GJW Direct Lark Belle Isle Series at Exe Sailing Club
by Charlie Roome 11 Jul 2013 13:50 BST
6-7 July 2013
Glorious sunshine greeted the Lark fleet at its annual outing to Exe Sailing Club in the GJW Direct Lark Belle Isle Series. The race programme kicked off with 3 races on Saturday which started in a steady force 2/3 wind.
First race saw Corky Rhodes and Karen Falcon round first followed by John Crooks and Laura Lilly slipping just in front of Stuart and Nick Hydon having played the left hand side of the first beat. The Hydon's took both Crooks/Lilly and Rhodes/Falcon by sailing high down the first reach. Stuart and Nick managed to slide away during the rest of the race with Chris Whitehouse and Simon Haighton making up ground to take second position and Rhodes/Falcon took third.
Race two began with Stuart and Nick buried at the start. With limited options they went the right hand side of the course and managed to gain from an uncharacteristic lift from that side of the course. James and Katie Ward managed to round high up with Whitehouse/Haighton and Steve Hall/Oil Wells also well placed. Stuart and Nick managed to extend their lead with the Wardies taking second position.
Race three saw Crooks/Lilly again playing the left hand side of the course which took them round first followed by Rhodes/Falcon. The Hydons managed to pull up from 4th to 2nd by going the opposite way down the run. Rhodes/Falcon slipped to second on the next beat leaving the Hydons to take the win. Rhodes and Falcon held on to second whilst Whitehouse/ Haighton claimed third from Crooks/Lilly.
Overnight Mark Chadwick awarded an informal "Duckhams" for missing the gate twice in the same race despite been told the first time.
Sunday brought similar hot condition, but less wind. The race officer managed to start the race. Again the Hydons pulled out a lead but sailing downwind provided a challenge as it was against the tide. Second was Hall/Wells who were fending off Ryan Crawford and Kian Andrews. The final race was abandoned and coincidently it was back in time for the Men's Wimbledon Final.
The Lark fleet would like to thank Exe Sailing Club for their great hospitality.
Overall Results:
1st Stuart and Nick Hydon (Shustoke SC)
2nd Chris Whitehouse and Simon Haighton (Starcross SC)
3rd Corky Rhodes and Karen Falcon (Netley SC)
4th Steve Hall and Oli Wells (Burnham SC)