Musto Lark National Championship at Rock - Overall

by Tim Fells 2 Jun 2021 16:53 BST 30 May - 2 June 2021

The final day of the MUSTO sponsored LARK Nationals at Rock dawned to grey skies, some rain and a forecast of possible thunderstorms. Though they didn't materialise, they would probably have been a better option than the challenging conditions the fleet had to endure, with the sprightly breeze that drove the boats downwind to the race area in the mouth of the Camel Estuary being replaced by an asthmatic sort of sea breeze half way through the first race.

With two races to be held and a second discard to come in, the maths showed that Chris and Nic White had one hand on the Silver Lark trophy but could be pipped if Harry Pynn and Gemma Cook had a stellar day and they had an uncharacteristically bad one.

For the first race, John and Vicky Brickwood were the pathfinders and capitalised to play right middle and round first. Neither of the leading teams were in the top group, though the Pynns had the upper hand. On the second beat, the Whites did well on the left to climb into the top six. On the run the breeze disappeared and then started to re-emerge from the west. Stuart and Nick Hydon were the first to get to it and slipped through to take the win on a shortened course. John and Vicky held onto second but it was the White's who came through in third and with the Pynn's back in seventh, the destiny of the 2021 LARK champion title was resolved.

The final race started in a very light westerly, full of holes and big shifts and it looked like another shut down was in store. The left looked strong for a while but it was the right that came in at the end with Ed Bradburn and Sarah Norbury leading from the Whites. The fleet soon parked up on the reach and it was the wily Steve Cumley and Eluned Stewart who gybed away and found pressure down to leeward. They extended away to take a large win when the race was thankfully shortened after one round. Tim Fells and Fran Gifford also found these to be their best conditions to take second ahead of Ed and Sarah.

Many congratulations to Chris and Nic who have sailed an exemplary week, combining a nudge of boat speed with expert tactical positioning in what have been very challenging conditions. They add a second Silver Lark title to their collection, plus the 2019 win that Chris secured as crew.

Huge thanks go out to Rock Sailing Club for going ahead with the event so soon after lockdown restrictions eased. Organisation on and off the water has been slick and the bonus of glorious sunshine has meant that outside drinks and socialising has been a success.

Finally, a very big thank you to MUSTO who have generously sponsored the event, providing lots of prizes and support for the class.

Overall Results: (top six)
If you finished in the top ten at the Lark nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Fleet	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts
1st	Gold	2533	Smarty Pants	Chris White	Nicola White	South Staffs SC	4	1	2	2	‑5	1	1	3	‑5	14
2nd	Gold	2520	Rollergirl	Harry Pynn	Gemma Cook	Waldringfield SC	1	‑7	‑10	1	2	6	4	7	4	25
3rd	Gold	2495	Well Dodgy	Stuart Hydon	Nick Hydon	Shustoke SC	2	6	1	‑10	6	2	8	1	‑9	26
4th	Gold	2492	Florence	James Stewart	Jeremy Stephens	Netley SC	6	2	‑8	8	1	5	2	4	‑13	28
5th	Gold	2523	Dizzee Gillespie	Ed Bradburn	Sarah Norbury	South Staffs SC	‑7	4	3	5	‑7	4	6	5	3	30
6th	Gold	2529		James Goss	Rachael Rhodes	South Staffs SC	3	3	4	6	4	8	‑11	9	‑10	37
7th	Gold	2496	Nelly The Elephant	Steve Cumley	Eluned Stewart	Netley SC	5	‑11	5	9	9	7	5	‑11	1	41
8th	Gold	2538	Tiger Too	Nigel Hufton	Pete Nicholson	Frensham Pond SC	8	‑9	6	7	3	3	9	6	‑15	42
9th	Gold	2528	Mowgli	John Brickwood	Vicky Brickwood	Frensham Pond SC/Netley SC	9	5	9	4	‑12	‑13	10	2	8	47
10th	Gold	2527	Floozie	Tim Fells	Frances Gifford	Salcombe YC	‑11	8	11	11	8	9	3	‑12	2	52
11th	Silver	2521	Synergy Marine	Simon Cox	George Cox‑Olliff	Brightlingsea SC/Waldringfield SC	10	‑13	‑13	3	11	11	7	10	6	58
12th	Silver	2502	Weeble	Steve Chatten	Katie Ward	Netley SC	12	14	‑15	‑15	10	10	14	13	7	80
13th	Gold	2475	Helly Hansen/Musto	Chris Holliman	Kate Holliman	Lymington Town SC	16	10	7	13	(DNS)	12	15	8	‑17	81
14th	Silver	2539	Dylan	Nigel Scott	Hannah Carruthers	RYA	15	‑18	12	12	13	‑16	13	16	11	92
15th	Silver	2531	Polar Bear	Daniel Watson	Julia Batchelor	Waldringfield SC	‑17	12	14	16	16	15	12	‑18	16	101
16th	Silver	2537	Black Velvet	Neil Firth	Sue Firth	Banbury SC	13	17	16	14	15	(DNS)	(DNS)	14	12	101
17th	Silver	2504	Mlevi	John Crooks	Helen Chatten	Waldringfield SC	14	15	17	17	14	14	‑18	17	‑18	108
18th	Silver	2509		Stuart Allen	Julia Allen	Banbury SC	‑18	16	18	18	(RET)	17	16	15	14	114
19th	Silver	2470	Tiger	Garry Packer	Jack Bendall	Bristol Corinthian YC	‑19	‑19	19	19	17	18	17	19	19	128
20th	Silver	2481	Thin Blue Line	Andrew Ward	Toby Ward	Shustoke SC	(DNF)	20	20	20	18	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	DNS	141