Musto Lark National Championship 2025 at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club - Day 3
by Samuel Bailey 29 Jul 20:24 BST
27-30 July 2025
Wild Winds and White Horses
The fleet awoke to howling winds and a stirring sea on day three of this year's Musto Lark National Championships. With max gusts making 30 knots and white horses galloping offshore, the stage was set for a thrilling—and punishing—day of racing.
Race One: Battle Begins Under U Flag
All competitors launched into the breeze with impressive discipline—no one fell foul of the U flag. But while the racing was fierce, it was gear failure that proved the most formidable opponent. Teams Ed Bradburn & Holly Evans, Tim Fells & Chris Allen, John & Vicky Brickwood, and Harry Chatterton & Dilly Ala were all forced to retire after equipment issues cost them dearly.
The conditions tested every tack and turn: brutal beats, chaotic runs, but blistering reaches. Crossing the line at the end of Race One were Tom Gillard & Rachael Gray in first, Chris & Nic White in second, and Stuart & Nick Hydon in third.
Race Two: Wind Still Roaring
The wind refused to relent, averaging 21knts. Tom & Rachael doubled down with another win, followed by Nigel Hufton & Chris Whitehouse, with Chris & Nic White again taking third. Meanwhile, Nigel Scott added a touch of nautical swashbuckling—after snapping his carbon spinnaker pole, he and his crew, Tegwyn, seized another boat's pole before heading ashore, proving that resourcefulness might just be the secret to survival.
Race Three: Leaner, Meaner Fleet
Despite exhaustion setting in, fifteen resilient boats lined up for Race Three. Tom & Rachael notched their third victory of the day, followed by Chris & Nic White and Stuart & Nick Hydon—making the leaderboard shuffle all the more intriguing heading into the final day.
Crews Race: The Encore No One Expected
Still hungry for action, five brave teams took to the water for the iconic crews race. Chris Whitehouse & Nigel Hufton led early, pursued by Tegwyn Tricker & "Pirate" Nigel, while Kamila Czartolomna & Samuel Bailey dueled with Jamie Cuxson & Olly Saunders—until Jamie & Olly took an unexpected dip!
The second beat saw tactical divergence, with Tegwyn & Pirate Nigel stranded left while Kamila & Samuel carved a path right to overtake Chris & Nigel at the final windward mark. But in a dramatic final leg, Nigel & Chris rolled past to snatch victory and earn the title of this year's crews race champions.
Standings Stirred, Stakes Raised
After a dramatic and physically demanding day, the leaderboard saw as many climbs as tumbles. With the final day on the horizon, the Musto Lark Nationals remain wide open—and full of suspense.
Results after Day 3:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Mozzy | 2521 | Tom Gillard | Rachael Gray | Sheffield Viking/Staunton Harold | ‑2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 2nd | Well Dodgy | 2495 | Stuart Hydon | Nick Hydon | Shustoke/ Dittisham | 1 | 3 | ‑7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 20 |
| 3rd | Smarty Pants | 2533 | Chris White | Nic White | South Staffs SC | 5 | ‑13 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 24 |
| 4th | Tiger Too | 2538 | Nigel Hufton | Chris Whitehouse | Frensham Pond SC | 7 | 6 | 3 | (OCS) | 8 | 2 | 4 | 30 |
| 5th | Problem Child | 2522 | Guy Brearey | Holly McArthur | RTYC | 6 | 7 | 4 | 2 | ‑11 | 8 | 6 | 33 |
| 6th | Allergic To Water | 2536 | Samuel Bailey | Kamila Czartolomna | South Staffs SC | 10 | 11 | 11 | (OCS) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 50 |
| 7th | | 2508 | Oliver Goodhead | Katie Keith | South Staffs SC | ‑14 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 57 |
| 8th | Dylan | 2539 | Nigel Scott | Tegwyn Tricker | RYA | ‑18 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 61 |
| 9th | Zippy | 2542 | Steve Chatten | Charlotte Stewart | Netley SC | 13 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 7 | (RET) | 62 |
| 10th | Rocket Ronnie | 2464 | Jonny Coate | Kate Phillips | South Staffs SC | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 13 | (DNC) | DNC | 67 |
| 11th | | 2526 | Ed Bradburn | Holly Evans | South Staffs SC | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | 78 |
| 12th | Ariadne | 2468 | Olly Saunders | Jamie Cuxson | Shustoke SC | ‑22 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 82 |
| 13th | Mowgli | 2528 | John Brickwood | Victoria Brickwood | Frensham Pond SC | 3 | 8 | (OCS) | 3 | 5 | DNC | DNC | 83 |
| 14th | Lymo | 2475 | Tye Shuttleworth | Leo Shuttleworth | Weymouth SC | 23 | 19 | ‑27 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 85 |
| 15th | Loba | 2421 | Simon Morris | Steven Georgiou | Barnt Green SC | 11 | ‑23 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 10 | 90 |
| 16th | Floozie | 2527 | Tim Fells | Chris Allen | Salcombe YC | 9 | 4 | 14 | (OCS) | 4 | RET | DNC | 95 |
| 17th | Zebidee | 2472 | George Graham | Jessica Hooker | Burwain Sailing Club | ‑25 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 104 |
| 18th | Polar Bear | 2531 | Harry Chatterton | Dilly Ala | Waldringfield SC | 12 | 14 | 9 | 9 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | 108 |
| 19th | Windchaser | 2530 | Bee Nee | Sam Nee | Frensham Pond SC | ‑26 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 108 |
| 20th | Mlevi | 2504 | John Crooks | Fergus Quinn | Waldringfield SC | ‑27 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 110 |
| 21st | Lara | 2287 | Ffion Bailey | Leah Murphy | Port Dinorwic SC | 21 | 20 | 20 | ‑22 | 22 | 15 | 14 | 112 |
| 22nd | Cleopatra | 2541 | Hannah Carruthers | Jack Hodgkins | Frensham Pond | 19 | 17 | 10 | (OCS) | DNC | 6 | RET | 116 |
| 23rd | Fluffy Thwarts | 2509 | Stuart Allen | Julia Allen | Banbury Sailing Club | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | 124 |
| 24th | Demo Boat | 2540 | Freya Sewell | Douglas Charleston | Portsmouth SC | (DNC) | 27 | 25 | 23 | 18 | 16.5 | 16 | 125.5 |
| 25th | Permanent Waves | 2451 | Tim Lawrence | Charlotte Lawrence | South Caernarfonshire Yacht Club | 20 | (OCS) | 17 | 20 | 21 | 16.5 | RET | 126.5 |
| 26th | Black Velvet | 2537 | Neil Firth | Sue Firth | Banbury Sailing Club | 17 | 18 | 24 | 17 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 140 |
| 27th | Jezebel | 2532 | Tony Hotchkiss | Ben Nankervis | South Staffs SC | 16 | 22 | 21 | 18 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 141 |
| 28th | Muppet | 2484 | Lee Nankervis | Anna Nankervis | Shropshire SC | 24 | 25 | 22 | 21 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 156 |
| 29th | Lily the pink | 2272 | Toby Keates | Jai & Amba Sanehi | Weymouth SC | 29 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 20 | (RET) | DNC | 166 |
| 30th | | 2275 | Dee Wolff | Johanna Wolff | Weymouth SC | 28 | 30 | 28 | 25 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | 175 |
| 31st | | 2355 | Elliott Twigg | Jackson Bailey | Weymouth SC | 30 | 29 | 29 | 26 | (RET) | DNC | RET | 178 |
