Thunder & Lightning K 409

Current boat name

Thunder & Lightning K 409

Boat class

7155

Sail number

K 409

Number

409

Function

Sports and Leisure

Type

Length (m / ft)

4.27 / 14ft

Beam (m / ft)

1.47 / 4ft 10in

Leeward

Centreboard

Masts

1 Wood

Rig type

Bermudian Sloop

Propulsion

Sail

Designer

Fox U

Design date

1938

Date of build

1938

Place of build

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Present use

Museum/NMMC

Designed and built by Uffa Fox to the specifications of her crew, John Winter and Sir Peter Scott. THUNDER AND LIGHTNING was was similar to Scott's previous dinghy THUNDER but slightly finer forward and with a smaller rudder and longer drop keel. Within four minutes of being launched for the first time she started and went on to win her first race. Later in 1938, THUNDER AND LIGHTNING won the Prince of Wales Cup (pricipal annual race for International 14 dinghies). It was during this series in Falmouth that Winter and Scott used a trapeze - the device was subsequently banned for being considered to have contravened the existing Class rule banning 'projections beyond the gunwale'. In 1946 the boat won a series of trophies, including the Prince of Wales Cup. She repeated this success in 1956 but thereafter she was beaten by boats of more advanced design. The boat was presented to NMM in 1989 and is currently on display at NMMC Falmouth.. (See Fox 'Thoughts on Yachts and Yachting' p 166 for lines drawings) March 2010. Further reading: Steavenson R Marks To Starboard 1958, Vaughan TJ International Fourteens (The) 1928-1989 1989