Craftinsure Lark Open Meeting at Banbury Sailing Club

Nigel Scott and Tegwyn Roberts - Craftinsure Lark Open at Banbury © Phil Eves

A shifty westerly and lower-than-usual water levels restricted the size of the course which led to some very tight racing at the Craftinsure Lark Open Meeting at Banbury Sailing Club.

George Graham and Jess Hooker (Locks SC) timed their race one start to perfection, leaving the pontoon for a short port-tack reach to the line, tacking under the waiting fleet and nailing the pin end as the gun went! However, Nigel Scott and Tegwyn Roberts (RYA) tacked off and picked up a nice lift on the right side of the short beat. They led at the first mark.

After a short reach, the second longer beat provided plenty of opportunity for gains and losses and allowed Banbury locals Neil and Sue Firth to stay in touch with Nigel and Tegwyn. These two boats couldn't be separated, crossing tacks to share the lead over several laps. On the final lap, Nigel and Tegwyn looked to have broken clear but Neil and Sue found a lift up the shore of the penultimate beat to sneak back through and hold on for the win. Nigel and Tegwyn took second and George and Jess third.

Race two followed a similar pattern with Nigel and Tegwyn locked in a tight battle with Neil and Sue over multiple laps. Once again it was Neil and Sue who got the lucky break on the final lap to pip Nigel and Tegwyn to the line with George and Jess not far behind in third.

Neil and Sue Firth leading race 2 - Craftinsure Lark Open at Banbury - photo © Nic Arnold

Lunch was a hearty home-made chilli, laid on by the Banbury volunteers, and a chance for some banter with the Wayfarer fleet who were also enjoying their day. Conditions were turning out a lot better than the torrential rain and 30-knot gusts that were forecast just a few days earlier!

Neil and Sue secured the pin end for race three. They were the last to tack onto port and were lifted to the first mark on a private gust that never reached the others. They broke clear and were never caught, leaving Nigel and Tegwyn in a close battle for second with George and Jess. Nigel and Tegwyn prevailed.

The final race wasn't going to change the outcome of the event but was another tight three-way battle. Nigel and Tegwyn ran out of runway and were OCS at the pin, but quickly looped around the end for a port-tack start. George and Jess got the timing spot on and nailed the first beat to lead at the mark, just ahead of Neil and Sue. George and Jess held them off for the first two laps but the locals managed to sneak through just as the Race Officer shortened the course.

Meanwhile, Nigel and Tegwyn had recovered from their OCS and were back in the game. These three boats were nose-to-tail up the tense final beat. Neil and Sue crossed the line first, Nigel and Tegwyn were second with George and Jess just behind in third, all within a few seconds of each other.

Race 1 - Craftinsure Lark Open at Banbury - photo © Phil Eves

That left Neil and Sue Firth (Banbury SC) as overall winners, with Nigel Scott and Tegwyn Roberts (RYA) second and George Graham and Jess Hooker (Locks SC) third.

A big thank you to all the volunteers at Banbury SC for a well run and thoroughly enjoyable event, on and off the water. Not forgetting some fabulous cakes at the prize-giving!

Overall Results: