2024 Craftinsure Lark Open at Itchenor Sailing Club
by Ed Bradburn 15 Oct 22:57 NZDT
6 October 2024
Following on from the excitement of the Lark Masters Championship on the Saturday, six boats made it to the first start on the Sunday. This included Sam Bailey and Mia Hateley from South Staffs who had travelled for the day, but notably excluded a few broken individuals who had competed on the Saturday who had retired early to deal with hips, knees and backs from the previous day.
Having not sailed on Saturday Sam "Snowplow" Bailey wasted no time in demonstrating his new launching technique of skiing down the slipway bare foot only to announce afterwards, that his feet hurt.
Order of the day was identical to the Saturday. After a short postponement, due to our tardiness in making it to the start in time, we went into sequence with Sam and Mia still investigating the windward mark. Race 1 got away cleanly and Ed Bradburn and Holly Evans made it to the first mark first followed by Nigel "Man Flu" Hufton and Megan Pascoe, Nigel Scott and Tegwyn Tricker and Sam and Mia, who had just about made the start. Ed and Holly sailed into the lead whilst the remaining boats tussled for position. On the last lap Nigel and Megan made a surge for the lead leaving the remaining group behind and catching up with Ed and Holly. However it wasn't quite enough and the final positions finished with Ed and Holly 1st, Nigel and Megan 2nd and Sam and Mia taking 3rd.
No time was wasted in getting into sequence for the 2nd race. Again Ed and Holly rounded 1st followed closely by Sam and Mia. Ed and Holly had to delay their gybe onto the run to avoid the port lay line boats allowing Sam and Mia to gybe on top of them and overtake them down the run. This order remained until the 2nd lap when Ed and Holly managed to nip through at the windward mark. Just behind was Nigel and Megan and James Stewart and Hannah Carruthers who had closed the gap. On the next beat Ed and Holly loose covered Sam and Mia, which unfortunately let James and Hannah and Nigel and Megan to overtake Sam and Mia at the top of the beat. After a tussle down the reaches and a few well spirited discussions James and Hannah managed to get the better of the group to finish 2nd with Nigel and Megan in 3rd.
Race 3 was a closer affair with the above 4 boats all tussling for position but ultimately ending up with the same results as the previous race. Which overall meant Ed and Holly took the win with James and Hannah picking up 2nd and Nigel and Megan taking 3rd.
A great weekend of close racing was had by all and thanks must go to the class sponsors Craftinsure and Itchenor SC for putting on an excellent weekend of sailing. Particular thanks to the race team who set some excellent courses which kept the fleet close together and resulted in some really close racing.
Next up is the Lark Winters at Frensham pond over the weekend of the 16th and 17th November which is shaping up to be a great event. We have a dinner and a band booked, and boats available to borrow should anyone want to experience Lark sailing at its best.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat | SailNo. | Club | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Lark | 2526 | South Staffs | Ed Bradburn | Holly Evans | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Florence | 2492 | Netley SC | James Stewart | Hannah Carruthers | ‑6 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Tiger Too | 2538 | Frensham Pond SC | Nigel Hufton | Megan Pascoe | 2 | ‑3 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | Allergic to Water | 2536 | South Staffs | Sam Bailey | Mia Hateley | 3 | ‑4 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | Lark | 2539 | RYA | Nigel Scott | Tegwyn Tricker | 4 | ‑5 | 5 | 9 |
| 6 | Weeble | 2502 | Netley SC | Steve Chatten | Kirsty Phipps | 5 | ‑6 | 6 | 11 |