Lark Open at Rock Sailing and Waterski Club

 The early May Bank holiday saw the first sea open of the 2023 Lark season at Rock Sailing and Waterski Club. The class welcomed plenty of new faces both young and old to embrace the joys of this idyllic sailing venue.

The generally light-to-medium wind and neap tides presented some awesome conditions for PRO Martin Hough, who managed to conjure up some great courses to run 9 excellent races, with some of the closest racing of any sailing event.

On Saturday, racing was held in the Harbour in a light NW wind and more sand appearing as the tides was leaving the estuary. Chris Tillbrook & Stephen Scrivens - sailing in their first Lark Open in the beautifully restored wooden Lark - stunned the fleet with a Port tack flyer and briefly led. However, they fell into a hole on the 2nd beat and watched the rest of the fleet sail around them. Dan Watson and teenage crew Max Evans-Allder laid down the gauntlet with a bullet, from Nigel Scott and returning Lark sailor Tegwyn Tricker. New faces from Plymouth University, Sebi Schmidt and Matt Best came in third in the Synergy demonstration boat.

In Race 2, Nigel Hufton started well and he and Sam Bailey led the way round to to pip Watson & Evans-Allder for first. A second Plymouth University pairing, Ethan Davey & Bel Hitchmough, started to master their borrowed boat to finish third.

Sunday saw a more solid F3 NW wind and a rising tide, allowing three races out on Hawker's Cove. The previous day's practice meant everyone was sailing better and overnight leaders Watson & Evans-Allder had their work cut out. Some close racing ensued, but Hufton & Bailey had the boat speed and boat handling in Tiger Too to win the day with 3 wins. Davey & Hitchmough showed excellent boat speed in the brand-new Cleopatra to lodge a 2,3,2 scoreline. However, behind them, tussles ensued all around the course, with both Scott & Tricker (in Dylan) and John Crooks & Oscar Radford (in Melvi) both posting third places.

Bank Holiday Monday, Hufton & Bailey were really into their stride winning all 4 races, with Davey & Hitchmough posting 3 seconds. However, behind them there was all to play for in the mid-fleet and all the fleet enjoyed the glorious conditions and views. After 9 races, Hufton & Bailey were therefore able to win overall - counting 8 firsts - followed by Ethan & Hitchmough. In third place, Scott & Tricker managed to edge into third by one point from Watson & Evans-Allder.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Name Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 Pts

1st Tiger Too 2538 N Hufton S Bailey Frensham/ South Staffs ‑5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8

2nd Cleopatra 2541 E Davey B Hitchmough Plymouth University ‑4 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 18

3rd Dylan 2539 N Scott T Tricker RYA 2 5 ‑6 2 3 4 3 5 5 29

4th Polar Bear 2531 D Watson M Evans‑Allder Waldringfield 1 2 (DNF) 5 6 6 4 3 3 30

5th Weeble 2502 S Chatten G Graham Netley ‑8 4 4 4 5 3 5 6 6 37

6th Melvi 2504 J Crooks O Radford Waldringfield 7 6 3 6 4 7 6 ‑8 8 47

7th Reasons To Be Cheerful 1948 C Tilbrook S Scriven Paignton 6 (DNF) 5 7 7 5 DNF 7 4 50

8th Twocan 2540 S Schmidt M Best Plymouth University 3 7 7 (DNF) DNF DNF 7 4 7 53