Musto Lark National Championship 2026 hosted by Fowey Sailing - Overall

After two days lost to both too much wind and not enough wind, day four of the championships began with only three races on the scoreboard. Very light winds from the south greeted the fleet as they sailed out of Fowey harbour to the race course.

No-one could envy the position of race officer John Burford as he had to contend with the very difficult conditions thrown at him so far. However the breeze proved to be stable enough, and John and his team did a masterful job of getting three good races in before the cut off time of 1400.

Curiously, while waiting around in the light airs before the start, a boat was spotted capsized. Who is that? Is it, it can't be, yes it really is, Merlin Rocket ace and ex Lark national champion James Goss with very unimpressed crew Anna Aylward. Due to a lack of nominations the day before, these guys had been awarded the Duckhams perhaps a little unfairly for rigging their fancy new boat incorrectly. So it was good of them to truly qualify themselves with this very special display of boat handling.

Musto Lark Nationals 2026 at Fowey day 4 - photo © Robert Deaves / www.robertdeaves.uk

Race 4 was started on a gate start, with Matt Shorrock and Maddie Jones in the role of pathfinder. Having rounded the first windward mark, the breeze temporarily died right off on the downwind sausage leg. Chris and Nic White held their nerve and managed to sneak through to lead around the bottom mark. The Whites built on this lead to take a strong race win, with Ollie Meadowcroft and Becky Caiger taking second place and further strengthening their position for the overall win.

Silver fleet leaders Alex Enkel and Hettie Thorogood showed great pace in the light airs to take sixth place, in what would become a day of excellent results for them.

Race 5 was again run from a gate start, a smart move by the race committee to ensure no time was wasted. The breeze had improved a little, but had also kicked up a little short chop to contend with. Top-three contenders Stuart and Nick Hydon took a commanding lead which they built on to win the race from Ollie and Becky in second and Alex and Hettie in third.

At this point Ollie and Becky had done enough to win the championship with a race to spare. Ollie was having a hard time convincing Becky of this, so instead decided to go and win race 6, closing out the championships in style. Ed Bradburn and Holly Evans took second place in the race, which would secure third place overall. The Hydons took third place in the race and with it second place overall.

Musto Lark Nationals 2026 at Fowey day 4 - photo © Robert Deaves / www.robertdeaves.uk

A strong performance by Ed and Holly's South Staffs stable mates Chris and Nic White secured fourth overall, and the club prize for South Staffs SC, as well as the trophy for first married couple.

Tim Fells and Jerry Eplett from Salcombe completed the top five.

As always, very generous sponsorship from Musto meant there was a huge supply of goodies to be awarded at the prize-giving. Some of these included the race officers prize for endeavour, awarded to Jai and Amba Sanehi, who showed great resilience in getting out on the water on Monday after surviving the 34 knot winds recorded on Sunday.

Musto Lark Nationals 2026 at Fowey day 4 - photo © Robert Deaves / www.robertdeaves.uk

The highest placed pre-Rondar boat to Kate Merritt and Vicky Burgess from Weymouth, master and apprentice prize for a parent and child team to Leo and Tye Shuttleworth from Weymouth, and first bronze fleet to Jack Hodgkins and Oli Hately from South Staffs.

The first all female boat went to Hannah Carruthers and Amber Hale from Frensham, most improved since last nationals to Clive Eplett and Spike Daniels from Frensham, first female helm to Megan and Connor Dickson from Hunts SC, and first under 21 and winners of the silver fleet to Alex Enkel and Hettie Thorogood from Waldringfield SC.

First overall, Ollie Meadowcroft and Becky Caiger - Musto Lark Nationals 2026 at Fowey - photo © Nigel Hufton

Fowey Gallants SC and Royal Fowey Yacht Club joined forces to run this years event, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say they did a superb job in all areas. It is a beautiful location to come and race at, and the fleet is very grateful for the time given by race officer John Burford and his team, as well as the rescue team, mark boats, bar and catering staff, and not least the excellent launching and recovery team.

Thanks also must be given to HD Sails, Tarquins Gin, and Fowey River Trading who all sponsored the daily prize-giving prizes.

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Second overall, Stuart and Nick Hydon - Musto Lark Nationals 2026 at Fowey - photo © Nigel Hufton

Overall Results:
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Third overall, Ed Bradburn and Holly Evans - Musto Lark Nationals 2026 at Fowey - photo © Nigel Hufton