Lark Nationals at Brixham Yacht Club - Day 1
by Emma Harris 26 Jul 2009 22:25 BST
25-31 July 2009
A gloomy looking day for the first of the Lark National Championship, and a 16mph average wind speed greeted the 55 strong fleet into Torbay. It turned out to be all of that, with gusts in the mid 20’s coming straight over the cliffs of Brixham – causing the wind to
shift through 25 degrees. Trapezoid courses with gate starts were
scheduled for both races, the reaches being just too tight for the
kite and the runs causing many a wobbly moment (some wet) for a lot
of the fleet.
It was widely predicted that, with a windy week, the Battle Royale
would be between the two big wind specialists, Alan Krailing/Edd
McCardle and Steve Hall/Simon Haighton of P&B. The first day was
bang on prediction. The “P&B” boys took a monster lead in the first
race, with Krailing/McCardle recovering from a second rate start and
first beat to pull through into second. Steve Cumley sailing with his
new wife, Nicky, had a fantastic race, stretching their height over
the side to full advantage.
By the second race, the wind was starting to go left and a massive
left shift helped Krailing/McCardle to the windward mark in first.
Team Videlo, Fish/Condie and Hall/Haighton raced hot on their heels,
with a gaggle of boats behind. By the last reach, these four boats
had pulled away from the fleet, but Hall/Haighton kept their kite
flying to charge underneath the others, snatching 2nd on the line
from Fish/Condie.
Results after Day 1:
1st Krailing/McCardle 3pts
2nd Hall/Haighton 3pts
3rd Fish/Condie 7pts
4th Videlo/Videlo 10pts
5th Cumley/Cumley 13pts
6th Harris/Priest 13 pts
7th Hewat/Johnson 16 pts (1st Silver)
8th Pynn/Krailing 17pts
9th Bennett/Booth 18pts
10th Croxford/Warbarton 21pts
22nd Spanni Archer/Hannah Mayhew (1st Bronze)