Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham © Paul Sanwell / OPP

The weekend of the 14th September saw the Larks return to Grafham to share their Inlands with the Scorpion class. Eleven boats arrived on Saturday in the sunshine with 10mph blowing from the Southwest. The order of the day was for three races back-to-back and PRO Nigel Denchfield wasted no time in getting the fleets under way.

On arriving at the course area the wind had picked up to considerably more than the forecast. Race one saw Guy Brearey and Catherine Brookes round the windward mark first followed by Ed Bradburn and Holly Evans with Emma Harris and Jai Sanehi close behind. At the bottom of the reaches Ed and Holly had managed to get into first.

Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

With the wind switching right on the second beat this order remained until Emma and Jai had a mainsail malfunction forcing them into an early retirement allowing Neil and Sue Firth through into third. A noticeable omission from this race was Lark guru Nigel Hufton sailing with Harriet Temple who failed to secure his main halyard to his mainsail correctly and missed the first race whilst correcting this minor issue.

Having re-attached his mainsail, however, Nigel and Harriet shot into the lead in the second race followed by Guy and Catherine and Ed and Holly. Fortunately, unlike the less observant Scorpions, the Lark fleet had spotted the course change and rounded the windward mark and sailed the run first. Ed and Holly managed to sail through into second on the run and caught Nigel and Harriet up the next beat, with Guy and Catherine getting past Nigel and Harriet on the reaches to finish in that order.

Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Emma and Jai, having borrowed a mainsail, reappeared for the third race of the day only to be shown the individual recall flag at the start. After some confusion both Emma and Jai and Ed and Holly returned back not knowing who was over. This allowed Guy and Catherine to sail into the lead with Nigel and Harriet and Nigel Scott and Tegwyn Tricker following closely.

Ed and Holly managed to pull through to third on the second beat chasing Guy and Catherine and Nigel and Harriett on the reaches. This ensued for the remainder of the race until the final reaches when Ed and Holly managed to overhaul Nigel and Harriet. This left Guy and Catherine take a well-deserved win showing good pace in their first season in the Lark.

Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

The fleet were treated to an excellent dinner by the club on Saturday night to set them up for a further three back-to-back races on Sunday.

Sunday dawned with very similar conditions to Saturday and again was breezier on the water than the forecast. Emma and Jai rounded first in the first race having borrowed a different mainsail which less resembled a piece of kitchen towel. Ed and Holly followed behind with Nigel and Harriet in third.

Ed and Holly managed to get through on the reach and this order remained until the finish with Emma and Jai taking second from Nigel and Harriet.

Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 2 was very similar however Guy and Catherine managed to get through Nigel and Harriet to take third at the finish.

Race 3 was a much closer affair with Emma and Jai again rounding first followed by Nigel and Harriet and Ed and Holly. These three tussled it out for the rest of the race with multiple place changes until the last lap when Ed and Holly managed to take the win from Emma and Jai, securing their third second of the day, and Nigel and Harriet in third.

The overall positions were therefore settled with Ed and Holly as the Craftinsure Inland Champions followed by Guy and Catherine in second and Nigel and Harriet in third.

A great weekend was had by all and thanks must go to the class sponsors Craftinsure and Grafham Water SC for putting on an excellent event. Particular thanks to PRO Nigel Denchfield who set some excellent courses in a shifty breeze and I believe he even managed to not throw up over the side!

Next up is the Lark Masters at Itchenor in a few weeks time for what is looking to be an excellent event. Having proved that the Lark is far superior to a Scorpion will we see any of the Scorpion fleet come and have a go?

Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Overall Results:

Craftinsure Lark Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP