Lark Nationals at Teign Corinthian YC report

by Lark Marketing on 6 Aug 2010 2010 Lark National Championship was won by Harry Pynn and Michael Gifford by the narrowest of margins from Stephen and Chris Videlo.

Pynn and Gifford had seized the advantage early in the week by winning races one and two. The Videlos fought back to take the lead equal on points after five races setting up a two-horse race.

Pynn and Gifford beat the Videlos in both of Wednesday’s races, demonstrating their ability to make their way through the fleet after some poor starts. This provided the opportunity for Pynn/Gifford to wrap up the Championship by beating the Videlos in Thursday’s eighth race.

They looked on target for this having covered the Videlos throughout the race only to drop back following a 720 on the penultimate reach. It later transpired that the 720 was unnecessary and Pynn was duly awarded the Duckhams dress for gross underacheivement.

In Friday’s showdown the Videlos were lucky to escape without punishment after finding themselves to windward of the pathfinder on the gate start. The race was restarted and a previously steady breeze weakened.

Half way up the beat it looked as though the boats on the left were winning. Suddenly the breeze filled in on the right giving the Videlos their chance. The Videlos fought there way up to first after Matt and Emma White found themselves too low on the second reach and then Chris Fish and Beth Condie went for the wrong windward mark following a change of course.

Pynn and Gifford managed to make their way up to fourth which was just enough to take the championship.

Behind the teo leaders, places three to 10 were hotly contested. Nigel Hufton and Andy Douglas sailed consistently at the end of the week to take third place ahead of Chris Fish and Beth Condie in fourth.

Matt White and daughter Emma took race four in emphatic style a long way ahead of silver fleet winners Chris White and Lucy Evans. James Stewart and Katrina Gilbert won race six, but their joy was short lived as a big header capsized them to windward while well placed in race seven.

Fish and Condie won race seven, holding off 2009 winners Alan Krailing and Edd McArdle on the finish line. Race eight was won by Emma Harris and Becky Priest who led all the way having been pathfinder.

In the silver fleet, Jane Alexander and Rachel Rhodes were second behind Chris White and Lucy Evans. Fiona Gray and Aaron Woolf coming third.

Newcomers to the class, Will Kennedy and Rhos Hawes were bronze fleet winners ahead of Eluned Jones and Millie Parsons. Nigel Denchfield and Kathy Bartlett were third.

The crew’s race was as competitive as ever with 23 boats on the start line. Becky Priest and Emma Harris took the race from Michael John Gifford and Harry Pynn. 14 year old Emma White crewed by father Matt came third to the biggest cheer from spectators. 17 year olds, Tim Linsell and Aaron Woolf came fourth, having led for the first trapezoid lap.

The Lark Nationals lived up to its reputation off the water as well. In addition to the legendary crew’s union, an innovation for 2010 was the infamous ‘Larks got Talent’ evening. Master of ceremonies James Ward was clearly astounded by the talent on display. Winners ‘Armless Fun’ were serenaded by guitar duo Henri and Lloyd.

The class would like to thank Teign Corinthian Yacht Club for hosting a memorable championship, and our sponsors Brookbank sailing, Mr. Organic, Henri Lloyd and FotoBoat.

Pos Boat Name Helm Crew Club Nett Total
1st Kiss My Face2 Harry Pynn Michael John Gifford Waldringfield SC 18.5
2nd Forty Two Stephen Videlo Chris Videlo Waldringfield SC 19.25
3rd Tiger Nigel Hufton Andy Douglas Frensham Pond SC 35
4th Fishy Fingers Too Christopher Fish Beth Condie Waldringfield SC 37.75
5th Well Dodgy Stuart Hydon Tim Linsell Shustoke SC 40
6th Rocket Ronnie Alan Krailing Edward Mcardle Waldringfield SC 42
7th The Joker Matthew White Emma White Waldringfield SC 43.75
8th Voodoo Chris Whitehouse Chris Robinson Ranelagh SC 46
9th Bomber Emma Harris Becky Priest Waldringfield SC/Cotswolds SC 47.75
10th Dizzy Gillespie Steve Hall Simon Haighton Northampton SC 56
11th Lucky Pants Ross Kearney Alison Dart Medway YC 71
12th Fast and Loose Chris Ellis Ed Smith Frensham Pond SC 92
13th Foxxy Chris White Lucy Evans South Staffs SC 97
14th Nelly The Elephant Steve Cumley Nicola Cumley Barnt Green SC 101
15th Shaggy James Stewart Katrina Gilbert Weston SC 101.75
16th Lucky Pierre Jane Alexander Rachel Rhodes Northampton SC 108
17th Va Va Voom Rich Bennett Nicola Booth Staunton Harold SC/South Staffs SC 111
18th Pussy Galore Fiona Gray Aaron Woolf Waldringfield SC 112
19th Yogi Bear Martin Gillam Jack Holden Arun YC 121
20th Zebedee Nigel Scott Harri Condie Cotswolds SC 124
21st Grizzly Bear Daniel Watson Sara Cox-Olliff Waldringfield SC 135
22nd Prudence Steve Chatten Kirsty Phipps Frensham Pond SC 143
23rd Bruce Ed Bradburn Alison Norbury South Staffs SC 147
24th Ermintrude Holly Hewat Ruth Johnson 151
25th Deep Thought Will Kennedy Rhos Hawes Fishers Green SC/South Cerney SC 153
26th Will Croxford Chris Warburton South Staffs SC 156.5
27th The Hoffs Bouffant Simon Cox Adam Owens Waldringfield SC 158
28th Havana John White Rob Woodward Cotswold SC 158
29th Mr Bigglesworth Nick Marlow Joanna Marlow Attenborough SC 160
30th Fluffy thwarts Suzanne Archer Karen Jewkes Waldringfield SC 168
31st Peter Gray Tom Castle Staunton Harold SC 182
32nd Dick Dastardly Dan Smith Emma Waterhouse RYA 190.5
33rd Florence Eluned Jones Millie Parsons Weston SC 193
34th What appened was' James Ward Katie Haighton Exe SC 200
35th Buffy Nigel Denchfield Kathy Bartlett Stewartby Water SC 229
36th Captain Scarlet Chris Biglin Ann Biglin Shustoke SC 238
37th Camembert Mark Chadwick Felicity Chadwick Penzance SC 246
38th Soak'N'Fused Dave Lynch Nick Hydon Shustoke SC 247
39th Mlevi John Crooks Laura Showell Waldringfield SC 252
40th Tim Pearse Ed Grey Stokes Bay SC 257
41st Alice Kevin Rose Lucy Evans Shustoke SC 258
42nd Bob Robert Marlow Ruth Marlow Attenborough SC 260
43rd Blu Tac Garry Packer Richard Packer Bristol Corinthian YC 264
44th Offshore Account Christopher Holliman Kate Hutchins RYA 264
45th About time 2 Ellie Bremer Joe Chadwick Penzance Sailing Club 265
46th Ovington Lark Hannah Showell Ian Videlo Shustoke SC 287
47th Screaming Eagle Andrew Cox Kate Merritt 299

For more information, please go to: www.larkclass.org