Lark Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club
by Chris Ellis 13 Oct 06:30 BST
11 October 2020
Lark Open at Frensham Pond © Rebecca Videlo
The Larks kicked off their season unusually late this year, hosted by Frensham Pond SC on 11th October.
The Larks reached their Covid-19 entry quota of 14 boats in record time and those lucky enough to get a place were rewarded with a fantastic day of racing in beautiful surroundings.
In race 1, Sam Bailey and Finlay Morgan were quick out of the blocks and built a good lead from Harry Pynn and Gemma Cook. The lead was exchanged a few times and the race was settled when Bailey and Morgan headed to the wrong leeward mark. Nigel Hufton and Matt Wood took 3rd.
In race 2, a 4-way battle ensued between James Stewart crewed by Roger Gilbert, Hufton and Wood, Bailey and Morgan, and Pynn and Cook. Hufton and Wood proved to be the best at handling the up and down wind and navigating through the other fleets on the course to take the win from Bailey and Morgan. Pynn and Cook just managed to sneak past Stewart and Gilbert on the final run.
With 3 boats tied going into the final race, all was to play for. John and Vicky Brickwood were adjudged to be over the start line and had to return. Pynn and Cook started at the committee boat end and quickly built a big lead over the other rivals, although it was Dan Watson and Sophia Kuhnert who rounded the windward mark first. Pynn and Cook then held a good lead to the finish to win the event. Bailey and Morgan were in hot pursuit, but unable to catch Pynn and Cook. Although the consistent Bailey and Morgan scored 3 seconds, they had to settle for third overall on countback (and first Youths) from Hufton and Wood.
The Lark class are grateful to Frensham Pond Sailing Club, particularly Chris Ellis and the General Committee for the huge effort to organise the event; and PRO Keith Videlo and family for excellent race management. They successfully proved it's possible to run a safe, compliant and enjoyable event that surpassed the expectations of all competitors.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 2520 | Harry Pynn | Gemma Cook | Waldringfield SC | 1 | ‑3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2nd | 2538 | Nigel Hufton | Matt Wood | FPSC | 3 | 1 | ‑5 | 4 |
| 3rd | 2468 | Samuel Bailey | Finlay Morgan | South Staffordshire Sailing Club | ‑2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 4th | 2492 | James Stewart | Roger Gilbert | Netley | ‑4 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 5th | 2528 | John Brickwood | Vicky Brickwood | Netley SC | 5 | ‑6 | 4 | 9 |
| 6th | 2531 | Daniel Watson | Sophia Kuhnert | Waldringfield | ‑8 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 7th | 2537 | Neil Firth | Sue Firth | Banbury | ‑10 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 8th | 2530 | Chris Ellis | Judith Young | FPSC | 7 | 7 | ‑8 | 14 |
| 9th | 2379 | Bridgitte Nee | Sarah Mcewan | FPSC | 6 | ‑11 | 11 | 17 |
| 10th | 2521 | Simon Cox | George Cox‑Olliff | Brightlingsea | 9 | 9 | (DNF) | 18 |
| 11th | 2502 | Steve Chatten | Ryan Harris | Netley SC | 11 | ‑12 | 10 | 21 |
| 12th | 2472 | Toby Slump | Fiona Nee | FPSC | ‑14 | 13 | 9 | 22 |
| 13th | 12 | Philip Whitney | Lynda Williams | FPSC | 12 | 10 | ‑13 | 22 |
| 14th | 252 | Ian Brown | Felicity Brown | FPSC | 13 | ‑14 | 12 | 25 |