Helly Hansen Lark Great 8 Round 2 at Frensham Pond Sailing Club
by Harry Pynn 11 Apr 2016 15:52 BST
10 April 2016
Stewart Hydon & Vicky Brickwood win the Lark Great 8 event at Frensham © Nigel Scott
Frensham Pond Sailing Club have been holding an Annual Lark Open Meeting since 1968. The magnificent trophy, which reads like a Hall of Fame, is a target for all Lark sailers. This year's edition, held on Sunday 10th April, was held in blustery and shifty conditions, testing the fleets boat handling and fitness to the max. With 4 different race winners, protests, capsizes, helms falling out of the boat, breakages and enough snakes and ladders to confuse, we had it all.
Two races were held in the morning with Stewart Hydon/Vicky Brickwood prevailing in the first, and Chris Whitehouse/Simon Haighton leading the charge home in the second; but with a protest to be heard at the end of the day. The third race, after lunch, was won by Andy Shorrock/Johnny Thompson leaving three boats in contention going into the fourth and final race. Steve Cumley/Eluned Stewart brought the fleet home, with Stewart/ Vicky in second, and Chris/Simon 4th. As the boats sailed in Stewart and Vicky had the lowest score, and it looked like they had won, however there was still one final and strange twist to come. Stewart and Vicky won their protest, but this promoted Steve and Eluned to second in race 2 whilst only improving their own discard. Both boats now had the same points, and the same set of results. By virtue of winning the last race Steve and Eluned won the event.
Our thanks go to Frensham Pond SC for once again hosting an extremely well organised and thoroughly enjoyable Lark Open.