Larks at the Waldringfield Easter Egg

Larks at the Waldringfield Easter Egg © Alexis Smith

Larks at the Waldringfield Easter Egg © Alexis Smith

Emma Harris & Fran Gifford win in the Larks at the Waldringfield Easter Egg © Nigel Hufton

The annual Easter Egg challenge, hosted by Waldringfield SC, started a little earlier than previous years, on Good Friday. And it was A Good Friday! With a forecast of 19-27kts, the Larks - including visitors from Frensham Pond, Marconi and Royal Thames - were full of nervous excitement to get afloat for the first Craftinsure Lark Traveller Series open meeting in the 2024 calendar.

Given the conditions, the PRO decided to postpone for 1hr and hold 2 back to back races over the top of the tide. It being springs, the water was flowing fast, and the Island ended up completely submerged, making finding the edges a little challenging.

A clean start in the first race, and a right hand shift in the breeze, meant that the long first beat against the tide was completed with little tacking. Emma Harris, with guest star crew, Fran Gifford, rounded first, picked up a gust on the reach and were away. Nigel Hufton and Edd McArdle rounded the wing in second, hoisted the kite and quickly realised that the there wasn't enough room to bear away on the gusts, ending up exploring the muddy shores of far northern banks with Edd missing his toe straps and pirouetting out of the boat. Matt White, with Sara Cox-Olliff, overtook, but Emma/Fran pulled away to a sizeable lead to finish the race as winners.

After quite a long first race, the second promised to be a little shorter. The wind had backed a little, making a slightly truer windward leg and a battle to find the fastest route against the tide. Nigel and Edd, slipped into the lead, opting for the clubhouse side of the ever-disappearing island. Although Emma and Fran got closer downwind, their lead was never seriously challenged, Emma/Fran followed in 2nd and Chris and Cathy Fish in 3rd.

Everyone retired to the shore after some serious hard-core hiking in the tough, gusty conditions that Waldringfield offered. Some rest and recuperation was on the cards for many on Friday evening with an evening in the pub or on the couch to nurse their aching limbs.

In a 'game of two halves', Easter Saturday came but the breeze didn't, and by midday, the PRO had decided enough was enough and abandoned all racing for the day. So Friday's results counted towards the event. This year, the usual egg-shaped chocolate prizes were topped up, with the generous sponsorship by Craftinsure for the Lark fleet only. Only two weeks to wait until the next event in the Craftinsure Traveller Series, with a trip to South Staffs SC on 13th/14th April.

Overall Results: