Lightning 368 Inland Championships 2026 at Burghfield Sailing Club

Caroline Hollier (winner) with John Claridge (second) and Andrew Yuille (third) - Lightning 368 Inland Championships at Burghfield © Adrian Hollier

Thirteen visitors joined the one local boat for the 2026 Inland Championships sponsored by Sanders Sails and hosted by Burghfield SC.

The steady 10mph from the west forecast did not make an appearance and the day would be a story of big wind shifts and big gusts as the clouds rolled over the course which would be challenging for all the competitors. However, we should have all been wary when Caroline took delivery of her new Sanders Sail at the event.

Race 1 started in the steadiest wind of the day and with an island to contend with in the middle of the course. It was close up the first beat. Simon Hopkins just managed to round ahead of John Claridge but was soon overlapped as John proved to be quicker downwind. However, the star of the first reach was Caroline Hollier who caught a gust and with scary superior boat speed dispatched the pair of them to take the lead by the wing mark.

First beat - Lightning 368 Inland Championships at Burghfield - photo © Adrian Hollier

By the leeward mark Caroline and John had opened a sizeable gap on the pack and would continue their personal duel to the line, with John just pipping Caroline to the win. Behind them Simon had been swamped by the chasing pack of Jason Gallagher, Tony Jacks and Allison Hopkins. There were many place changes but at the line Simon held on, and they finished in this order.

Race 2 was meant to follow Race 1 but this is when the wind started playing games. After several attempts to get a start away with the wind swinging all over the place the Race Officer decided to call it lunch to see if the wind settled down in the afternoon. The fleet launched to attempt three races back-to-back in the afternoon, having been joined by Andrew Yuille, who had not made the morning session.

Unfortunately, the start of second attempt at race 2 was affected by a very big right wind shift meaning it was crowded up by the committee boat, with Andrew getting away clear and John and Simon had a coming together with John having to do turns.

Meanwhile a few sensible ones, Tony, Jason, Caroline and Ian Ranson, were further down the line with clear air. The result was most boats arrived at the windward mark at the same time, and it was a very crowded downwind leg. Using her new sail to good effect Caroline soon extended into the lead with Andrew Yuille in close company.

As the lap continued the shifts and gusts continued to affect the fleet with John C attempting to drum up some repair business during one hairy moment, collided with Alison. Jason alongside got lucky and stayed upright, whilst Simon, recovering from his bad start had managed to escape the pack to catch the leaders by the last run. However, a Tail end Solo had taken notes from John on the lap before and managed to lose control approaching the final leeward mark and take Simon out, allowing Caroline to take the win from Andrew and Simon settling for third.

Start line - Lightning 368 Inland Championships at Burghfield - photo © Adrian Hollier

If the wind had gone right for race 2 then it went even further for race 3 and it became a fetch to the windward mark. Jason Gallagher starting in clearer air took a single tack to cross the fleet and avoid the inevitable pincer the fleet experienced heading into the mark. Winning the drag race allowed Jason too lead Caroline, Andrew Yuille and John away from the first mark.

Jason, Andrew, and Caroline continued to extend on the fleet, but Jason was unable to break the away from their close cover. The start of lap 2 saw the wind drop and shift for the windward leg, with Andrew getting inside Jason and taking advantage to just lead at the top of the leg. Again, the reach saw Carolines mastery of the conditions and planed past Jason and almost Andrew as well. The wind settled and Andrew held Caroline at bay to the line with Jason crossing in third.

Just to keep everyone on their toes, minutes prior to the start gun of Race 4 the wind decided to go the other way and swung hard left. The canny person who spotted this was Andrew McLeish who hit the pin end on the gun, on the port, on lay line for the windward mark, leaving the rest of the fleet struggling to cross the line on starboard. By the chasing pack rounded the windward mark Andrew was well clear.

Ian Ranson at speed - Lightning 368 Inland Championships at Burghfield - photo © Adrian Hollier

An easy win for Andrew you would think, but this was a challenging race with big gusts from various directions as the clouds rolled through, leaving big windless holes behind them.

Caroline got caught tacking onto port at the windward mark and came to a halt, allowing Paul Beven to round, along with John Claridge and a few others. Once penalties done, Caroline was on the charge down the reach and after the gybe mark it was Andrew M, still way ahead, followed by John Claridge and Caroline. These three pulled away from the rest of the fleet. John and Caroline were gradually reeling in Andrew.

On the last run, John decided to cover Andrew to the left in the quieter waters next to the island. Caroline, opted to stay out to the right and caught them both up, enough to gain water at the next mark on John, pulling away up the next reach and beat to the finish to take the win of the final race.

With two bullets and a second Caroline Hollier was the clear winner of the 2026 Inland Championships. There was a tie for second between John Claridge and Andrew Yuille on 7pts, but John's second place in the last race secured second overall ahead of Andrew.

The Fleet now moves on to its first double header weekend with Chase SC Open on Saturday 16th May, followed by Bartley SC open on Sunday 17th May. Camping is available at Chase SC on the Friday and Saturday night for those travelling a long way.

Lightning 368 Inland Championships at Burghfield - photo © Adrian Hollier

Overall Results: