Lark Open at South Staffordshire Sailing Club

On board with the Larks at South Staffs © Lark Class

Following thick and fast after the Inland and Winter Championships, the last Lark event of the season took place at South Staffordshire Sailing Club on 20th November. Thirteen Larks descended on the heart of the Cannock countryside, after the original Lark open was pushed back to 20th November 2021, due to Covid issues earlier in the year.

Race 1 saw the fleet keen to start with Matt White & Marion Enkel making it first to the windward mark with the rest of the fleet close behind. Matt & Marion managed to retain the 1st place lead and stay out of reach as a battle for second and third took place between Samuel Bailey & Finlay Morgan and National Champions, Chris & Nic White. Samuel & Finn managed to take 2nd place, leaving Chris & Nic with a 3 d place discard.

Race 2 saw The Whites, White & Enkel and Bailey & Morgan reach the windward mark first with John Billington & Chloe Dawson and Keith Macaulay & Oliver Goodhead in hot pursuit. Unfortunately, opportunities to break into the three leaders was few and far between.

However, John & Chloe saw a break in the waves and decided to take their chance on a reach down to mark 5. Clearly, the wind gods were not in support and cursed John & Chloe with a whirlwind which left the mast head nearly underwater! Not quite a capsize but enough to render the leaders firmly out of reach!

Up ahead, a fight for 1st place took place with Samuel & Finn, Chris & Nic and Matt & Marion all taking a brief moment in 1st position. However, it was Chris & Nic that showed us how to do it and took the win with Matt & Marion in 2nd and Samuel & Finn in 3rd.

Race 3 saw a change to proceedings with Keith Macaulay & Oliver Goodhead and Dave Young & Laura Birch kicking Samuel & Finn out of the podium position mix!

The fight for 1st, 2nd and 3rd was fierce but once again Chris & Nic took the win with Matt & Marion in second, Keith & Ollie in 3rd and Dave & Laura in 4th.

Post racing, the usual South Staffs Beer and Cake greeted the sailors as the light faded into darkness.

Alongside presenting overall prizes to:

1st Chris & Nic White (South Staffs SC)
2nd Matt White & Marion Enkel (Waldringfield SC)
3rd Samuel Bailey & Finlay Morgan (South Staffs SC)

Chris White also took to opportunity to close the Lark season by presenting the Belle Isle Trophy for best results over the travelling season to Samuel & Finn.

The club thanked all the visitors for making the trip up to South Staffs from clubs such as Waldringfield, Brightlingsea, Swarkestone and Barnt Green!

Overall Results: