Lark Inland Championship at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

Synergy Marine's new Lark demo boat at the Lark Inlands © Synergy Marine

A diverse and competitive fleet of Larks travelled to Frensham Pond Sailing Club for the Inland Championship and enjoyed a day of light and shifty conditions typical of Frensham.

The event comprised four races, two back-to-back in the morning, followed by lunch and two races back-to-back in the afternoon. The race officer Graham Howlett made full use of all the marks, setting typical Frensham 'around the cans' courses.

A notable entrant to this championships was Simon Cox in Synergy Marine's new Lark demo boat, that starts its country-wide tour of the venues for those who wish to try out the boat and experience the latest developments.

The first race was led at the windward mark by local Cadet sailor and Cadet National Champion Hannah Carruthers and Nigel Scott, followed by the young team of Sam Bailey and Oliver Goodhead from South Staffordshire. Sam and Oliver went to take the win followed by John and Vicky Brickwood from Frensham Pond, with Stuart and Julia Allen from Banbury coming through the fleet to take third.

The second race was led from the start by Matt White and Marion Enkel, who established a good lead and looked set to win until they unfortunately sailed to the wrong mark. This allowed Sam and Oliver to take a second win with John and Vicky Brickwood coming through the fleet to take second.

After lunch ashore, the racing continued in the afternoon with a slightly increased breeze but still very shifty.

The third race was led at the first mark by Nigel Hufton and Pete Nicholson from Frensham Pond with Stuart and Julia Allen in second. John and Vicky found some good downwind speed to pull through the fleet and eventually sail away for the win.

This set up the final race for a two-way battle between John & Vicky and Sam & Oliver. At the first mark, John & Vicky were just ahead of Sam and Oliver but with both boats down the fleet. The race was led by Matt White and Marion Enkel, but John & Vicky were hot on their heels by the final beat to the finish and just managed to take the win in the final tacks before the finish line. Sam and Oliver pulled through to third, but the win was enough to give John and Vicky the Inlands title.

Notable mentions further down the fleet include an involuntary top-of-mast burgee offload from the new Lark Demo boat as crews were swapped for the last race. Also first-time Lark sailors, Tom Walker & Amelie Whitehouse, nearly lost the Class's expensive 360 video camera as their rudder popped off the back of their boat, but quick reactions from Tom saved the rudder and camera from the depths of the lake - shame the camera wasn't switched on to capture these heroics. And of course all competitors enjoyed the traditional and famous Frensham free tea and cakes at prize-giving, after all racing had concluded.

Everyone thanked the race team, rescue crew and shore based guys for all their hard work that went into hosting a fantastic event for all.

On to the Winter Championship at Northampton on 6th/7th November as the Larks enjoy an unusually intense end to their Belle Isle Traveller Series. Entries and info can be found here.

Overall Results: