Musto Lark National Championship 2026 hosted by Fowey Sailing - Day 2
by Samuel Bailey 27 Jul 20:07 BST
26-29 July 2026
After a patient wait, racing at the Musto Lark Nationals finally burst into life with three races completed and 43 boats eager to show their form on the start line.
Race officer John Burford faced a demanding day as the breeze swung back and forth, forcing repeated course adjustments. Several boats — including Chris & Nic White, Jack Hodgkins & Olly Hateley, and Ethan Davey & Rory Stretch — were so focused on their pre-race tuning that they arrived more than 30 seconds late for the first start. Fortunately for them, a general recall wiped the slate clean.
With two generals behind them, Race 1 got under way in a steady 8-10 knots. The lighter crews made the most of the conditions, with Stuart & Julia Allen (team Fluffy Thwarts) punching well above their weight to take an excellent 8th.
The race win went to Meadowcroft & Caiger in the HD Sails works boat, followed by Chris & Nic White in 2nd and John Brickwood & Andy Hicks in 3rd.
Race 2 brought similar breeze — and yet another course tweak as the wind continued to shift. Lark Nationals newcomers Alex Enkel & Hettie Thorogood made the most of the lighter conditions, scoring an impressive 8th against a highly experienced fleet.
The race was again won by Meadowcroft & Caiger, with Stuart & Nick Hydon in 2nd and Ed Bradburn & Holly Evans in 3rd.
By Race 3 the wind had built into sub-planing territory, giving the heavier crews their moment. Guy Brearey & Holly McArthur, Harry Pynn & Gemma Cook, Tim Fells & Jerry Eplett, and Jonny Coate & Kate Phillips all pushed into the top-ten battle.
This time Hydon & Hydon took the win, denying Meadowcroft & Caiger a clean sweep, while Bradburn & Evans secured another solid 3rd.
Overnight, Meadowcroft & Caiger lead the championship, with Hydon & Hydon and Bradburn & Evans tied on 10 points in joint second.
In the sub-fleets, Enkel & Thorogood top Silver in 12th overall, while Kate Merritt & Vickie Burgess lead Bronze in 24th.
Tonight the fleet gathers for the championship dinner before another three races tomorrow — plus the always-competitive crews' race.
A huge thank-you to event sponsors Musto for their continued support of the Lark class, and to photographer Robert Deaves for capturing the action on the water - more photos here.
Results after Day 2:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | Fleet | Age Category | First Time helm | Other category | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Tiger Too | 2538 | Ollie Meadowcroft | Becky Caiger | Banbury SC | Gold | 25 and under | Yes | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2nd | Well Dodgy | 2495 | Stuart Hydon | Nick Hydon | Dittisham SC/Shustoke SC | Gold | Master (55+) | No | | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 3rd | | 2526 | Ed Bradburn | Holly Evans | South Staffs SC | Gold | | No | | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 4th | Smarty Pants | 2533 | Chris White | Nic White | South Staffs SC | Gold | | No | Married Couple | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| 5th | Mowgli | 2528 | John Brickwood | Andy Hicks | Frensham Pond SC | Gold | Master (55+) | No | | 3 | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| 6th | Problem Child | 2522 | Guy Brearey | Holly McArthur | RTYC | Gold | | No | | 6 | 12 | 7 | 25 |
| 7th | Rollergirl | 2520 | Harry Pynn | Gemma Cook | Waldringfield | Gold | | No | Married Couple | 9 | 10 | 6 | 25 |
| 8th | Dylan | 2539 | Matthew Shorrock | Maddie Jones | Burnham SC | Gold | | No | | 11 | 7 | 10 | 28 |
| 9th | Allergic To Water | 2536 | Samuel Bailey | Mia Hateley | Brightlingsea SC | Gold | | No | | 10 | 11 | 12 | 33 |
| 10th | | 2545 | James Goss | Anna Aylward | South Staffs SC | Gold | | No | | 14 | 9 | 11 | 34 |
| 11th | Floozie | 2527 | Tim Fells | Jerry Eplett | Salcombe YC | Gold | Master (55+) | No | | 12 | 18 | 5 | 35 |
| 12th | Expresso Bongo | 2477 | Alex Enkel | Hettie Thorogood | Waldringfield | Silver | 21 or under | Yes | | 15 | 8 | 17 | 40 |
| 13th | Cleopatra | 2541 | Simon Cox | Jemima Cox‑Olliff | | Gold | | No | | 13 | 6 | 25 | 44 |
| 14th | Rocket Ronnie | 2464 | Jonny Coate | Kate Phillips | South Staffs SC | Gold | | No | Married Couple | 21 | 15 | 9 | 45 |
| 15th | Bob | 2491 | Emma Harris | David Marlow | | Gold | | No | | 18 | 14 | 16 | 48 |
| 16th | Fluffy Thwarts | 2509 | Stuart Allen | Julia Allen | Banbury SC | Silver | Master (55+) | No | Married Couple | 8 | 16 | 26 | 50 |
| 17th | Windchaser | 2530 | Clive Eplett | Spike Daniels | Frensham Pond SC | Gold | Master (55+) | Yes | | 24 | 13 | 14 | 51 |
| 18th | Tiger Free | 2543 | Nigel Hufton | Chris Whitehouse | Frensham Pond SC | Gold | | No | | 16 | 22 | 13 | 51 |
| 19th | Free Willy | 2501 | Megan Dickson | Connor Dickson | Hunts SC | Gold | | No | Married Couple | 17 | 19 | 19 | 55 |
| 20th | Mozzi | 2521 | Ethan Davey | Rory Stretch | Royal Thames YC | Silver | | No | | 22 | 21 | 15 | 58 |
| 21st | Brian | 2544 | Nigel Scott | Tegwyn Tricker | RYA | Gold | | No | | 23 | 17 | 23 | 63 |
| 22nd | | 2468 | George Graham | Jess Hooker | Locks SC | Silver | | No | | 5 | 32 | 27 | 64 |
| 23rd | Petal to the metal | 2534 | Hannah Carruthers | Amber Hale | Frensham Pond SC | Silver | | No | | 20 | 24 | 28 | 72 |
| 24th | The Hoff | 2443 | Kate Merritt | Vickie Burgess | Weymouth SC | Bronze | | No | | 29 | 26 | 18 | 73 |
| 25th | | 2508 | Jack Hodgkins | Olly Hateley | Frensham Pond SC | Bronze | 21 or under | Yes | | 19 | 23 | 32 | 74 |
| 26th | Polar Bear | 2531 | Daniel Watson | Natalie Bannister | Waldringfield | Silver | | No | | 26 | 29 | 22 | 77 |
| 27th | Zippy | 2542 | Steve Chatten | Kirsty Phipps | Netley SC | Silver | | No | | 25 | 33 | 21 | 79 |
| 28th | Sour Cream | 2515 | Jo Tribe | Jason Phelps | | Bronze | | Yes | | 36 | 20 | 24 | 80 |
| 29th | | 2226 | Leo Shuttleworth | Tye Shuttleworth | RYA | Bronze | | No | Master/Apprentice | 30 | 30 | 20 | 80 |
| 30th | Buffy | 2459 | Nigel Denchfield | Fiona Denchfield | Grafham Water SC | Silver | Master (55+) | No | | 27 | 28 | 30 | 85 |
| 31st | Zebedee | 2472 | Eddie Esdaile | Oscar Allbut | Fowey Gallants SC | Bronze | | No | | 34 | 25 | 33 | 92 |
| 32nd | Mlevi | 25 | John Crooks | Fergus Quinn | Weymouth SC | Silver | | No | Master/Apprentice | 33 | 31 | 29 | 93 |
| 33rd | Black Velvet | 2537 | Neil Firth | Sue Firth | Waldringfield | Silver | Master (55+) | No | Married Couple | 32 | 27 | 35 | 94 |
| 34th | | 2411 | Jai Sanehi | Amba Sanehi | | Bronze | 21 or under | Yes | | 28 | 34 | 37 | 99 |
| 35th | Navy Lark | 2516 | Oscar Bush | Josh Davidson | RYA | Bronze | 21 or under | Yes | | 35 | 35 | 31 | 101 |
| 36th | | 2275 | Toby Keates | Jackson Bailey | Roadford SC | Bronze | 21 or under | No | | 37 | 39 | 34 | 110 |
| 37th | Twocan | 2540 | George Cox‑Olliff | Tom Krailing | Barnt Green SC | Silver | 21 or under | Yes | | 31 | 36 | DNS | 111 |
| 38th | Tiger | 2252 | Andrew Cox | Ben Saunders | South Staffs SC | Bronze | | No | | 41 | 41 | 36 | 118 |
| 39th | Doris | 2444 | Philip Henson | Mandy Parker | Royal Fowey YC | Bronze | | No | | 38 | 38 | DNC | 120 |
| 40th | This One | 2376 | Phil Russ | Adam Joyce | Waldringfield | Bronze | | Yes | | 40 | 37 | DNF | 121 |
| 41st | | 2455 | James macswiney | Finnbar MacSwiney | | Bronze | | Yes | Master/Apprentice | 43 | 40 | 38 | 121 |
| 42nd | | 2349 | Daniel Bailey | Erin Bailey | Waldringfield | Bronze | | Yes | | 39 | 42 | DNC | 125 |
| 43rd | Woodlark | 711 | Colin Gibbon | Joe Gibbon | Salcombe YC | Bronze | Master (55+) | Yes | | 42 | DNF | DNC | 130 |