Helly Hansen Lark Winter Championships at Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Helly Hansen Lark Winter Championships at Staunton Harold © Paul Gardner

For the second year round Staunton Harold (RYA club of the year 2014) hosted the 2016 Lark Winters. The conditions were forecast to be light for the weekend and certainly were!

Race one began with Stuart and Nick Hydon taking the lead narrowly from Harry Pynn /Gemma Cooke. During the race the Hydon's extended their lead leaving locals Pete Gray / Rachel Rhodes to slip past Harry and Jemma.

Race two ended with the Hydon's holding the lead narrowly from Chris white and Nic Booth after a close covering race when they had pulled clear of Harry and Gemma.

Race 3 saw Pete and Rach finally show that local knowledge pays although in the closing stage of the race with diminishing wind Stu and Nick Hydon opted against flying the spinnaker as the fleet tried to escape one the Staunton Harold creeks. This turned out to pay as others followed. The lead was snatched from Pete and Rach who ended second to Stu and Nick.

On the Sunday there was a little more breeze than forecast and perfect blue skies. The ODD started the racing after a short postponement. Race four saw Stu and Nick take the lead ahead of Chris and Nic. The Hydon's hit some club racing traffic in the guise of a couple of Fireballs at the leeward mark. A wide exit by one of the Fireballs enabled Chris and Nic to take the lead.

This was short-lived as on the next lap as the wind changed this allowed Stu and Nick to regain the lead. Alan Krayling / Hannah Edge also overtook Chris and Nic, but on the line Chris and Nic managed to squeeze back through.

Race five saw a change in course with the windward mark tucked under a hill. This added an extra dimension to the sailing, although Alan and Hannah took the advantage of this. The Hydon's slipped down from second to fourth after Chis/Nic and Nigel Hufton and Matt Wood managed to complete better beats.

On the final leg once again Chris and Nic managed to overhaul Alan and Hannah and the Hydon's regained one place from the "Huff". The final race saw the Hydon's lead from start to finish ahead of Chris and Nic who were never too far behind.

The final result was that Stuart and Nick Hydon took the Winters title ahead of Chris White and Nic Booth.

The Lark Association would like to thank Staunton Harold for their superb organisation both on and off the water, particularly with the Saturday night black tie dinner and "human rope session"!

Overall Results: