Lightning 368 Southern Championship at Up River Yacht Club

The latest round of the Sanders Sails sponsored travellers events took place at Up River Yacht Club on the River Crouch in Essex over the weekend of 13 and 14 June.

Day one was a training day, thank you Simon and Penny, giving a few of us an opportunity to try out tidal river sailing. With a strong westerly wind coming down the river and the tide coming in, we sailed up the river past the Comet Open, to sail some short courses in order to practice starting on the tide. After a few hours, we then all sailed further up the river towards Battlesbridge, then turned around and headed back down the river on the outgoing tide. With a few more short courses and a few capsizes, we then headed back to the club. Later on in the evening, Simon took some us for a stroll down the river bank, to provide some hints and tips on sailing down the river. The forecasted wind was due to come from the north on Sunday, so when going down the river stay to the south bank, where there would be more wind and where best to cross over, etc.

Downwind leg during the Lightning 368 Southern Championship at Up River Yacht Club - photo © Adrian Hollier

Day two, the home boats were joined by 8 visitors, and a healthy 18 boats took the water to complete for the Southern Championships. Tim our race officer planed one race, then in for lunch, then two back to back. With the wind a bit lighter than Saturday, 8mph coming from the scheduled north, the first course took us initially up the river to a windward mark (horse). Penny took an early lead, closely followed by her nephew Sam, with Caroline totally misjudging the start, almost crossing last. On the downwind leg to our next mark East, some 1.5 miles away. Those of us who did the walk the previous night, took on board the tip to keep to the south bank. Penny, extending her lead followed by Sam, Ben and Andrew Yuille. Caroline managed to sail past the majority of the fleet, after her bad start to catch up the leading bunch. At the narrows, Ben, Simon and the others crossed the current to the north bank. Meanwhile, Penny, Sam, Andrew, John Claridge and Caroline, continued along the south bank to East, which paid off, as the wind dropped on the north bank. We then continued further down the river to various other marks, adding in a sausage leg. Penny maintained her lead, but John, Sam and Andrew had constant place changes, with Caroline dropping back, until the last beat, when gaining a lift, she caught the leaders up. It was then a sail back up river to home, initially a reach, then a beat as we rounded the bend. Up the beat, Caroline battled with the three ahead of her, taking their lead, only to be pipped on the finishing line by John. Nobody was going to catch Penny, who won the race. The race being longer than anticipated, nearly two hours, we all came in for a hearty lunch.

Penny Yarwood wins the Lightning 368 Southern Championship at Up River Yacht Club - photo © Adrian Hollier

With the tide now on the way out, we launched for race two. A shorter course that would head up river. This time Simon was first off the line, closely followed by John Claridge. It was a case of lots of short tacks up the north bank to keep out of the tide. Paul Bevan took an early bath after an overenthusiastic roll tack. Penny had also misjudge the strength of the current and found herself going backwards on the outgoing tide. Simon and John extended their lead on the pack, headed by Huw Hopkins (in his mother's boat), Ben, Sam and Andrew. It was John who managed to overtake Simon on the run downriver. With a reach across the river, it was then another shore hugging beat to home. With roll tacks aplenty, Simon and John changed places many times, Panny broke clear for third and Caroline managed to pass a few boats, finally in a tacking duel with Huw. With a small slip up, Caroline managed to pass Huw and inched slightly ahead to pip him on the line. Similarly Simon was following John to the line, but a last ditch tack inshore (and over the slipway) snatched first place for Simon by an inch from John and Penny third.

Up River Team during the Lightning 368 Southern Championship at Up River Yacht Club - photo © Adrian Hollier

With the wind dying and the tide going out rapidly, Tim decided to shelve the final race.

Our next event of the Sanders Sails Traveller Series, takes the class to Lymington Town Regatta, next weekend, 20/21 June, for our Sea Championships.

Overall Results: