GJW Direct Lark Nationals at Penzance Sailing Club - Day 5

After day 4 was cancelled due to light unstable winds, day five dawned much like previous days with clear blue skies, however while everyone was peering at the water in Mount's Bay with bleary eyes there was not a breath of wind!

However this situation changed by the time the fleet came to launch after waiting for the tide to come in sufficiently for the committee boat to leave the harbour and everyone was greeted by around 10-15 knots on the racecourse.

The fleet started cleanly at the first attempt with an even split between left and right. Steve Hall and Ally Dart lead around the windward mark coming from the middle left, followed by Nigel Hufton and Will Kennedy and then Charlie Roome and Jeremy Stephens.

Positions remained in this order at the finish after three laps.

The day's second race started in the lightest breeze of the championships so far, with a bias that swung to the port end significantly in the last minute before the gun. The fleet flicked onto port at the gun with Chris and Katharine Martin leading off the line along with Roome/Stephens and the Pynns. This trio led up the middle of the beat before another left shift allowed a group on the port lay line to come in and lead.

Stewart/Parsons and the Whites formed the leading group chased by the Pynns. With the course swung due to the shift the first reach was too tight for kites, and the positions gradually evolved as the wind built from 10 to 18 knots over the course of the 4 lap race.

Stewart/Parsons took the win, chased by the Pynns and Roome/Stephens in third.

Overall, this means that Roome/Stephens have won the nationals with a day to spare, so they are looking forwards to a big fancy dress night. Behind them it's all to play for with the following four boats separated by just over 4 points.

Results after Day 5: