Craftinsure Lark Winter Championships at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

by Jonny Coate 21 Nov 2024 13:37 GMT 16-17 November 2024

A highly competitive fleet of Larks gathered at Frensham Pond Sailing Club on 16-17 November to contest their Winter Championships, the final event of 2024.

Race 1 got under way in light winds with a heavily pin-end biased line. Newcomers to the class, Guy Brearey & Lucy Preston, shot off the line on port at the pin and quickly established a healthy lead over those choosing a more conservative approach. Jonny Coate & Kate Phillips tacked onto port and gave chase, overhauling the leaders by the first mark.

With the fleet fighting behind them, Coate & Phillips built on that lead over the next two laps. Ollie Goodhead, in his recently acquired boat, crewed by Katie Keith, managed to break free of the pack and reel in Coate & Phillips on the last lap. They took the lead for a couple of legs, but Coate & Phillips took advantage of a shift near the finish to win.

Race two saw some argie-bargie at the committee boat end, with Coate & Phillips blocked out and having to gybe around and start on the transom of James Stewart & Hannah Carruthers. While the fleet sailed up the left side of the beat, Coate & Phillips broke away to the right arriving at the first mark just ahead of the pack and maintained the lead until the finish. Again, Goodhead & Keith, showing great pace, took second place. Harry Pynn & Gemma Cook finished the day with two third places. These would be the overall top three overnight.

On Saturday evening, the fleet gathered at the club for a delicious evening meal, followed by a live band. The bar did a deal on 'Dark & Stormy' cocktails, so it wasn't long before competitors were throwing shapes on the dance floor.

Sunday morning arrived with more breeze and glorious sunshine, making it the finest day of November sailing anyone could remember for a long time.

Races 3 & 4 were also won by Coate & Phillips, sealing the event victory with a race to spare. Brearey & Preston challenged the order with a second place in race 4. A great battle was unfolding for second place overall between Goodhead & Keith and Pynn & Cook, with only one point separating them going into the last race.

Race 5 didn't disappoint, with a running battle for the lead between the two over the course of the race. The experienced Pynn & Cook team took the race, and with it second place overall.

Special mention to Bronze Fleet winners George Graham & Jessica Hooker. George is a regular on the circuit, but usually as a crew. It's great to see him helming a boat now and arriving at the first mark in the top three a couple of times. Nigel Scott & Tegwyn Tricker won the silver fleet.

Special thanks to Lark class sponsor Craftinsure who kindly provided excellent prizes.

Thanks also to OOD Ian Gregory who did an excellent job over the weekend and to Commodore Rob Anstey and Chris Ellis for their efforts in organising a great weekend.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1st	2464	Jonny Coate	Kate Phillips	South Staffs Sailing Club	1	1	1	1	(DNC)	4
2nd	2520	Harry Pynn	Gemma Cook	Waldringfield Sailing Club	‑3	3	2	3	1	9
3rd	2508	Ollie Goodhead	Katie Keith	South Staffordshire Sailing club	2	2	3	‑6	2	9
4th	2492	James Stewart	Hannah Carruthers	Netley	6	4	‑8	4	3	17
5th	2522	Guy Brearey	Lucy Preston	RTYC	4	‑7	7	2	6	19
6th	2528	Andy Hicks	Spike Daniels	FPSC	5	6	4	‑7	4	19
7th	2538	Nigel Hufton	Alex McEwan	Frensham Pond Sailing Club	‑8	5	6	5	5	21
8th	2539	Nigel Scott	Tegwyn Tricker	RYA	7	8	5	‑9	7	27
9th	2502	Stephen Chatten	Kirsty Phipps	Netley Sailing Club	9	‑10	9	10	8	36
10th	2322	Graham George	Jessica Hooker	Burwain Sailing Club	‑11	11	11	8	9	39
11th	2530	Chris Ellis	Rosie Targett	FPSC	10	9	10	‑11	10	39
12th	2470	Garry Packer	Charlott Noren‑Topham	Bristol Corinthian Yact Club	‑12	12	12	12	11	47
13th	2045	Ian Brown	Tom Stoddart	FPSC	‑13	13	13	13	12	51