Musto Lark National Championship at Brixham Yacht Club - Day 1

For their 2023 National Championships the LARKS have returned to Brixham, a venue with particular significance in Lark mythology. Once again the class is very grateful to Musto for their very generous support of the class, providing a fabulous array of prizes.

South Devon has been basking in wonderfully sunny weather in May and the forecast for the four day championships has been wall to wall sunshine with Easterly breezes, a recipe for champagne sailing in Torbay. For the first day of the championships competitors looked out over the race course while polishing off their breakfasts to see a good breeze and the odd whitecap.

However, as the fleet assembled in the race area the breeze was beginning to fade and this became the story of the day as the heating over the land sucked the breeze out of the bay. The light weight teams were increasingly chipper.

Race 1 started cleanly in 5-6 knots. Although the breeze had been tracking right, there was more pressure and a bit of a left shift that brought the port side in ahead at the top mark. Alan Krailing who needs no introduction to the front of the fleet having won the title four times, sailing with son Tom and being one of the lightest teams on the water, flew up the first beat and were gone.

Nigel Hufton and Holly Scott were next around but were slowly chased down by Ed Bradburn and Holly Evans who took second, followed by the very experienced team of John Brickwood and Andy Hicks.

Musto Lark National Championship at Brixham day 1 - photo © Will Loy

The breeze continued to fail and the fleet spent an hour drifting around in next to nothing. With the brief arrival of an asthmatic gradient North-Easterly, the race team span the dice and started Race 2 on a short course. Shortly after the start, in a repeat of the first race, the breeze was on the left providing lifting pressure.

Harry Pynn and Gemma Cook, were first around the top mark and despite having a pack of boats on their transom, held their advantage around the two lap, 30 minute race to take the gun. With very few opportunities for gains, Stu and Nick Hydon did exceptionally well to climb through the leading group to take second ahead of Alan and Tom Krailing, who after a. 1,3 take the early lead in the nine race series.

The forecast for the next three days is for more pressure, although falling away during the morning. Hopefully, there will be enough for crews to stretch their legs.

Musto Lark National Championship at Brixham day 1 - photo © Will Loy

Results after day 1:

Musto Lark National Championship at Brixham day 1 - photo © Will Loy