Please select your home edition
Edition
Musto 2023 Hikers LEADERBOARD

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

PosFleetSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9Pts
1stGold2533Smarty PantsChris WhiteNicola WhiteSouth Staffs SC4122‑5113‑514
2ndGold2520RollergirlHarry PynnGemma CookWaldringfield SC1‑7‑1012647425
3rdGold2495Well DodgyStuart HydonNick HydonShustoke SC261‑106281‑926
4thGold2492FlorenceJames StewartJeremy StephensNetley SC62‑881524‑1328
5thGold2523Dizzee GillespieEd BradburnSarah NorburySouth Staffs SC‑7435‑7465330
6thGold2529 James GossRachael RhodesSouth Staffs SC334648‑119‑1037
7thGold2496Nelly The ElephantSteve CumleyEluned StewartNetley SC5‑1159975‑11141
8thGold2538Tiger TooNigel HuftonPete NicholsonFrensham Pond SC8‑9673396‑1542
9thGold2528MowgliJohn BrickwoodVicky BrickwoodFrensham Pond SC/Netley SC9594‑12‑13102847
10thGold2527FloozieTim FellsFrances GiffordSalcombe YC‑1181111893‑12252
11thSilver2521Synergy MarineSimon CoxGeorge Cox‑OlliffBrightlingsea SC/Waldringfield SC10‑13‑1331111710658
12thSilver2502WeebleSteve ChattenKatie WardNetley SC1214‑15‑1510101413780
13thGold2475Helly Hansen/MustoChris HollimanKate HollimanLymington Town SC1610713(DNS)12158‑1781
14thSilver2539DylanNigel ScottHannah CarruthersRYA15‑18121213‑1613161192
15thSilver2531Polar BearDaniel WatsonJulia BatchelorWaldringfield SC‑17121416161512‑1816101
16thSilver2537Black VelvetNeil FirthSue FirthBanbury SC1317161415(DNS)(DNS)1412101
17thSilver2504MleviJohn CrooksHelen ChattenWaldringfield SC141517171414‑1817‑18108
18thSilver2509 Stuart AllenJulia AllenBanbury SC‑18161818(RET)17161514114
19thSilver2470TigerGarry PackerJack BendallBristol Corinthian YC‑19‑1919191718171919128
20thSilver2481Thin Blue LineAndrew WardToby WardShustoke SC(DNF)20202018(DNS)DNSDNSDNS141

Related Articles

Lark Winter Championships
It was a chilly reminder of the delights of the 'Peaky Blinders' countryside The biggest Lark sailing weekend of the year took place over the weekend of 18th/19th November at Barnt Green Sailing Club for the Craftinsure Lark Winter Championships. It was a chilly reminder of the delights of the "Peaky Blinders" countryside. Posted on 20 Nov
Lark Winter Championships runners and riders
Barnt Green to host the racing, and party, next weekend The Lark Winter Championships will be held over 18-19 November and it is shaping up to be a competitive event both on and off the water, with great prizes for the sailing and for the 'Peaky Blinders' fancy dress competition! Posted on 13 Nov
Lark Inlands at Draycote Water
A long awaited return to the venue Following hot off the heels of the Weymouth and Waldringfield open meetings the the Lark enjoyed a long awaited return to Draycote Water for their Inland Champs on 23rd/24th, shared with the Scorpions. Posted on 28 Sep
Larks at Weymouth
What a welcome! Weymouth Sailing Club hosted the Lark fleet as part of their annual regatta over the weekend of 9th & 10th September, and what a welcome we had! Posted on 12 Sep
Larks at Itchenor
Brutal conditions for the Short Course Championship Following the tranquillity of the Banbury Open meeting in June, the Larks (shared with the Fireflys) held their next event at Itchenor Sailing Club on the 1st and 2nd July. Posted on 5 Jul
Designing the new orthodoxy
The design/racing career of a wise and radical man, Mike Jackson The post-war Jack Holt designs might struggle to be called 'radical'. That epithet will instead go to another Ranelagh member, a truly 'Wise and Radical' sailor, Mike Jackson. Posted on 30 Jun
Banbury Lark Open
Battling it out for the Flynn Salver Banbury Sailing Club welcomed visiting Lark sailors and home boats for a four race series to battle it out for the Flynn Salver; first won by Bob Suggitt in 1973, with other notable names taking honours over the years. Posted on 22 Jun
Why the Lark?
Megan Brickwood chats with Dan Watson about the class Megan Brickwood is in the British Sailing Team, looking to represent Team GB in the 49FX at Paris 2024. She's at the top of her game. She also chooses to sail a Lark. Why? She sat down with Dan Watson of the Lark Class to explain why... Posted on 13 Jun
Musto Lark Nationals at Brixham overall
F4-5 wind and big rolling easterly waves give epic conditions on final day Boom... F4-5 wind strength and big rolling easterly waves epic conditions for the final two races and decider for the 2023 Musto Lark National Championship. Posted on 31 May
Musto Lark Nationals at Brixham day 3
All still to play for after big wave day After a wonderful evening meal by Brixham YC, sailors may have missed the wind beginning to build throughout the night. Nevertheless, the fleet awoke with a strong breeze of 20knts and a large sea state, much the same as Monday morning. Posted on 30 May