GJW Direct Lark Nationals at Saundersfoot Sailing Club - Day 5

After 2 rest days due to true Welsh weather (lots of wind and rain!) the race officer brought the start time forward to 10.00am to try and catch up the races and to allow everybody to be off the water early to make their fancy dress costumes for the famous lark "Welsh" themed fancy dress night and some big 30th birthday celebrations for a certain member of the fleet.

The first race of the day got underway on a trapezoid course with a line start in a light off shore breeze. James Ward and Eluned Stewart led the way at the windward mark by playing the shifts up the first beat. Pete Gray and Rachael Rhodes executed some good downwind tactics by not gybing off down wind to take the lead of the race which they held to the finish, followed by Krailing/Hunt and Hufton/Kennedy in third.

The second race was sailed on an Olympic course with a gate start. Chris White and Chris "Warby" Warburton took full advantage of being the gate boat to lead the fleet. They hoisted the kite down the very tight first reach along with Charlie Roome and Jez Stephens, but Alan Krailing and Joe Hunt kept the kite in the chute and caught them up. With the breeze oscillating and changing in pressure White and Krailing pulled away from the rest of the fleet and were engaged in their own battle for line honours. Nigel Hufton and Will Kennedy took advantage of this and hit the left hand side of the beat hard and sail into the lead with Gray and Rhodes sneaking into second place and Krailing / Hunt finishing off the top 3.

Prize for the best effort of the day goes to # ROUGH JUSTICE for flying their spinnaker for the first time even though their boat has no twinning lines! Go team!

Going into the final day, Krailing/ Hunt are the new National Champions. With 1 point separating second, third and 4th spots there is all to play for with 2 races remaining.

Results after Day 5: