Lark Open at Shustoke Sailing Club
by Simon Cox 27 Mar 2007 10:59 BST
25 March 2007
Twenty-six Larks moved overnight from South Staffs to Shustoke for a 3 race open on Sunday 25 March. The wind throughout the day was blustery F2-4 with big shifts. The compact courses each involved 7 legs, plenty of overtaking opportunities and generally splendid Larking.
Simon Cox & Sara Olliff led the first race for a lap before succumbing to the challenge behind. Dave Young & Laura Jakeman eventually won after a tussle with Tom Jeffcoate & Toby Wincer and Tom Stewart & Ruth Johnson.
Cox & Olliff once again lead race 2 for a lap before finding a rare hole in the breeze. Steve Cumley & Eluned Jones squeezed through to the lead (only to be DSQ'd later) with Christopher Fish & Harry Pynn finishing a close second on the water ahead of Jeffcoate and Jonathan Lewis & Tessa Nicholls.
About 8 boats could win going into the deciding race. Shustoke's Adrian & Hayleigh Padro, sailing "The Stig", hit fast forward to pull a commanding lead before a huge gust caught them out on a tight reach. Way behind Fish & Pynn, having just overtaken Lewis & Nicholls benefited first and went on to win the race from Cumley & Jones and the event as well.
Overall Results:
1st 2495 Christopher Fish & Harry Pynn, Waldringfield
2nd 2506 Tom Jeffcoate & Toby Wincer, Notts County
3rd 2507 Dave Young & Laura Jakeman, South Staffs
4th 2356 Jonathan Lewis & Tessa Nicholls, Burghfield
5th 2496 Steve Cumley & Eluned Jones, Barnt Green
1st Silver, 2444 Matt Stearn/ Adam Owens Waldringfield
1st Bronze, 2488 Adrian & Hayleigh Padro Shustoke