368 Travellers Trophy Series on Sunday 22nd October.

Race 1

In the windiest conditions of the day, Ian Ranson got the best start at the pin end of the port biased line, staying left whilst the majority of the competitors tacked off right soon after the gun. Jason Gallagher attempted a port tack flyer, but had to tack under John Butler on starboard, and then proceeded to squeeze him out. Ian then impressively crossed the whole fleet on port and had a decent lead at the windward mark from Jason and Tony Jacks. On the downwind legs, with the wind moderating, Tony pulled through to the lead, and Caroline made it through past Ian, Jason and Ian after recovering from an average start.

On the next upwind leg, Caroline finally took the lead from Tony, and Jason dropped behind Ian, but then Ian got caught port/starboard close to the windward mark by Duncan Cheshire, and had to tack back after Duncan broke off to round onto the run behind Jason.

It finished Caroline, Tony and then Jason at the end, with Duncan holding off a resurgent Ian.

Race 2

Tony had the best of the start, with Caroline in close order, but Steve Hodgson surprised everyone by taking the right hand side of the reservoir to round in 3rd and these three held a substantial margin over the chasing bunch of Jason, Duncan and Ian after the first beat.

The positions were maintained downwind, but with Caroline drastically closing in on Tony.

Tony went the wrong way up the next beat, allowing Caroline through. After that she had to work hard to keep Tony at bay, but on the final beat he failed to tack off under her for the finish line and she edged it at the gun.

Stephen's pace offwind was sufficient to hold off Jason & Ian, who closed to within a couple of boat lengths of Stephen at the end.

Race 3

The final race was after the lunch break, in much lighter winds that really suited Caroline.

Tony again led out from the start, rounding first, but after getting past him on the run Caroline was never headed again. Tony was within range to keep her honest, but the race became processional as the wind dropped even further.

Jason was the only one of the rest with a chance of putting Tony under pressure, but had his own battle to keep Duncan behind, and with Ian close enough to capitalise on any mistakes from both of them they focused on each other.

It finished in that order, with no further place changes as the wind dropped to a zephyr.

With 3 wins, Caroline was a clear winner overall from Tony in 2nd, with Jason in 3rd.

Caroline Hollier wns the Bartley Lightning 368 Open - photo © John Butler

Tony Jacks finishes 2nd in the Bartley Lightning 368 Open - photo © John Butler

Jason Gallagher finishes 3rd in the Bartley Lightning 368 Open - photo © John Butler

Overall Results:

With one more event to go, the Rum & Mince Pie at West Oxfordshire SC in November, the overall Travellers trophy has already been decided, with the absent Simon Hopkins retaining the Travellers Trophy for 2023 in addition to winning his second National Championship title.

The one remaining fight in the series is in the Silver Fleet, where John is marginally ahead of Duncan & Ian, with Stephen also in with a shout if he gets a good result in the Rum and Mince Pie.