Lark Open Meeting at Rock Sailing and Waterski Club Overall

Twenty-two Larks were at Rock for the fifteenth Spring Open Meeting to be hosted by Rock Sailing Club, with Race Officer Stan Lennox officiating for the fifteenth consecutive time. The programme was to include racing in the Camel Estuary and in the bay outside on Olympic courses.

Race 1 was held in the Estuary with Neil and Fiona Ravenscroft nominated as pathfinder for the first gate start. In fine weather and a force 3 wind, the race got off to a clean start with the Ravenscrofts finding the pathfinder position advantageous. They were first round the windward mark and retained their lead throughout the race. Simon Cox and Dave Herbert in their new Rondar Lark, Mr Bigglesworth were a consistent second, Dougal and Nigel Scott in Ermintrude third, while Emma Harris and Helen Woodward in Bomber improved throughout the race to finish fourth and be nominated pathfinder for Race 2.

In the second race, with a falling wind speed, the Ravenscrofts once more established their dominance in the fleet with the Scotts and Harris and Woodward in close contention battling it out for third place – eventually won by Harris.

On Day 2 of the meeting, it was planned to race out in the bay but the sea state made this impossible so a course was laid in the estuary late in the afternoon. The day was overcast and cold when pathfinder Richard and Jenny Bennett started the race. At the end of the first lap Harris and Woodward had established a lead which they gradually increased until they crossed the finish line one minute in front of the Ravenscrofts with the Bennetts in Busta Gonad in third place and the fleet well spread out behind.

Race 4 saw Tegwyn Roberts and Anna Hotchkiss in Doris as pathfinder. Once more the Ravenscrofts was first across the finish line with Harris and Woodward a close second and Martin Gillam and Rachael Calvert in Yogi Bear third.

Races 5 and 6 should have been held in the bay, but despite an exciting sail out to the start, the sea state combined with a falling tide forced the Race Committee to cancel, leaving Neil and Fiona Ravenscroft overall winners of the meeting.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachstandYachting.com Lark Page
• Rock Sailing Club