Lark Open Meeting at Barnt Green Sailing Club
by David Young 28 May 2008 12:30 BST
25 May 2008
Kelsey Suggitt and Josh Stuart © Richard Wallace
In conditions that mirrored those of the Youth Championships of the previous day, plus constant heavy rain, 6 visitors joined the home Lark fleet to contest the annual Barnt Green Open meeting. PRO Bob Sugget and his team set a sensible figure 8 course which took into account huge shifts/gusts expected during the day.
First away in race 1 were Dave Young/Nicola Attwood who stayed ahead of Kelsey Sugget/Josh Stuart and Ruth Johnson/Rachael Rhodes until a dunking at the 1st leward mark. Johnson/Rhodes opened up a huge lead over Sugget/Stuart until their rudder fell off, allowing Sugget/Stuart and the fast recovering Young/Attwood to catch up. After another lap, Young/Attwood had taken the lead which they held to the finish, Sugget/Stuart taking a well deserved 2nd (the only dry team in the race) and Johnson/Rhodes 3rd after a capsize.
Race 2 started in similar conditions to race one. Again Young/Attwood were first round the windward mark, followed by Sugget/Stuart and Chris and Ann Biglin. First the Biglins' capsized, followed by Sugget/Stuart, leaving Young/Attwood to take an unasailable lead to the finish. They were followed home by Stuart and Julia Allen who sailed brilliantly dispite their lack of weight, and Johnson/Rhodes who recovered well from a cartwheel swim at the start (9.5 for artistic impression ladies).
The Open now decided in Dave Young and Nicola Attwoods favour, the fleet got away for the start of the 3rd race in more moderate coniditions. Again, Young/Attwood lead round the 1st mark, but had a battle with the Biglins' until the finish, which they held on to. Ruth Johnson and Rachael Rhodes gained their third 3rd of the day. This left 3 teams tied on 6 points.
The Lark class thank Barnt Green Sailing Club for another memorable 2 days of sailing, and look forward to coming back in greater numbers next year.
Results:
1st - 2507, Dave Young & Nicola Attwood, 2 points
2nd - 2488, Chris & Ann Biglin, 6 points
3rd - 2467, Kelsey Sugget & Josh Stuart, 6 points
4th - 2347, Ruth Johnson & Rachael Rhodes, 6 points