Craftinsure Lark Travellers Series at the Waldringfield Cartoon 2025

Craftinsure Lark Travellers at the Waldringfield Cartoon 2025 © Alexis Smith

Craftinsure Lark Travellers at the Waldringfield Cartoon 2025 © Alexis Smith

Race Officer Patrick Gifford set a demanding and varied series for the six-boat Lark fleet at this year's Waldringfield Cartoon. With tides and winds shifting across the weekend, the racing was full of drama, tactical gambles, and the occasional capsize.

The first two races on Saturday were sailed over high water. In race one, Harry Pynn and Gemma Cook opened their account with a win. Race two was more eventful: Pynn was forced to return at the start, leaving Daniel Watson and Nat Bannister in control. Watson led from the front, holding off pressure from Nigel Hufton and Daniel Ringland to take the win.

Race three, sailed after lunch on the ebb, produced some of the weekend's most intriguing racing. Hufton led up the first beat, but Pynn called an early lay line on the ebb tide and was able to pinch up to the windward mark to grab the advantage. Watson later took over the lead until the final reach where Pynn got an inside overlap. At the leeward mark a Squib on a different course forced both Watson and Pynn to slow. Pynn held the overlap and squeezed through to steal his second win of the day.

Sunday brought much stronger breeze, with two races before high water producing plenty of capsizes. Race four went the way of Pynn and Cook once more, extending their grip on the series, Hufton and Ringland held off Watson and Bannister for 2nd in spite of swamping the boat in exciting downwind conditions.

By race five, Hufton and Ringland were clearly getting stronger with every race. As Watson was OCS and delayed by the Laser fleet when restarting — with Fish and Pynn also returning — Hufton and Ringland seized their opportunity. Staying upright and fast, they took a well-deserved race win, confirming their steady rise through the fleet. Nigel Scott and Tegwyn Roberts were revelling in the breeze to score 3rd.

Race six, sailed after lunch on the ebb, was abandoned in rough wind-against-tide conditions as the fleet neared the windward mark. There was no shortage of incident beforehand: Chris Fish capsized just before the start, leaving his mother Cathy hanging on "for dear life" after the boat was righted. With the abandonment, results stood after five races.

Craftinsure Lark Travellers at the Waldringfield Cartoon 2025 - photo © Alexis Smith

The abandonment didn't change the overall picture. Pynn and Cook had already secured the event with a race to spare. Watson and Bannister's consistent challenge earned them second overall, while Hufton and Ringland's upward curve and Sunday victory sealed third.

Overall Results: