Craftinsure Lark Chairman's Trophy at Weymouth Sailing Club

Craftinsure Lark Chairman's Trophy at Weymouth © Nigel Scott

The Craftinsure Lark Open circuit returned to Weymouth Sailing Club 21-22 June, challenging for the coveted Chairman's Trophy. The hosts provided champagne sailing on the waters of the 2012 Olympics, followed by a social on Saturday which stretched long into the warm evening on what was the longest day of the year.

This video captures the mood (thanks to Chris & Kate Holliman).

A strong fleet of visitors - including six previous championship winning helms and crews - joined the local boats. The latter were all sailed by under 18s as part of the exciting Weymouth SC 'Youths on Boats' (YoBs) programme.

Day 1 started with an Easterly Force 4, which brought perfect reaching conditions on the long swell. Nigel Hufton & Chris Whitehouse - sailing together in their first event since coming third in the Nationals in 2006 - edged out Chris & Kate Holliman, followed closely by John & Vicky Brickwood.

In the second race, the wind dropped to Force 3, then almost faded completely. As the leading boats approached the leeward mark they thought the race would be shortened early and headed for the downwind finish. Hufton/Whitehouse saw this unfolding ahead and rounded up at the leeward mark.

The excellent PRO, Paul Browning, having moved his finish to the windward mark in anticipation of a drifter, found the wind returned and promptly moved it back! Hufton/Whitehouse held on to the lead, chased by the Brickwoods and new team Emma Harris and Alex McEwan.

The wind stayed at F3 for race three, with Hufton/Whitehouse winning closely from the Brickwoods, the Hollimans and Nigel Scott & Hannah Carruthers.

Day 2 dawned with flatter sea, as the wind had shifted to the Southwest. With the wind coming over the town, working out the shifts was paramount. The Brickwoods did this best, leading around the first mark and regaining the lead after being overtaken downwind by Hufton/Whitehouse. They were followed by Harris/McEwan, then Stuart Hydon & Ann Biglin.

In Race 5, the wind had backed slightly to come from over Portland Harbour, leading to more pressure and less shifting and gusting. Some cracking racing ensued, with Hufton/Whitehouse winning Race 5, followed by Harris/McEwan and the Brickwoods. A few tired bodies went home, but those remaining enjoyed the conditions, with Hufton/Whitehouse winning from Harris/McEwan and Scott/Carruthers.

Just behind the leaders, the local youth boats had some very competitive racing. Impressively, most YoBs boats completed all the races, despite the testing conditions, Dee Wolff & Elise Lloyd finished seventh overall and Elliott Twigg & Jackson Bailey finished ninth overall (and came fourth in the last race). Special thanks to Tye Shuttleworth and Celia Rushton for helping to create this hotbed of young Lark sailors in Weymouth!

Also, thanks to the race team for great racing, to the brilliant Jo Wolff in the galley and all the other volunteers who made it such a cracking weekend. We look forward to seeing the YoBs and other Larkies at the National Championship in Abersoch (27-30 July)!

Overall Results: