Lightning368 Grand Prix Series at Manor Park Sailing Club

I have to be honest...I spent the week looking at Armageddon being predicted by the BBC for Saturday 6th June and wondering if it was worth the effort driving 170 miles from Essex to Staffordshire to spend the day waiting to go to the pub.

In the end the prospect of a night out at 'The Old Peculiar' after sailing (or not) was too tempting and off we went.

On arrival there were a total of 14 sailors hopeful that we might get a sail.

Now, for those of you who don't know Manor Park SC, it actually has three lakes.

The clubhouse is set on a beautiful but sheltered small lake, another which is great for nature watching and cruising and you sail through 'the gap' to find the third - the big lake.

So, we rigged in pleasant sunshine and a reasonable but fairly unassuming breeze. It was not until we reached the big lake we realised the BBC spoke the truth!

Race one started in a gale and then it proceeded to get windier and windier as the day went on.

First to the windward mark was Simon Hopkins closely followed by Paul White, Mike Ince and Penny Yarwood. Downwind the RO thought 4 gybes in a gale was appropriate and carnage ensued mid fleet to leave these four well clear to contest the race. The reaches were fantastic and had everybody hanging on for dear life and the comment 'I have never been that fast in a Lightning before!' was heard many time later in the pub.

Simon held Paul off for a couple of laps before his superior down wind speed took him to an unassailable lead, whilst Penny and Mike swopped places many times before Penny held on to take third.

In the pause between races many people headed for the bank for a rest as the safety boats cleared the course of upturned boats.

Thanks to Bryan for the mid race entertainment, taking a world record for multiple simultaneous capsizes. (I am sure he even threw in a couple of Eskimo rolls as well before letting the safety boat take over.)

With only 7 boats fit to start Race two and a heavily biased port line almost everyone set up for a port end start except Penny who ruined the plans by coming in on Starboard at the pin end (women drivers!).

Once again it was a long hard slog to the windward mark and with the wind veering left the shifts were getting large and dangerous.

Simon rounded first followed by Mike Ince with a gap back to Paul.

However with the wind shifts, the second mark now sat in a big hole behind the trees and, whilst Simon and Mike sat in it, Paul sailed through to leeward for the lead which he extended to the end of the race for his second victory.

Penny re-joined the group to make it a three way Up River YC boat affair for most of the race. Mike even took clear second whilst Simon practiced his capsize drill at a gybe mark before he clawed second place back on the beat.

This made the finishing order the same as race 1, Penny and Mike had a tacking duel up the final beat with Penny just getting Mike on the line by inches.

The lunch break was welcome relief and, as always, Manor Park SC kitchen put on a great spread as the shattered sailors refuelled - secretly praying for an abandonment as the increasing pitch of the whistling rigging in the boat park indicated a lifting of the 'sturdy' breeze.

The enthusiasm to go for race three was understandably lacking, however 10 boats decided to risk it and, on entering the big lake, were greeted by waves and white horses making them wonder if it was a sensible idea.

A new course using the windless number 8 made the top of the beat very entertaining but the reaches had got faster and more fun if that could be possible.

Paul just pipped Simon to turn first and escaped to the now familiar horizon job downwind, with Penny following with Mike behind her for a now very familiar order.

This final race was more about survival than racing and, with energy waning, most boats were glad to get to the finish upright and with no breakages.

So with the top four boats recording exactly the same results in all three races the meeting was won by Paul White from Draycote SC, ahead of the Up River YC trio of Simon Hopkins, Penny Yarwood and Mike Ince.

Thanks for Manor Park SC for getting us out racing and their unparalleled hospitality - RO Dave Norris and his team certainly made sure we were well-tested in the conditions, but also set courses that gave us a lot of fun at times too.

Too all at 'The Old Peculiar' - thanks for the food and much needed refreshments!

Next event is the Northern Championships and our first ever visit to Ullswater SC in the beautiful Lake District on the weekend of June 27th & 28th.

Overall Results: