Lark Youth Championship at Frensham Pond Sailing Club
by Samuel Bailey & Dan Watson 17 May 2022 16:18 BST
The Lark bandwagon continues its championships' tour of the UK. This time it was for younger sailors to take to the famously unpredictable waters of Frensham Pond Sailing Club to battle it out for the esteemed title of Lark Youth Champion.
This event provides a real yardstick for the future of the Lark Class and from what was witnessed shows that the class is definitely going in the right direction. Many new competitors were trying out the Lark for the first time and by judging by the smiling faces on the water and at the after-sailing pizza party new permanent recruits will be sailing Larks again.
Race one saw conditions at Frensham SC turn to glorious sun - but with a shifty, thermal-filled wind which proved challenging for all.
Hannah Carruthers & Mimi Slump led in the latest Synergy Marine Lark, with Samuel Bailey & Finn Morgan and Rebecca Videlo & Katrina Gilbert hot on their heels. Nearing the final legs, Bailey & Morgan managed to overtake Carruthers & Slump. Sadly, Carruthers & Slump saw their rudder lift off (having omitted to tie it on!), leaving them in fourth place. Teams Bailey & Morgan & Videlo & Gilbert took first and second respectively.
Race 2 saw so much eager, youthful energy at the reaching start that PRO Nigel Hufton signalled a General Recall!
Post recall, Teams Videlo & Gilbert & Carruthers & Slump took the early lead, leaving everyone else to battle it out.
Carruthers & Slump secured the win with Videlo & Gilbert in second and Bailey & Morgan pulling back through the fleet to 3rd.
Race 3 left all to play for, with Bailey & Morgan, Videlo & Gilbert and Carruthers & Slump all able to win!
Another reaching start saw Bailey & Morgan and Videlo & Gilbert take an early lead, leaving Carruthers & Slump in the pack.
Bailey & Morgan managed to squeeze past Videlo & Gilbert on the subsequent beat and then lead all the way to secure their first Youth Champion Title!
After a hard day racing, sailors enjoyed the warm welcome of Frensham Pond SC, with free pizza to feast on, courtesy of the Lark Class! These were quickly devoured, whilst chatting and laughing about the days racing and how perfect the Lark is for Youth sailing.
Samuel Bailey, 2022 Lark Youth Champion, said, "The event was a huge success both on and off the water. Frensham Pond provided a wonderful environment to show off the Lark class and it's growing youth fleet. I started sailing a Lark six years ago and have never looked back. It's a very rewarding boat to sail and competitive class to enjoy racing in."
Special thanks go to Nigel Hufton and Chris Ellis for organising the event, including the boat borrowing, race management, tuning guidance and pizza ordering! Great work fellas. Also, thank goes to the Lark Class for sponsoring the event pizzas and prizeware!
Next Event is the big one - The Lark National Championships at Pentewan Sands Sailing Club. All info can be found at nationals.larkclass.org
A 3-bed Holiday Home has become available for the championships - Contact Dan Watson at if you wish to take part.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club |
|---|
| 1 | 2468 | Sam Bailey | Finlay | South Staffs SC |
| 2 | 2540 | Rebecca Videlo (Older) | Katrina Gilbert | Frensham Pond SC |
| 3 | 2541 | Hannah Carruthers | Mimi Slump | Frensham Pond SC |
| 4 | 2528 | Bee Nee | Finlay Lomas‑Clarke | Frensham Pond SC |
| 5 | 2538 | Ben Goult | Alex McEwan | Frensham Pond SC |
| 6 | 2328 | Ali Wallace | Katrina Wallace | South Cerney SC |
| 7 | 2469 | Sam Goult | Sarah McEwan | Frensham Pond SC |
| 8 | 2472 | Sophia Kuhnert | Amelie Whitehouse | Frensham Pond SC |
| 9 | 2530 | Fiona Nee | Zach Windibank | Frensham Pond SC |